FAQ and Policy Page

What metals do you use?

    Our jewelry is mostly made from 14k solid gold, 14k gold-fill, and sterling silver. We do offer some options in other metals, such as stainless steel, platinum, brass and rose gold.

What is 14k solid gold?

    14 karat refers to the amount of gold in the alloy used, which is a combination of different metals to yield a single composite material. 14k gold is a good combination of purity and strength that makes for more affordable and durable pieces. 24k gold, as an example, isn't well suited to daily wear jewelry, as the higher amount of gold makes such pieces more prone to damage due to the softer nature of the alloy used. 14k can be a bit of an investment in terms of cost, but these pieces will last a long time!

What is gold-fill?

    Gold-fill is 100 layers of solid gold over a base metal (brass in our case). While gold-plated metals only contain a thin layer of gold, gold-filled metals have up to 100x as much gold, making them much more resistant to wear over time. Gold-fill does still have a limited lifespan like gold plated, but it's much longer lasting.

What is sterling silver?

    Sterling silver is a silver alloy that contains around 7.5% other metals, usually copper. This makes for an alloy that is stronger and more resistant to wear over time.

What is stainless steel?

Stainless steel is an alloy of iron that is resistant to rusting and corrosion. While stainless steel may tarnish slightly over time, it actually forms a protective layer that prevents further oxidation! Stainless steel is considered to be generally biologically inert, meaning it's much less likely to cause an adverse body reaction. This material is a good option for more sturdy pieces or for people with more reactive skin.

Are our gemstones real?

    Except in the case of a few of our charms, all of our gemstones are real! We source them, usually by hand, from a variety of vendors worldwide to ensure unique and brilliant options for our clients. You'll see that a lot of the higher priced gemstone rings possess some of our more rare and unique finds.

Will it turn me green?

    Skin reactivity is a complicated topic that depends on a variety of factors, such as the material type, its' exposure to different chemicals/situations, and the physiology of the wearer. 

    While we do take care to source quality materials, alloyed metals do contain small amounts of other metals to yield a specific material with the desired properties that include durability, cost, color, and more. In the case of gold, anything less than 24k is alloyed with other metals. 24k gold itself is not very suitable for use in jewelry, as pure gold is soft and malleable, meaning lower durability and more prone to damage over time. With sterling silver, the situation is very similar. Pure silver, like 24k gold, is not very durable and isn't generally used for jewelry making. 14k gold and sterling silver are alloys that are widely used because they will last a lifetime or more with proper care, though the metals contained can lead to adverse reactions in some situations.

    One of the biggest causes of this kind of reaction are exposure, with the most common culprits being self care products, household chemicals, food, and the environment. Some self care products contain chemicals that may react to one or more of the metals in a jewelry piece, such as sunscreen or lotion. The same is true of household chemicals, like as those used in cleaning. Some foods, like pickles or lemons, contain acids or other ingredients which may do the same. Sometimes a piece can react to environmental factors that include chlorine in pools, salt in ocean water, hard water deposits from municipal water, or even a combination of heat and sweat. If you suspect that these kinds of exposure may be the case, you can try to wash the piece in soap and water and see if avoiding certain products/situations prevents the reaction from occurring again

    The other major cause of green discoloration comes down to the physiological makeup of the wearer. Some people find that their body doesn't agree with specific types of metal, and while the more common culprits include copper and nickel, some people even have this problem with pure gold or silver. Causes include metal allergy, diet, ph balance, and more. If you find that cleaning your jewelry and limiting exposure to suspected contaminants doesn't solve the discoloration, it may be that your body just doesn't agree with one or more of the metals in that alloy. In this case, we recommend trying out different materials over time to see what may be the cause. You can try higher purity metals (14k gold -> 18k gold) or entirely different metals (silver -> gold). If it seems like you may have this issue with most metals, a couple good options include stainless steel, platinum or titanium jewelry.

    Feel free to reach out to us to discuss additional options or to troubleshoot possible causes and solutions for this kind of issue!

Will it tarnish?

    Tarnishing is a reaction caused by use over time or exposure of a metal to chemicals that can lead to a darkened or discolored look to a piece. Similar reactions at different extremes are rusting typical of iron or the patina that occurs with copper. Even higher quality metals, like pure silver or 24k gold, are susceptible to tarnishing. The rate of reaction depends on the material type, how it's used, and what it's exposed to. Some alloys can tarnish a bit faster due to the metals used, and friction can also increase the rate. Exposure to moisture, the sun, or chemicals (as discussed above in the section about green discoloration) can also be a cause.

    If you find that your jewelry has tarnished, fear not! Tarnish is a thin layer over the top of the metal that can be relatively easily removed through a variety of polishing methods. A very simple method that we employ at our pop-ups is the use of a polishing cloth, which is quick, easy, and cheap! If you find that polishing by hand isn't the best option, you can use polishing chemicals, ultrasonic polishers, or even a tumbler. For these latter three options, make sure to check the specifications and directions for the method to make sure it is compatible with all of the metals or gems in your jewelry to prevent accidental damage or other adverse situations. For stainless steel, a bit of oxidation actually forms a protective barrier to prevent further tarnish. Feel free to reach out with any questions and we'll do our best to help!

Will the metal plate off?

    In the case of our solid gold and sterling silver options, the metal is solid all the way through and won't plate off over time. This is a good option for a "forever" piece, but it does carry a hefty price to match. Gold-fill is a layer of 14k gold bonded over a base metal (brass for our pieces) that is much more resistant to wear than plated options. Gold-fill jewelry will wear down over time and therefore has a limited lifespan, but with proper care they can last quite a long while. Gold-fill is a good intermediate point between cost and durability: it's much cheaper than solid gold and more durable than gold-plated. We do offer some plated options, which are less durable and have a lower price to match. We like to think of plated options as a cheap entry level point to try something out before upgrading or to have a piece for occasional use.

What is permanent jewelry?

    Permanent jewelry is a custom fitted piece that is welded together, making it seamless with no clasp! This isn't something you take on and off, but it can be cut off with scissors if needed. This can be an especially good option for people who find that their lifestyle doesn't agree with jewelry clasps or loose-fitted jewelry (such as nurses ripping gloves on a clasp or a tennis player needing something fitted without anything to catch on).

Will it last forever?

    Permanent jewelry doesn't mean indestructible jewelry. While we use quality materials and take care to ensure the process is done properly and safely, there is a risk of breakage as with any other fine jewelry pieces. If you are someone with a more active lifestyle or are accident prone, we'd recommend a more robust chain option or something with a clasp that can be removed as needed. That being said, as someone who has personally worn permanent jewelry for many years and falls in the accident prone category, I've had my bracelet snag and not break. The welded element does offer a bit of security and I made sure to have my bracelets more fitted so they were less likely to snag.

    Additionally, our pieces are safe to wear in water while swimming or showering, though this does increase the risk for exposure-based reactions to hard water deposits or abrasive chemicals such as chlorine. We would also advise against permanent pieces if you work with power tools or around machinery, a clasp would be a better option to allow removal for safety.

What if it breaks?

    Should your piece suffer a breakage, or is purposefully removed, we are happy to repair it! Given the nature of how the pieces are put on, this would have to be done in person at one of our pop-up events, which are posted on our Instagram and website. We offer free repairs (meaning if broken, we're happy to weld it back on) for the lifetime of the piece. We may also offer to credit your bracelet within 14 days of purchase toward a more robust option if you have a more active lifestyle that may not be as compatible with the dainty chain options.

Is it safe?

    Its quite safe! We make sure to use a safety barrier between the weld and skin, so there isn't a risk of injury during the process. It's very quick and low power. Should you have additional concerns, feel free to reach out to us via email or ask one of our permanent jewelry artists at an event!

Return policy?

    Due to the unique nature of our gemstone rings, we do not allow returns. Should you find that some aspect of the ring is not desirable, we have some options available below.

What if the sizing isn't quite right?

    If the size is just a tad bit small, we can size up most rings to about a half size larger. This can be done for free in person at one of our pop-ups, or via mail for a $15 resizing fee. If the size is too large or smaller than a half size, we would likely need to remake the ring or have it modified, which is a more intensive process with pricing determined on a piece-by-piece basis based off our rates for different services.

What if the gemstone/metal used just isn't for me?

    In this case, please reach out! We may be able to exchange your piece for another, or remake it with the desired metal or gemstone. Costs are determined on a piece-by-piece basis based off our rates for different services.

What are prong setting and bezel setting? 

    Prong setting means that the gemstone is held in place by little metal prongs that are strategically placed and shaped around the stone. Prong set pieces do a great job of showing off the brilliance of a gemstone due to their more minimal nature, and are a popular choice for high end or dainty pieces. Prong settings can, however, be more prone to catching on things leading to damage or even a stone falling out, so if you are more active or accident prone we recommend a bezel setting.

    Bezel setting means that the gemstone is held in place by a metal band that goes around the stone and is fitted to its sides. Bezel set pieces are more secure with a distinctive look, and are a popular choice for less dainty looking pieces or people with an active/accident prone lifestyle.

By nature, a cuff is not attached to your body in any way other than friction. This means that cuffs can fall off unexpectedly! If the piece is loose or falling off then it can be adjusted for a tighter fit. Make sure to keep the piece if it does fall off, if you lose it then we can't help you. We recommend carefully and slowly bending the piece until it is to the desired size. If you don't feel comfortable doing this yourself, feel free to drop by one of our pop-up markets for the best fitting service, though we can do cuff resizing via mail as well.

Anklets are one of the styles of jewelry that are the most prone to breakage from snagging. If you have a more active or acident prone lifestyle, anklets may not be the best option, especially those with dainty chain. Make sure to keep the anklet if it breaks so we can repair it!

What kind of custom order options do you have?

From wedding rings to body jewelry to friendship pieces, Hannah Frost Jewelry is all about creating jewelry inspired by you! If you can dream it up, odds are that our team can make it a reality. Custom orders tend to fall into one of two categories that we like to call "soft" or "hard" customs.

"Soft" custom pieces are usually for simple orders that don't require as much consultation to make happen, and also usually have a quicker turn-around time. Examples include:

-Choose one of our designs, choose a stone, and we'll make it!

-Resizing, resetting, custom sized rings, custom lengths, and other simple modifications.

-Simple material changes, such as using different chain options or reinforcing connections

"Hard" custom pieces are usually a more intensive process that often requires consulting and/or additional labor at multiple points in the design process. The timeline for these projects is usually longer, ranging from 4 weeks to 6 months depending on complexity and our waitlist. These projects tend to have additional costs associated with consultation, labor, sourcing, and many other factors. Examples include:

-Full custom designed pieces, such as wedding rings, vintage repurposed pieces, heirloom pieces, custom body jewelry, or anything else that requires client consultation.

-Major changes to a piece, such as changing materials from one metal to another, modifying a design, remaking something in a different size, and more.

-Anything with more difficult sourcing requirements, like stone requests outside of our inventory, non-stocked chains, alternate materials, or unique creation processes.

If you are interested in a custom order, please reach out to us via our custom order form!

Do you allow returns?

Due to the unique nature of custom pieces, we do not offer returns on any custom orders. This includes custom services such as resizing or resetting.

What if there's something undesirable about a custom piece?

If you are not happy with a custom order, please reach out to us to discuss available options and we'll do our best to work with you within our policies. Some modifications may incur additional costs as discussed above.