Chateau Chic Jewellery

FAQs

PAYMENT

I accept payment through Square and PayPal.  Both services process your information on their secure server and are PCI compliant to keep your information safe.  Square and PayPal do not provide any of your payment information to me.

SQUARE

Square is my preferred method of my payment and you can pay by credit card, debit (in person) and apple or android pay, without needing an account.

PAYPAL

I will also accept payment via PayPal.  If you already have an account, this is an easy way to complete your order.  However, recently I’ve found that Paypal will require you to signup for an account in order to pay for your purchase.  For this reason, unless you already have a PayPal account, in my opinion Square is the way to go.

RETURNS/EXCHANGES

I will gladly accept exchanges if notified within 7 days of receipt of the item(s).  You will be responsible for all shipping costs related to the exchange.  If you are exchanging the item for one of lesser value, that amount will count towards your additional shipping charges.  Any balance remaining must be paid in full before the new order is shipped out.  If the exchange is necessary because of an error on my part, I will take care of these shipping charges.  All items must be shipped back in the original packaging and condition, otherwise the item will not be accepted.
Due to regulatory laws I am not able to issue exchanges on earrings. Refunds will only be issued in the case of an error on my part and if the item is shipped back and returned in its original condition and packaging.  However, if you happen to encounter any issue whatsoever with your jewellery, please contact me!

SHIPPING

IN CANADA

All items shipped within Canada are sent via Canada Post as an Expedited Parcel, which includes tracking, delivery confirmation and insurance up to $100. (Additional insurance coverage options are offered at checkout).

Local orders (Toronto, GTA & most major Ontario cities) are usually delivered 1-2 business days after items have shipped. Remote areas can take up to 5-13 business days. Click the link below to search Canada Post’s delivery standards based on your postal code.

Canada Post Delivery Service Standards

If you would like your item(s) shipped by a faster method, select flat rate at checkout (choose the insured option if you would like your package to be fully insured) and contact me right away. I will send you prices for Xpresspost & Priority and then invoice you for the remaining shipping balance, based on your preferred method. Your purchase will ship out after receiving payment for both invoices. This method will ensure you are receiving the lowest possible price for shipping.

Please contact me before ordering if you are looking for next-day delivery or options other than Canada Post.

TO U.S.A. & INTERNATIONAL

I will gladly ship your order to wherever you are! Contact me with your order details and shipping address. I will email you the costs for different shipping options and then invoice you directly, based on your chosen shipping method. This way I can ensure you get the best possible rate.

All customs, duties & fees are the responsibility of the buyer so be sure to include your proper contact information and phone number when filling out your shipping information.  I will not be held responsible for failed deliveries due to do inaccurate buyer information or unpaid fees.

custom orders

Custom orders may be subject to an additional fee and will be clearly disclosed in the estimate before proceeding. All custom orders will require a 50% deposit.  Processing time may vary based on availability of materials.  For most Canadian orders, please make sure to order custom items at least 3-4 weeks before the required date.  Orders shipped to Nunavut, Yukon, Northwest Territories, United States and International should be ordered at least 5-6 weeks prior to the required date.  Custom orders where materials are in stock can be processed anywhere between 1-3 weeks.  Every effort will be made to create and ship your order as soon as possible. Your estimated shipping date will be noted clearly on your estimate and invoice.  All custom orders are final sales.

MATERIALS & CARE

BEST ADVICE

Store all your jewellery in clean space, protected from extreme temperatures, moisture, direct light, chemicals, perfumes, hair products, rubber, latex etc. Plastic zip baggies are a great cost-effective way to store your jewellery and will help slow tarnishing and extend its life.  Polish tarnished jewellery with a jeweller’s cloth.  You can add one to your order for a few dollars.  Be sure to have a cloth designated for each metal as your cloth for Sterling Silver, for example, can scratch your gold.

STERLING SILVER

92.5% pure silver mixed with 7.5% other metals, usually copper.  While the copper adds strength to the silver, it is also what causes it to tarnish.  But never fear, Sterling Silver cleans up beautifully and lasts much longer than silver plated jewellery.

GOLD FILLED

Gold filled jewellery uses a technique in which thin layers of gold are bonded by heat and pressure to a strong base metal centre, such as brass. Several layers of a core metal are surrounded by AT LEAST 10k gold.  Gold filled is the next best quality alternative to solid gold and is tarnish-resistant, unlike gold-plating.  Gold filled looks and wears like solid gold because its outer surface is solid gold.  It doesn’t change colours, nor rub or flake off. Gold jewellery wearers can wear gold filled jewellery without an allergic reaction.

Gold filled jewellery has the same care as gold jewellery: keep jewellery away from chemicals and clean regularly with a mild, soapy solution, rinse, pat dry with a gentle cloth and gently polish with a jewellery polishing cloth.

SILVER PLATE

Silver plating is the process of bonding a thin layer of silver to a base metal; most commonly used are copper or brass.  It is a cost effective alternative to Sterling Silver and tarnishes less quickly.  Silver plated jewellery can be polished easily but the plating can wear off over time, especially when exposed to extreme elements.

You should not wear silver plated pieces while washing your hands, bathing, or using household cleaners etc.

All of my silver plated materials are lead & nickel free.

RHODIUM PLATE

Rhodium is a rare, silver-white hard metal in the platinum family. It’s highly reflective and resistant to corrosion and oxidation.  Similarly to silver plating, rhodium plating is the process of applying a thin layer of rhodium to a strong base metal, such are copper or brass.  It is also a cost effective alternative to Sterling Silver which tarnishes less quickly and provides a scratch-resistant coating to the base metal.  Rhodium plate is a tougher plating material than silver, however all plated jewellery can lose it’s coating over time, especially when exposed to extreme elements or certain body chemistries. 

You should not wear any plated pieces while washing your hands, bathing, or using household cleaners etc. 

Rhodium is naturally hypo-allergenic and all of my rhodium plated materials are lead & nickel free.

HEMATITE

Hematite, also known as haematite, is a silvery, shiny opaque stone that almost looks like metal.  It is the mineral form of iron oxide which is heavy, relatively hard and comes in shades of black-steel to silvery-grey and reddish-brown to red.  Similarly to other plated metals, hematite is applied over a base metal, which is a cost effective way of providing a brilliant, scratch and tarnish resistant coating to base metals such as copper and brass.  All plated jewellery can lose its coating over time and extra care should be taken to avoid exposure to extreme elements or conditions.

You should not wear any plated pieces while washing your hands, bathing, or using household cleaners etc. 

All of my hematite materials are lead & nickel free

GUNMETAL

Traditionally, gunmetal refers to a bronze that is composed of 88 percent copper, 10 percent tin, and 2 percent zinc, which is a strong enough to be used as valves, gears and other machine parts.  However, it is also used to refer to a mixture of metals or metallic substances that have a dark grey or blackish colour or finish.  Most jewellery products that are labelled as gunmetal are likely the later and have a coating that need to be protected.  Treat all gunmetal products like any other plated piece of jewellery and protect it from the elements, extreme temperatures and conditions. 

You should not wear any plated pieces while washing your hands, bathing, or using household cleaners etc. 

I never buy gunmetal unless it is labelled as lead & nickel free.

WHAT IS A FINDING?

You may have noticed that the term “finding” comes up frequently when shopping for handmade jewellery.  A finding relates to the tools and materials used by artisans when creating their product.  A “jewellery finding” refers to component parts and pieces used to connect and/or decorate beads, wires, and chains in the creation of jewellery piece.  For example, clasps, jumprings, jeweller’s wire and stone settings can all be referred to as a finding.  All of my jewellery lists the materials used on each product page.

 

 For more information, check out this great blog on ebay: What is the Best Jewellery Metal?

SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS

WHAT ARE SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL ELEMENTS?

Swarovski produces crystals of the finest quality. The company’s name has become synonymous with genuine crystal. Swarovski’s specialized manufacturing processes, together with the highest quality raw materials, guarantee the highest possible degree of precision, component quality, consistency, and unmatched brilliance.
Swarovski crystal elements are produced at the company’s traditional production plant in Wattens, Austria, where each crystal is subject to the most stringent quality controls. The exact recipe and the proportion of quartzes, sand, and minerals remain a company secret that is part of the legacy of pioneer Daniel Swarovski to his three sons. Find more information HERE about Swarovski crystal, the company, or its history.

SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL PEARLS

The pearls used in the Swarovski Fashion Jewelry collection are simulated pearls and are not natural. Crystal Pearls by Swarovski are pearls made with a crystal core. Their unparalleled harmonious and lustrous shimmer is achieved using a unique coating technology developed by Swarovski. It is the first production method in the world to combine the quality of a perfect crystal core with the exquisite beauty of a pearl coating. The innovative technology by Swarovski gives the pearl a mysterious glow, which appears to be radiating from within the pearl itself. The strictest quality controls help ensure the absolute flawlessness of each Crystal Pearl.

PRECIOUS METALS – Findings for Swarovski Elements

A finding is a term used to describe jewellery parts like clasps and stone settings. The settings that come directly from Swarovski are mostly gold- and rhodium-plated. In some cases also palladium-plated and with PVD-coated base metal. Swarovski gold jewelry is plated using 23k gold. It is designed with pale yellow gold that has a lustrous, bright and attractive shine. Swarovski rose gold jewelry is plated with 18k rose gold. The color is achieved by alloying fine gold with copper.

CZECH GLASS BEADS

Czech glass beads have a long history dating back to North Bohemia in the 13th century. At this time, the beads were primarily used for making rosaries, but in the 16th century fashion jewellery began to flourish and so did the beads themselves. Czech glass beads are known all over the world for their exemplary craftsmanship, vivid colours and bead-to-bead consistency.

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