Sizing & Care

What is artisan-made jewelry?

I’m a professionally trained silversmith and lapidary artist. I create every piece entirely by hand, from start to finish.

While I take meticulous care and pride in my craft, the very nature of my work means there may occasionally be minor imperfections when compared to mass-produced, machine-made jewelry. I will never sell anything that is structurally compromised. That being said, if you are not satisfied, please review my return policy. 

How do I know my size?

If you are uncertain about your ring size, wrist size, or desired chain length, please visit a local jeweler to get properly sized and ensure you order the correct item. For DIY tips, keep reading.

Ring Size

When sizing rings, try on a band similar in width to the piece you're considering. For example, a thin band in a size 8 will fit differently than an extra wide band in a size 8. When wearing wide ring bands, you’ll likely need to go up at least a ½ size.

Wrap a piece of dental floss around your finger and mark where the floss overlaps. Don’t make the floss too tight and make sure it will fit over your knuckles. Measure the length of the floss with a ruler and find your approximate ring size in the chart below. Understand that this is not an exact science and please read my return policy.

In most cases, I cannot resize a finished piece and also maintain the integrity and quality. This is especially true if the piece includes a stone setting. There are a few exceptions where I may be able to size up a ½ size to one full size. This resizing is done with a soft rawhide mallet and a ring mandrel. This procedure may change the texture of the ring band.

I cannot be held responsible for the work of another jeweler you may hire to resize my pieces.

Cuff / Bangle Size

Cuffs are made with stiff metal and generally have a 1” gap on the underside of your wrist. You pop them on perpendicular to your wrist and the spin them around.

Bangles are a full circle of metal that you slide on over your hand.

Both styles are measured in inches, so it’s super simple to figure out your size. Wrap dental floss around your wrist where you typically like your jewelry to sit, and mark where it overlaps. If it’s a cuff you want, you’re done. If you want a bangle, keep tweaking the floss until it slides over your hand. Measure the length of floss with a ruler and voila.

Even better, use a tailor’s measuring tape for an exact measurement.

As a baseline, an average sized cuff (women’s) is 6” of metal with a 1” gap, for a total circumference of 7”

Necklace Chain Lengths

The photo below is offered only as a general example. All bodies are different and beautiful and chains are definitely not one length fits all. Please use this only as a guide and make your own measurement using floss or a tailor’s measuring tape.

As a baseline, the most common length of chain used and/or requested for my pieces is 18”

How do I care for my silver jewelry?

I create with .925 Sterling Silver, .999 Fine Silver, and occasionally copper. Know that even precious metals tarnish naturally over time and, in the case of my jewelry, tarnish is not a function of poor quality. Your body chemistry contributes to the rate at which it tarnishes, as does humidity, lotions and oils, etc. In fact…

Moisture and oils are your biggest concerns. Take your jewelry off before getting dirty, gardening, working out, showering, swimming, washing the dishes, etc. Always store your jewelry in a cool, dry place. Consider storing your jewelry in anti-tarnish bags.

You’ll receive a yellow Sunshine Polishing Cloth with your order so that you can care for your jewelry over time. This cloth is infused with a compound used specifically to bring a high shine to precious metals. Please be aware that this compound will remove black patina that may be integral to the design of your piece, so use thoughtfully.

After buffing your jewelry with the Sunshine cloth, very gently scrub with a soft bristled children’s toothbrush, Dawn dish soap, and warm water. Dawn will safely cut through the oils and grease that naturally build up on the metal. This is the only time your piece should get wet and you should dry it immediately with a paper towel. 

If another jeweler polishes your piece, especially if they damage it in the process, I cannot be held responsible for their work.