FAQ

How do I figure out my ring size?

The only accurate way is to go to your local jeweller and have your finger sized. Please beware that each finger on either hand has a slightly different size, so keep that in mind if you are buying a ring that you would like to wear on a specific finger. Also keep in mind that your finger size will vary slightly depending on temperature - it will expand in hot weather and shrink when cold.

The sizes displayed on this website are standard US sizes. If you are unsure how your region’s size converts to your US size, please check the following website http://www.ringsizes.co/ for a useful chart overview, or feel free to contact me at info@juliabocanet.com. In the final creation of your ring, I will use the size’s corresponding diameter as shown in the chart.

Kindly keep in mind that it is not possible to accept exchanges due to an incorrect size order, as all jewellery is made to measure and limited edition. But I offer resizing at a €35 fee for EU residents. (Any shipping costs for sending the resized ring, back and forth, will be the responsibility of the buyer.)

When will my item(s) ship?

Because all jewellery is handmade to order, exact shipping dates cannot be guaranteed. Please allow for a 1-3 week window. An email will be sent out to you as soon as your order ships, with tracking information.

If you are ordering something as a gift and need it by a certain date, please contact me at info@juliabocanet.com and I will do my best to accommodate your request.

Can you make custom work or alterations?

I am always happy to hear from customers concerning personalised jewellery requests and design collaborations! Please contact me at info@juliabocanet.com for any enquiries and custom orders. I’ll be more than happy to review your wish, check the ability to create it and if so give you a personal quote.

What is the difference between Solid Gold, Gold Plated, Gold Vermeil and Gold Filled?

When jewellers refer to "gold," they are usually talking about Solid Gold, the highest quality type of gold. In its most pure form (24k) gold is soft, almost orange in colour, and altogether too weak to work with for jewellery. Because of this, alloys are added to create a more structurally sound metal that mixed together, is known as "solid gold."

The pieces available on this website are always made from 14K solid gold, which has 14 parts pure gold and 10 parts other alloys. It has a wonderful colour, a slightly pale warm yellow, and comes at a more affordable price than higher karats, offering the wearer a beautiful and qualitative product for good value.

When a piece of jewellery is Gold Plated, it means that a base metal like brass has been quickly dipped in a solid gold bath. The gold content is usually less than 1%. Over time this layer tends to quickly fade when washed, rinsed, or rubbed too hard, leaving traces on your skin and unappealing looking jewellery. This method is mostly used in fashion to keep costs low.

Gold Vermeil is a common type of gold plating, which uses sterling silver as the base metal. Vermeil has a thicker layer of gold than normal gold plating, which is why you'll see it in stores selling fine jewellery. However, with enough scuffs and scratches the plating can still wear off.

Instead of being dipped in gold, Gold Filled jewellery undergoes a mechanical bonding process that melts a thicker layer of gold onto the base metal. By law, gold filled jewellery must contain 5% gold by weight to be categorised as such. Because of this, the inside of a gold filled jewellery piece will still be stamped with a karat number, however this is only for the filled coating. While filled jewellery will maintain its gold cast for longer, it will inevitably undergo discoloration and tarnishing after time.

Why do you offer only Solid Gold and Solid Silver as material options?

For me part of jewellery’s beauty as a product is its value over time. It is a precious item, that can be worn over many years and generations. In history jewellery has always been an item of heritage passed down from (grand)parent to child. When you buy a new piece from me, I want to give you that quality of not only design but also material, that possibly one day will live in the possession of a loved one. Therefore I use only solid precious metals.

Secondly, although it is a more expensive option than say plated or vermeil jewellery, it will never loose its inherent material value over time. It will also age the most beautifully. Your piece will therefore always keep market value.

Last but certainly not least, the reason I use only solid gold and silver, and no plated material, is to give you the possibility to restore and renew your jewellery in the future. Although I make every item with great care and precision, jewellery remains a fragile product. A link might snap from wear or an accidental pull, a bracelet will scratch during your daily activities, or as you grow older your ring size changes. Giving a goldsmith a piece that has one metal at the surface and another at the base, makes it harder and more laborious to repair or adjust. Sometimes even impossible. Adjusting a solid gold or silver piece is much easier. Above all, if one day you choose to transform the shape altogether you can easily melt the whole piece of jewellery and have a cleanly cast new shape, that does not lose any of its material value.

In conclusion, jewellery made from a solid precious metal is a wonderful investment. The material’s value will never fade and you keep all options open for your precious possession if it ever needs adjusting or you decide to give it a new life.