BJChristian Designs

Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

Jewelry Questions

1. How do I measure for correct size?

2. Argentium Silver ? What is it?   NEW!

3. Do you use silver or gold plated wire and components?

4. How do I care for the jewelry?

5. Do you repair jewelry?

6. Can I return a piece of jewelry if I decide it is not what I want?

7. Can you make a custom piece of jewelry for me?

8. Why do your prices fluctuate?

Ordering and Shipping Questions

1. I'd like to buy some jewelry for a gift. Do you offer gift certificates?

2. How do I order jewelry?

3. What is your shipping policy?

4. Do you sell wholesale?

Jewelry Questions

How do I measure for correct size?

Measuring for a bracelet - Use a soft tape measure and give me the measurement of your wrist, at the wrist bone, not the bracelet size you usually wear.   Note the measurement to the closest 1/4 of an inch or in centimeters and enter it in the "comments" section when checking out.  (If you do not have a soft tape measure, use a string and then measure that using a ruler.)  Sometimes if a bracelet or bangle needs to made unusually large, there may be a price adjustment. If that is the case, I will contact you.

Please note: If you are ordering for a gift and do not know the size, it is helpful if you can tell me if their wrist is small, average or large. I offer free size adjustment for up to 3 months after purchase.

Measuring for a choker -  The standard size for choker is 16 inch. Let me know if you want other than 16 inch. Use a necklace you already own to measure your desired length. (Slender or smaller than average women may wear a 15 or 15 1/2 inch choker.)

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Argentium Silver ? What is it?

Argentium® Sterling Silver is a patented and trademarked alloy that is at least 92.5% pure silver, just like traditional sterling. What makes it different from traditional sterling silver is that a small amount of germanium replaces some of the copper that is usually the other 7.5% of sterling silver, making it a highly tarnish-resistant sterling silver. Peter Johns of Middlesex University in England invented Argentium® Sterling Silver in 1996. It is cared for just like traditional sterling silver.

Since November 2007 I am using almost entirely Argentium® Sterling Silver wire and some beads, however all of the Indian, Bali, Thai, and imported Sterling Silver beads are traditional sterling silver. Since Argentium® sterling silver is more costly,  my prices will reflect this.

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Do you use silver or gold plated wire and components?

Mostly, I do not.  All of the silver I use is Sterling Silver or better.  Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver. I use some silver beads and components that come from the Karen Hill Tribe in Thailand. These silver beads and components are 95% silver.  The rest of the sterling silver beads come from India, Turkey, Israel, China, Bali, Nepal and the USA, and maybe a few other places as well.  The gold wire I use is 14K gold-filled. Occasionally I will use 12K gold-filled beads or components.  Occasionally, I may use Thai silver beads that have been gold plated with 28K gold.

Recently I have been playing with Precious Metal Clay (PMC) mostly making beads and components to include in my pieces. PMC is a material made of pure silver and a polymer that can be molded much like clay. After the piece is fired it becomes 99.9% pure silver. It is a very fun, yet expensive, material to play in, so I am gradually including it in pieces here and there. It will be stated in the item description if PMC is included.

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How do I care for the jewelry?

To clean, scrub the piece using a soft toothbrush and mild dishwashing liquid with warm water. To remove tarnish from silver I recommend that you occasionally polish it with a Sunshine Polishing Cloth. This is a non-toxic cloth that contains non-scratch micro particles and chemical cleaners that bring the silver to a beautiful shine. It can also be used on gold, brass and copper. Do not use this cloth on soft stones like Lapis, Malachite, and Turquoise.

Don't store the piece out in the open. It is best in an airtight bag or jewelry box.   The piece may become darkened in the crevices, like within the spiral beads for example. This, I believe, adds character to the piece, like an antiqued affect. Just polish as much of the silver or gold as you can.  The cloth will start to blacken very quickly, but it lasts a long time after that. You can purchase a Sunshine Polishing Cloth .

If the jewelry becomes very tarnished and you would like to bring back the original brightness throughout the whole piece, some of my jewelry can be dipped in a silver tarnish remover. Pieces containing Lapis, Malachite, or wood should not be dipped. To be sure if dipping is possible for your piece just ask me.

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Do you repair jewelry?

I have been asked many times to repair jewelry that has been made by someone else. I occasionally repair jewelry that has been strung. but I work mostly in wire.  Normally the beads that were used in the stinging process have too small of holes for my use. However there are exceptions, contact me if you have beads that you would like made into a new piece of jewelry using wire.

Of course, my own designs are guaranteed and I will repair it any time free of charge if breakage is due to a manufacture defect. You only pay to send it to me. If repair is needed due to misuse or accident, please contact me for an estimate. I may need the piece sent to me before giving an estimate.

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Can I return a piece of jewelry if I decide it is not what I want?

I truly want you to be happy with the jewelry you purchase from me. If the item has not been altered or damaged, and if you are not satisfied with the item, just return it to me within two weeks of receiving it, and I will refund the price of the item, or exchange it, whichever you prefer.

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Can you make a custom piece of jewelry for me?

Yes, I do this quite often.  I enjoy the creative input of the my customers and it is great to co-create in this way.  Contact me if you would like to create together a custom piece of jewelry.

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Ordering and Shipping Questions

I'd like to buy some jewelry for a gift. Do you offer gift certificates?

Yes, I offer gift certificates that can be redeemed on this site or at a show, and are good for up to one year from day of purchase. All jewelry comes in a gift box with a tag that describes the piece. The descriptions on the tags are similar to the descriptions that are given of each piece on this site. View the gift boxes that you receive. 

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How do I order jewelry?

There are a couple of ways. You can call me at 715-277-2931 or use this web site to order.  I accept VISA, MASTERCARD, or DISCOVER on phone orders. I will also accept checks or money orders. 

You may order directly through this site using my secure shopping cart. Just click on the "BUY NOW" button and the item is put into your shopping cart. Be sure to include any size information in the "comment" text box during checkout. The shipping and handling charges, and tax if applicable, are automatically calculated when you check out. My shopping cart on this site is safe and secure, it allows you to make payments directly to me using your Visa or MasterCard, or you may use Paypal.   Paypal is a very safe and secure way to make payments over the internet using a bank account or credit card account.   free Paypal account.

When paying by PAYPAL the charge will made at the time of purchase.

When paying by VISA, MASTERCARD, or DISCOVER through my shopping cart the charge will be made the day the order is shipped. 

When paying by personal check, the order will be shipped after the check is received and deposit is approved.

Your Credit Card and PayPal statements will show a transaction to "BJChristian Designs", and checks can be made payable to "BJChristian Designs" or "Betty J Christian"

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What is your shipping policy ?

I ship using USPS (United States Postal Service) with tracking details. 

The shipping and handling fee is $7.95 on orders up to $100

The shipping and handling fee is $8.95 on orders over $100 

Call or email for shipping charges out of the continental US. Please allow approximately 1 to 3 weeks for delivery in the USA. If I need to make the size you desire, up to 3 weeks may be required. Sometimes there are exceptions. If you need something by a certain date, let me know in the "comment" section during check out, or call.

GENESA SPHERES: These have a separate shipping and handling fee. Please see the Genesa Crystal page for correct S/H prices of these items. Thank you.

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Do you sell wholesale?

Yes, I do sell wholesale to qualifying merchants.  Contact me to inquire about ordering wholesale.

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