Most Frequently Asked Questions

If I have something can I ship it to you to wire wrap?

Yes, I will be happy to wire wrap something that you may already own.  It needs to be the size of a dime or larger.  Sorry, I will not do any animal parts with the exception of shark’s teeth.  Please ship the item to my shop 112B Front Street, Lewes, Delaware 19958) or you can drop them off at Sand N Stones.  Please also include your name, phone number, and address and e-mail address, and how you would like to be contacted.  When I receive the item, I will contact you, so that we can discuss details. How you want it wrapped in 14 K gold-filled, Anti-Tarnish Sterling Silver, or two-tone.  Pendant, pin, earrings, or a ring. If you want a swish or a rosette at the top.  How much the it will cost to wire wrap it. Prices start at $90.00 and go up from there.  You tell me to go ahead or not, and I get your credit card information at that time. 

How do you price your pieces?

My wire wrapped jewelry starts at $90.00. The price really depends on…

§  If I am wrapping one of my pieces or if you are bring in or sending me something that you already own.

§  If you want it wrapped in 14 k gold-filled, anti-tarnish Sterling Silver, or a combination of both,

§  If you want a pendant, pin, earrings (which is like wrapping two pendants with a bit of a discount) or a ring.

§  It also depends on how big and how thick the piece is, because that determine how much wire I use.

§  Chains do not come with my pendants.  There are so many different styles, lengths, and thicknesses, so I sell the chains separately. 

Which credit cards do you accept?

· We use Square Up and Paypal at Sand N Stones and when doing festivals. Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express

· We also take Money Orders, Travelers Checks, Sand N Stones Gift Certificates and Checks.

We request that Checks meet these criteria.

-The check must have a complete Street Address not just a PO Box and a verified phone number.
-Sand N Stones, reserves the right to record identification numbers (such as drives license, Military ID, or State Identification Card numbers) on the check.
-The figure and the written amount must match.
-Check must not be postmarked.
-Checks that I receive in the mail, I try to put in the bank within 24 hours of receiving them. The check must be cleared before I send the merchandise.
-There will be a $35.00 return check fee along with any other accrued charges that may apply. It is also my policy to attempt to contact the customer regarding this matter. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. 

Can I cancel my order?

Yes, you can, as long as the item has not been shipped if it is a stone from Sand N Stones. Your order can be canceled as long as I have not wrapped it already if it is a piece that you own.  If you do receive an order that was canceled, accept delivery of the item and call or text Michele Buckler at 302-270-7027 or send me an e-mail gemwrap@comcast.net
 

I canceled my order but I haven’t received a credit yet. How long do credits take?

We submit all requests for credits within 72 hours of receipt; however, it may take 7-10 business days for you to receive your credit. You should see this on your next credit card statement or the following one, depending on where you are in your billing cycle.

Return Policy

Can I return or exchange an item that is damaged, defective, or change my mind?

If, within 20 days from the date purchased, you are not satisfied with your purchase, yes, it can be exchanged.  The merchandise must be in re-sellable condition. We will replace the item or provide a store credit for the full merchandise amount less any shipping charges. Merchandise returned without authorization will be refused, and the carrier can be charged freight in both directions. 

If a piece of jewelry was commissioned to have a made-to-order, I am sorry we can not return or exchange. 

Due to health restrictions, opened bottles of essential oils can not be returned or exchanged.  

How long will it take to receive my order?

Shipping Terms: The standard shipping and handling for orders shipped USPS is 7-10 days.  

Shipping:

Can I have an order shipped to my P.O. Box?

No. The some of our merchandise is shipped via UPS, and a valid street address is needed to ensure proper delivery. If a P.O. Box is used as a shipping address, an error message will appear when submitting the order. We also cannot deliver to A.P.O., F.P.O. or foreign addresses.  

Can I ship my order to a different address?

Yes, When you place your order and come to the Check Out screen, just replace your address with the address you want to ship your merchandise to, then continue. Remember to use a street address, not a Post Office Box, for any shipping address.  

How are shipping charges calculated?

Shipping charges vary according to shipping method and destination. Therefore, we are not able to reduce shipping charges for any reason.    

We usually ship USPS.  I like using priority Mail or First Class with Insurance whenever possible. Most of the time we use Flat Rate Priority envelopes and boxes. The expected delivery is 1 to 4 days and they offer USPS Tracking service and Free Insurance up to $50.00. Boxes and padded envelopes are preferred since they offer the best protection. 

• Flat Rate Envelope is $8.75
• Flat Rate Small Box is $9.20
• Flat Rate Medium Box  is $16.25
• Flat Rate Large Box is $22.95
• Shipping any box or envelope priority mail starts at $8.75
• Rapid delivery requires an additional fee.

Are the shipping charges added when I order?

No, It depends on how you would like you order shipped and if it is insured or not. It also depends on how big the package being sent and how much it weighs. Your credit card maybe billed twice for shipping charges.  Unless it has  already deemed that it ships for FREE!

 Some of the most frequently asked questions at Sand N Stones about the wire and the wrapping are.... 

What is Wire Wrapping or Wire Framing? 

No one really knows when or where the ancient art of wire wrap originated. It is known that Egyptian and Phoenician artists practiced the art over 5,000 years ago as pieces have been found in the pyramids as well as ancient Pharaoh’s tombs.

It is the only known metal jewelry that is created completely without soldering or casting. The wire used may be from many different alloys such as copper, brass, sterling silver or gold. Although this art was lost for a while in history, it reappeared during the Victorian Era, where its popularity surpassed traditional cast jewelry. In the last 30 years, wire wrapped jewelry has continued to increase in its popularity due to uniqueness, flexibility, and the “create ability” of its artisans. 

What kind of wire does Sand N Stones use?

The MJB’s Gemwrap/Sand N Stones uses only 14Kt. gold-filled and Anti-Tarnish Argentium® Sterling Silver wire.

What is Gold Filled Wire?

Pure gold is 24Kt. and is so soft that is it impossible to utilize it in wire wrap. Gold-filled (GF) refers to the process in which a layer of 10Kt. or better gold is mechanically bonded under heat and pressure to one or more surfaces of supporting base metal (usually jewelers brass), then rolled or drawn to a given thickness (since it is a surface layer of gold, you cannot cast with it).

The finished product thus has a surface layer of gold of the appropriate karat weight, which is very thick compared to gold plate, gold electroplated or rolled gold plate. The quantity of gold must be at least 1/20th by weight of the total product. This is commonly marked as 14/20, 12/20 or 10/20, which mean receptively 1/20th by weight 14Kt. gold-filled, 12Kt. gold-filled, etc.
 

Beware of the difference! A 14Kt. Gold filled material carries over a 10% cost increase over 12Kt. material. Most jewelry designers who wire wrap use 12Kt. gold filled wire. The MJB’s Gemwrap uses only 14Kt. gold-filled and Anti-Tarnish Argentium® Sterling Silver wire.

14k Gold-filled wire is made by layering 14k gold over a base material, usually jeweler’s brass. The coating in 14/20 gold-filled wire is about 100 times thicker than gold plate. Most of what we use is 14/20 gold-filled wire. Gold-filled items are considered life-time products for most people, and the gold layer will not wear off, as it will in electroplated products. We can now do special orders in Red or White Gold-filled in some cases.

What is Argentium Sterling Silver? 

Argentium® Sterling Silver is real sterling silver — it is 935 parts out of 1000 silver, or .935. The difference is what the other 075 parts are. Traditional sterling silver uses copper as the balance of the sterling. Argentium® Sterling Silver is a trademarked and patented alloy that uses a combination copper and Germanium to make up the 075 parts of the sterling silver.

Argentium® Sterling Silver is highly tarnish resistant. One jewelry designer who has used it for years in testing claims that she has never seen tarnish on any of her Argentium® pieces! In fact, Argentium® increases its tarnish resistance over time.  Argentium® wire is just a bit harder to work with than standard sterling. At only about $1.00 to $2.00 more per ounce, its tarnish resistance makes it well worth the money. Personally, I have found it depends on the acidity level of the person. If you are highly acidic than all silver even the Argentium Silver will tarnish over time. We are positive that our jewelry will bring many generation great joy and appreciation.

How to care for wire wrapped jewelry?

Wire wrap jewelry, as with all fine jewelry, requires reasonable and sensible care. You can safely use the same cleaner that you use on your other fine jewelry. You can either take it to your jeweler, or if you prefer it is recommended you use a household soapy detergent, like Lemon scented Joy or Dawn, and a soft (old) toothbrush. First dip both the jewelry and the toothbrush in water. Now dip the toothbrush into the soapy detergent and gently scrub the jewelry. Rinse well. This process may be used on all fine jewelry and works especially well on blackened sterling. All fine jewelry should be cleaned often to maintain its beauty and prevent oxidation, that hand creams and soaps build up.

Wash with warm soapy water, avoid harsh detergents, never clean ultrasonically, and never steam clean. Each piece of jewelry that you buy from Sand N Stones has an anti-tarnish strip tab that helps prolong the protection against tarnishing for up to 6 months. The tabs will not leave a deposit on the jewelry and are non-toxic and not abrasive. When the strip changes color it is time to replace. 

You can also save all those little silica gel desiccant packets that are packaged with new handbags and shoes.  They are like little moisture absorbs and if you slip them in a plastic bag or in your jewelry box with your sterling jewelry they will help keep it from tarnishing. Just be sure to keep the packets away from children and pets as the contents are poisonous.