FAQ

Shipping

We currently ship domestically and to the USA.  Unfortunately at this time and due to new legislation we are unable to ship to Europe.   We are currently looking into how to comply with the new rulings.  If you are interested in a piece and in a country or region not mentioned above, please contact us directly to arrange prior to purchase.

Shipping options via Royal Mail are provided at checkout.  If you would like to utilise a different carrier, please contact us prior to your purchase.

Please note that Used to Be Rich is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged packages, so please choose your shipping option wisely.

All Ready to Ship items have a processing time of 4 - 7 business days.  Made to Order pieces take 7 - 14 days processing. Custom order timings will be discussed per piece as they are reliant on stock and sourcing.  This will be discussed prior to payment.

What types of metal do you use?

We currently use a mixture of metals that have been meticulously tested, trialed and colour matched.  Our gold findings are gold filled, gold vermeil or 14k solid gold.  

What is the difference between the types of metals?

Plated metals: Plated metal is commonly used in fashion costume jewellery. A very fine layer of silver or another precious metal (measure in microns) is bonded onto a base metal, usually brass, copper, or zinc through a process called plating. Due to the thinness of the layer of the plated metal, over time and with excess use this layer may eventually wear away. All our plated metal findings production is compliant with EU REACH regulations where required and certified by a program of scheduled batch testing products with the assay office. This ensures compliance with the following: - EU Regulation No 1907/2006 concerning Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulates the use of nickel, lead and cadmium in jewellery products. - Entry 27 of Annex XVII of REACH concerns the EU Nickel Directive and requires compliance with British Standard BS EN 1811:2011+A1:2015

Gold vermeil: Gold Plated Sterling Silver Vermeil, is a term used to refer to jewellery or other items made of sterling silver and plated with a layer of gold. The word “vermeil” comes from French and is pronounced “ver-may.” The main difference between vermeil and gold-plated/gold-filled jewellery is that vermeil items have a base made of sterling silver, whereas plated and filled pieces can be made with a variety of metals. We endeavour to supply 1 micron thickness across our vermeil products to provide an extra durable plating, sometimes this is not possible and such items maybe denoted as 'flash gold' a flash plating is a thin layer which is susceptible to wearing quickly. Please refer to the UK assay office/Hallmarking Council for the regulations applying to Gold Plated Sterling Silver/Vermeil in the UK

Gold filled: Gold-filled jewellery, also known as "rolled gold" or "rolled gold plate" is composed of a solid layer of gold bonded with heat and pressure to a base metal such as brass. The classification of weight may be noted for example as 1/20 14K meaning Gold filled with 1/20th of 14 karat gold, which is 5% 14 karat gold by weight with a solid brass inner core.

Sterling silver: Sterling silver (or STS) is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925. Fine silver (99.9% pure) is generally too soft for producing functional objects; therefore, the silver is usually alloyed with copper to give it strength but preserving the ductility and beauty of the precious metal. Over the years, some countries developed systems of hallmarking silver. The purpose of hallmark application is used to indicate the purity of the silver alloy used in the manufacture or hand-crafting of the piece. UK hallmarking is required where a finished piece weighs over 7.78 grams, under this weight items will not be hallmarked but may have a 925 stamp, where the item can be stamped without compromising the product.

Is your jewellery waterproof?

In short, no.  Our regular chain and findings are durable and will survive a splash or two, however the fashion chain will not.  If you take care of your piece by keeping it in the provided pouch, you will extend the life span.  My suggestion is to be wary of any waterproof claims unless purchasing solid gold of 9k and above.  

Do you do custom pieces?

Hell yes we do! Please get in contact with us to discuss your ideas.  We have access to an extraordinarily wide range of gemstone beads as well as metals.  You prefer solid gold? Not a problem.  Please be aware that lead time varies so please leave enough time for your piece to be designed, sourced, made and shipped.

Returns

All sales are final due to the nature of handcrafted jewelry. However, if you are not completely satisfied with your order, please contact us directly to discuss your purchase. 

Contact

used.to.be.rich.1982@gmal.com