Policies & FAQ

 

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Processing Times



All orders for finished pieces ship within 1-2 business days of purchase. For made to order pieces, please add an extra 3-5 business days to this in order for me to make the piece :)

 

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Shipping

All Gem & Tonik orders include discounted postage rates, detailed tracking, insurance and email updates at no extra charge! 
The time estimates below are a guide only, based on information given by Australia Post, as well as my experience with shipping Internationally over the last few years.
*Please know I cannot be held responsible if your parcel gets delayed in customs, or if your country has additional customs fees for International packages.
 

Australia
- Standard (2-5 business days): AU$6.50
- Express (1 business day): AU$10.50
*Free Express Shipping For Orders Over $150

 

USA & Canada
- Standard (5-8 business days): AU$13
- Express (2-4 business days): AU$33
*Free Standard Shipping For Orders Over AU$250

 

UK & Europe
- Standard (6-10 business days): AU$20
- Express (2-4 business days): AU$40
*Free Standard Shipping For Orders Over AU$250

 

China
- Standard (6-10 business days): AU$16
- Express (2-4 business days): AU$36
*Free Standard Shipping For Orders Over AU$250

 

New Zealand
- Standard (5-9 business days): AU$12
- Express (2-4 Business days): AU$32
*Free Standard Shipping For Orders Over AU$250
 

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Custom Orders

 

***Please note that I am not taking custom orders at this time.***
If you'd like to be notified of the next time I open up orders for custom pieces, feel free to subscribe to my VIP email list at the bottom of this page. 💕

 

 

When I do open up slots for custom orders, I do have a few conditions that I like stay true to:
  1. I require a 50% minimum deposit before I start work on a piece, and that deposit is non-refundable in the event of change of mind or if the remaining balance on the piece is not paid.
  2. I don't feel comfortable copying the work of another Metalsmith, so won't copy an existing piece from other jewellery companies. I like to keep my designs as original and unique to Gem & Tonik as possible, and like to respect the hard work of other artists.
  3. As I want to ensure all stones I work with are sustainably sourced, I only work with stones that are in my own collection. This is also for insurance purposes, as working with stones by hand means that they can occasionally be damaged in the creating process.
  4. As each custom listing is made to order especially for that customer, I cannot offer returns on change of mind or if the wrong ring size is mistakenly requested.
Please remember that as with all my work, I make everything entirely by hand, so each custom piece will end up being a complete one of a kind! 😊

 




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Product Photography

I take all product photos both in natural light outside in my garden, and inside under artificial light in my studio. Please allow for slight variations in colour, as some monitors, browsers and phone screens display colour differently.

 


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Afterpay - How it Works

 


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Returns & Warranty

Before purchasing any pieces from my shop, please ensure you read the descriptions, are sure of your ring size, and look over photos thoroughly. I put a great deal of time into accurately describing and photographing my work, and try to provide as much information as I can in each product listing to ensure you can purchase with confidence. 


 

Finished Pieces: I will gladly accept returns on any piece that is not listed as Custom or Made To Order. To do this, simply message me via my 'Contact' page within 3 days of delivery, and send the item(s) back via tracked mail within 7 days of delivery. To receive a refund, piece(s) must be returned in their original condition within the timeframe specified above. Refunds will be processed the day that the piece(s) arrive back at my studio, as long as these conditions are met.

Custom & Made to Order Pieces: Custom and Made to Order items are final sale, and therefore not returnable. Please double check your ring size when ordering, as each Made to Order piece is created specifically for the customer that orders it.

Warranty: All pieces purchased from my website come with a 100 day warranty from date of purchase. This covers any accidental manufacturing faults or defects, but will not cover breakage or damage due to misuse, or exposure of stones to chemicals. For information on how to care for your gemstone jewellery and keep it in optimum condition, check out my jewellery care tips further down this page. 

 
If for some reason you are not happy with your order, please send me a message and we can work together to find a suitable solution. Customer service and satisfaction are incredibly important to me, and I will always work to the best of my ability to ensure my creations are going to home where they will be loved! 

 

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Packaging

Every order comes ready for gift giving, lovingly packaged in a little turquoise gift bag and a Gem & Tonik gift box handmade by me from recycled cardboard! Each box is tied with blue hemp ribbon, wrapped securely in biodegradable honeycomb wrap, then posted in a recycled padded paper mailer. Care instructions and a silver polishing cloth are also included in each order.
All Gem & Tonik packaging is also eco-friendly, as almost all the materials I use are recycled and biodegradable!

 


 

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Sterling Silver Versus Fine Silver

Most of the pieces I create are made from a combination of recycled Sterling Silver and Fine Silver. Pure Silver (100% Silver) is incredibly soft and pourous, which means a piece could easily be bent with a small amount of force, or dinted easily by any knocks, scratches or movement. I use Sterling Silver and Fine Silver instead in my work, as this guarantees not only the quality, but also the longevity of a piece so that it can be worn and loved for many years.

Sterling Silver: Contains at least 92.5% silver, with the other 7.5% consisting of copper and zinc. I use this for all the ring bands, back plates, little accents, pendant bails, earring hooks, bangles and other embellishments. This ensures that every piece can withstand every day wear, maintaining it's shape, quality and beautiful silver colour.

Fine Silver: Contains at least 99% silver, with the other 1% consisting of copper and zinc. I use this in all the bezels in my work, which are the pieces of silver that envelope each gemstone, holding it into the piece. I choose to work with Fine Silver for these bezels, as it is a little bit softer than sterling silver. This means that it provides less pressure on the stones that it sits around, making them less likely to crack with wear and knocks over time. Fine Silver can also go for longer periods without cleaning and not tarnish, so even if you don't polish or wear your Gem & Tonik piece often, the Fine Silver will stay bright and shiny, helping to showcase the stones in every piece, allowing their colours and features to stand out and be the focus in every design.

 


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Jewellery Care

In creating my pieces, I always use the highest quality materials to ensure that they are built to last. That said, like all other artisan jewellery containing natural stones, Gem & Tonik items still need to be treated with love and care in order to keep them in optimum condition. To help achieve this, I provide detailed care instructions and a silver polishing cloth with every order.

 

All of the precious and semi-precious gemstones that I use in my work are genuine, and many are considered to be delicate. Opals and Larimar for example can be discoloured from prolonged exposure to pollution and sunlight, and Turquoise and Malachite can discolour after prolonged exposure to harsh chemicals. For this reason, it's advisable to take off your Gem & Tonik pieces when showering, swimming, washing hands and undergoing strenuous activity. When cleaning your items, I suggest to just use a silver polishing cloth without water, and it's best to stay away from any chemical jewellery cleaners so that they don't affect the stones.
 
I also recommend storing your Gem & Tonik pieces in an air-tight bag or container, as sterling silver can tarnish when exposed to moisture and oxygen over time. If your piece does tarnish over the years, simply use a touch of bicarbonate soda on an old toothbrush to gently clean the piece using soft, circular motions.

 


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Ring Resizing

As I only work with hand tools, I unfortunately can't resize finished rings with stones in them without risking them cracking from the heat of my torches.

Rings can usually be resized by any jeweller that has the correct equipment (a laser welder or other resizing machinery), but that would be something I would double check with a local jewellery store near you first. If you love a Gem & Tonik piece but it's not in your size, I'd recommend showing your local jewellery store the photos and listing details of that particular ring, to find out whether they have the machinery to resize the piece for you. If you'd like a piece sized up, some jewellery stores also have the equipment to offer a ring stretching service. This can often be a more affordable option for resizing, and when done correctly will not change the appearance of the ring or ring band. 

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COVID19 Update

COVID19 currently has no negative impact on the way that I run Gem & Tonik. I work from home in a regularly cleaned and sanitised studio, and I ensure all my work is cleaned thoroughly before posting out orders. Please note that there may be delays with both Domestic and International shipping, so it's best to allow extra time on top of my advertised delivery times just in case. All orders come with detailed tracking, insurance and email updates, so even if your order is delayed, you can still easily keep tabs on it to see when it will arrive.😊

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Crystal Healing Disclaimer

Please keep in mind that all information and recommendations on the metaphysical properties of stones are published on my website in good faith, and are based on anecdotal evidence I have gathered through various recourses including legend and myth from past centuries. Crystals should never be used as a substitute for conventional medical or psychological treatment, and I cannot claim they cure or heal medical conditions. Please always listen to the advice of your medical professional and only use crystals as a complimentary therapy in addition to medical treatment.

 

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Made by Hand

My items are made entirely by my hands, and not from moulds, casts or machinery. Each piece takes a great deal of time to make, and I put a little bit of my heart into everything I create. This means that my work may not always look like pieces that are mass produced. To show this, I try to take clear photos outside in natural light, and from different angles so you can see each piece in its entirety.
If you are looking for something that looks like it came from a catalogue or big box retail store, then I would recommend purchasing from a company that uses pre-fabs or machine-made pieces. However, if you would like something that has been made from the heart, with care, traditional techniques, and with a love for the Earth in mind, then I'd love for you to purchase from me!
 

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