Question 1

What is 14k gold-filled jewelry?

Accepted Answer

We choose to work with 14k gold-filled because it allows us to offer top-of-the-line quality at a more affordable price.  The thick outer layer of gold makes it highly durable and safe for people with allergies or sensitive skin.     What is 14K gold-filled?  “Gold-filled” is a USA industry standard that legally requires 1/20th, or 5% pure gold by weight.  It’s a strictly regulated process that involves pressure bonding multiple layers of solid 14k gold with extreme heat over a core of high quality jeweler’s brass resulting in a durable, quality real gold product. Is "gold-filled" the same as "gold fill"?  Yes, they are the same thing.  The terms are often used interchangeably, although "gold-filled" is officially preferred.  Also, if there is no indication of karats (i.e., 14k gold-filled or 10k gold-filled), you can probably assume "gold-filled" in the United States means 14k gold-filled since it makes up 95% of gold-filled products.  Is gold-fill actually "filled with gold"? Actually, all the gold is on the outside, so yep, it’s strange.  I’m not sure why the industry decided on “gold-filled” to identify this kind of jewelry—it’s confusing, since it really has nothing to do with being filled with gold.  The only thing you need to know is that the term refers to a thick outer layer of durable, pressure-bonded, real, solid gold...on the outside.  No filling. Is gold-filled jewelry real gold? The gold in 14k gold-filled is real. There’s a thick layer of real, solid 14k gold on the outside of a brass core.  The 14k gold that’s on the outside of gold-filled is the same gold as you would get from a solid 14k piece.   How much real gold is in gold fill? Gold-filled jewelry is required to have a minimum of 1/20th (5%) gold by weight. The 5% gold in gold-filled jewelry may not sound like a lot, but it’s all on the outside and it's plenty to keep your jewelry looking great for many years. How are gold-filled items marked? 14/20 GF or 14k GF mark may be present on gold-filled pieces.  Often, handmade gold-filled pieces from smaller companies won't be marked, however.   Filled vs. PlatedWhat's the difference between gold-filled and gold plated? There’s a lot more gold in gold-filled and the gold is attached in a way that’s much more durable. Also, the standards for 14k gold-fill are strictly regulated, while the standards for "gold plated" encompass a broad range of thicknesses, so you can't be sure how much gold is in the plated layer.   Is gold-filled better than plated? Yes. If you'd like to understand why, we explore the two processes in more depth in another post here. Is 14k gold-filled good quality? Gold-fill is absolutely your best option after solid gold for quality and durability.  It will not flake off or turn your skin green and offers a great option for people with sensitive skin.  We use USA made gold-filled components. Gold-filled jewelry can stay beautiful for a lifetime, especially with a good care.  How long does gold-filled jewelry last? After solid options, Gold-filled jewelry is your best quality for gold pieces. Gold fill items can last a lifetime. In practice, actual longevity will depend on how you care for it and a variety of other factors.  Does gold-filled tarnish? 14k GF materials are not supposed to tarnish for a long time.  It's possible for gold-fill to tarnish under certain circumstances, but it should not tarnish easily. With good care it will retain it's beautiful shine without much work. Does it contain nickel? No. None of our jewelry contains nickel. Is gold-filled jewelry okay for people with sensitive skin? Yes. 99.9% of people find they have no sensitivity to gold-filled jewelry.  Because the outside of the piece is solid 14k gold, it interacts with your skin in the same way solid 14k gold would.  If you do not have any sensitivities to solid gold, you will find gold-filled agrees well with your skin.  Depending on the design, for example if our pieces are cut from sheet metal, the brass core will show only on the edges and will turn a rich patina adding character to the piece. Will it turn my skin green? No. There are very rare instances where certain people's body chemistry reacts with the 14k gold to leave a green residue on the skin, but this happens in approximately 0.001% of people, so it should not be a concern.  Body chemistry is a fascinating thing, and often times it's actually medications present in the system that can react with the gold. Will it flake off? No. With gold-filled jewelry, the process involves mechanically bonding the gold to the core through extreme pressure and heat.  It results in a resilient exterior that’s not prone to flaking or cracking.  Flaking is more common with certain types of gold plating. Does it Rust? No.  Rust isn't possible with the metals present in gold-filled material. Caring for 14K gold-filled jewelry Do I have to take it off to shower? Not if you use mild soaps.  It can actually be good for cleaning gold-fill jewelry to shower with it on.  BUT, MAKE SURE that your shampoos and soaps are gentle as certain chemicals can negatively impact the look of the gold.  If you're not sure, take your jewelry off to shower.  Can I sleep in my gold-filled jewelry? Yes, but it won't last as long.  Sleeping in your jewelry won’t damage the gold-filled surfaces, but for delicate pieces such as dainty chains on necklaces or bracelets, snagging on the fabric of your sheets or nightclothes can be an issue.   How do I take care of it? The best care you can give your pieces is to clean them gently with water, mild soap, and a soft cloth (eyeglass chamois work great!) and only polish them when they really need it. It also helps to avoid exposure to lotions or wash them off your jewelry immediately, especially gold-fill chain, which can capture bits of lotion in all the nooks and crannies.    Why can’t you cast gold-filled?   The casting process involves pouring liquid metal into a mold.  If you melted down gold-filled material, the gold would no longer be only concentrated on the outside and you’d end up with something more like 2k gold, instead of 14k gold on the outside of a brass core.  The only way to make gold-filled requires massive amounts of pressure and heat.  Like, massive.  Not something that you’d be able to do outside a dedicated factory.

Question 2

Where can I find Dear Jane Jewelry?

Accepted Answer

North Wind Home Collection, Homer Alaska Thistles on Libbie, Richmond Virginia  The Blue Print Gallery, Dallas Texas Sussie's, Frisco Texas MYSA, Shelburne VT

Question 3

When can I expect to receive my jewelry?

Accepted Answer

We aim to get your in stock order out the door within four business days of receiving it.   At that point, the USPS takes over. They are experiencing unprecedented shortages in personnel and other than cheer them on from afar, we have no control if a package gets held up by them.    We would be happy to accommodate rush shipping when we are able-hey we love pulling off a good last-minute surprise! Just please contact us prior to ordering to be sure we can accommodate the rush order.    CUSTOM ORDERS-like all good things, these take time.  Please allow two weeks for us to process the order and get it out the door to you.  Again, we love to pull off a surprise so feel free to contact us before ordering if you are shorter on time and we will do our best to accommodate.

Question 4

What font do you use for your pieces?

Accepted Answer

The quick answer is-several!  Some pieces are made using the handwriting of our founder, Leah Jones.  This means you will never find an item with this font again!  The act of writing out the quote before it is transferred on to the metal adds an element of connectedness between our jewelry and our customer, which is always what we strive for!  On others, you will find engraved fonts that are also beautiful.

Question 5

What metal are your products made from?

Accepted Answer

We specify what kind of metal is used on every product description. Items on our site are made with either sterling silver, 14k gold plated, or 14k gold filled. 14k yellow gold, 14k white gold, or platinum upon special request.  (You can read more about 14k gold filled below.)

Question 6

Where does the name Dear Jane come from?

Accepted Answer

Dear Jane comes from a combination of concepts.  First, our pieces hold sentiment from classic literature by either the written word or the hint of design from literature (for example, Art Deco is reminiscent of the time period The Great Gatsby was set in). Jane Austen, though her novels were few in number, is arguably one of the greatest female novelist to date and our business name pays homage to her.  Second, each of our pieces is meant to be something that is cherished and held very dear to you.

Question 7

Do you ship internationally?

Accepted Answer

We are happy to ship internationally, but please note that we declare the actual value on the customs form and we cannot guarantee a specific delivery time frame, as international orders have to go through customs. Please note we cannot be responsible for any additional fees or service charges incurred by customs or your chosen mail carrier, as each destination is different.

Question 8

Are your chains sturdy?

Accepted Answer

We offer a high-quality chain with your purchase.  Occasionally chains will break unexpectedly and we are able to replace the chain for up to 2 weeks after your purchase , given the damage was not caused by anything explainable.  Unfortunately eventually chains break and if you've got young kids or you are active, we recommend you wear your jewelry with caution.

Question 9

What is your shipping address?

Accepted Answer

For privacy reasons we don't publish our physical address.

Question 10

Do you accept custom orders?

Accepted Answer

We do! We are so happy to have recently added a collection to our site called "Personalized Jewelry".  You can find personalized options under the "Shop All" tab on the home page as well.

Question 11

What is your return policy?

Accepted Answer

Non-custom orders:  If your jewelry is defective, scratched or breaks within the first 30 days of purchase we will gladly replace the item. Please email customer service info@dearjanejewelry.com with your order number and a picture of the defective item to initiate this process. To qualify for the item to be replaced, you must email us within 30 days of purchase of the item.  If it has been more than 30 days since purchase, we are unable to accept returns.    Custom Order Returns:  We want you to LOVE your piece.  Please contact us if there is a problem and we will do everything we can to fix it.  Unfortunately, if the error is due to a typo on the customer's end we are unable to accept returns. Please take care when placing custom orders and ask questions BEFORE placing the order if you feel something isn't clear.      If the error is on our end, we will work with you to fix the problem.

Question 12

What are your other store policies?

Accepted Answer

Your Privacy Dearjanejewelry.com respects the privacy of all our customers. This privacy & security policy outlines the information we collect about you, how we use this information, and the choices you have to review, revise and/or restrict our usage of this information.  Collected Information Dearjanejewelry.com collects customer information for a variety of reasons, which include providing superior customer service, improving our customers’ shopping experience and  as a means to communicate with our customers about our products, services and promotions. We use this information to process transactions, inquiries or promotions that you initiate with us, as well as provide you with advertising tailored to your interests. Additionally, we maintain a record of your product interests, purchases and whatever else might enable us to enhance and personalize your shopping experience on this website, and to provide you with offers, promotions or information that we believe may be of interest to you.  We also monitor use of the Dear Jane company website and analyze traffic patterns to improve the website design and the products and services we offer, as well as to determine what offers, promotions or information to send to you.  Dearjanejewelry.com may disclose specific personal information about you only if required by law, governmental request or court order, or if based on our good faith that it is necessary to conform or comply with such law, request or court order. We may also disclose information about you to a company contracted to help prevent the unauthorized use of credit and gift cards.  Our Email List We offer those who sign up for our email list advanced notice of sales and new merchandise and other Dear Jane news.  Policy Changes We may periodically update this privacy & security policy for new, unanticipated uses not previously disclosed. Any changes made will be posted here.  By visiting dearjanejewelry.com, you agree to accept any changes made to this policy.  The dearjanejewelry.com privacy & security policy only addresses the use and disclosure of information we collect from you on our website.