F.A.Q.s

 

How Do I Care For My Jewellery?

Do not swim with sterling, as chlorine will cause it to blacken and is difficult to remove.

Always remove jewellery before washing hands and/or showering; this includes all metals, crystals and leather.  

Store silver in small zip-type plastic bag with the anti-tarnish tab provided, or a small piece of white chalk. These will help to prevent tarnish.

If the piece does tarnish, lightly polish with a soft cloth.

If using a liquid "dip-type" cleaner containing ‘Thiourea’, be sure to dip for one second and rinse immediately. Any longer will pit and eventually damage your jewellery, making it tarnish even quicker.

 

Do You Do Custom Work?

We do. Please call 416.704.8721 or email info@denstuff.com to discuss.

 

How Do I Get Pricing on Custom Work?

Please call 416.704.8721 or email info@denstuff.com to discuss

 

What Are Your Hours?

Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 9:00pm EST for phone inquiries. Email us any time!

 

Do You Sell in Stores?

Currently, den jewellery is available in Wellington, Ontario at the SideStreet Gallery,  in Ottawa, Ontario in After Stonewall Gallery, and at ROWAN on Queen Street in the Beaches, Toronto.  If you are interested in carrying den jewellery in your store, please contact us at with any wholesale inquiries by phone at 416.704.8721 or by email at info@denstuff.com.

 

Return Policy?

SATISFACTION GUARANTEE

Please contact us right away (by phone at 416.704.8721 or by email at info@denstuff.com) if you are at all unsatisfied with your purchase. We will do what we can to resolve any problems so that you have a positive experience shopping with den.

REFUNDS

If for any reason, you are not satisfied with your jewellery, you may return it for a refund, minus the cost of shipping. You must return the item (or items) within 7 days of receiving your purchase in order to receive a refund. Items must be in original packaging and unworn.

 

Do You Charge Taxes?

Ontario sales tax of 13% is added at checkout.

 

I Ordered 2 of The Same Item, But There Are Slight Differences. Why?

Each item is handmade, one at a time. There will always be slight differences from piece to piece, the beauty of handmade.

 

Will Any Items Change Colour?

Due to their nature, all metals will eventually change, depending on conditions. Sterling Silver (.925) will tarnish, copper and brass will darken. Fine Silver (.999) will get a slightly yellowish cast over a long period of time.  All metals can have their respective lustres restored by lightly polishing with a soft polishing cloth.

Oxidized or patinaed metal should not be polished, as it will remove the applied patina.

The torched copper and brass items have been protected by a microcrystalline wax polish. Do NOT polish these pieces.

Silver plated pieces can be lightly polished on occasion, or allowed to develop a rich dark patina.

 

Will I Have a Reaction To Any of the Materials?

Many people have acids in their skin which can react to certain metals, typically the base metals: copper, brass, nickel and lead. We do not use nickel or lead in our jewellery.

Copper and brass may make the skin turn greenish or grey; this is easily removed by soap and water.

All ear wires in the earrings are either Sterling Silver, 14K Yellow Gold Filled, or 14K Rose Gold Filled. We do not use base metals or plated metals in ear wires.

 

What is Gold Filled vs. Gold Plated?

den uses 14K gold-filled wire in our jewellery.

A few key points about Gold wire:

  • In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission sets the definition as to the quality of gold-filled. For example, if an item is stamped 10KGF the gold must be no less than 1/10 of the item’s weight, and 12KGF = 1/20.
  • In Europe, ‘gold-filled’ is called ‘rolled gold’. In all gold-filled wire scenarios, everything that is seen or that will touch the skin is karat gold. The gold layer on gold-filled wire will not chip off or wash off. If a person were to wear a 14/20 gold-filled piece of jewelry every day continuously, the gold would last from 5 to 30 years!
  • Rolled gold ‘plate’ however, is just as it is called: plated.
  • When a base metal is coated with a thin layer of gold via electrolysis it has been ‘plated’.
  • If the base metal used is sterling silver and 18K gold is bonded to it, it is called Vermeil. Gold plate will wear off quite quickly, and the base metal below will tarnish.

14k gold-filled items have 50 to 100,000 times more gold than regular gold plating, depending on the manufacturer, and 17 to 25,000 times thicker than heavy gold electroplated items.

Origins of Rolled Gold and Gold Filled:

In ancient times, gold wire was literally created by rolling: in Ancient Egypt, gold was hammered in to thin, thin sheets, then rolled into a tight or hollow tube, then shaped to create wire jewelry.  Over time, however, this rolled gold became “filled” with a base metal, such as brass, thus gold filled with brass.