Frequently Asked Questions
Returns & Exchanges
Every piece of A & R Jewellery is handmade and triple-checked for quality. Still, sometimes a piece isn’t quite right — or a gift just doesn’t suit your style. Whatever the reason, we’re happy to help with returns or exchanges.
If you bought your piece from a gallery, please contact them directly to arrange your return or exchange.
Here’s how we handle returns from our own shop:
Email us within 14 days of your purchase date to request a return. During the holiday season, we make exceptions — gifts can be returned within 30 days.
Wait for approval before sending anything back. Once we’ve heard your story and approved your return, we’ll provide the correct mailing address.
Return the item unworn, in its original packaging, and without any damage or alterations.
Include proof of purchase (a receipt or the name of the gift giver).
Once we receive and inspect your jewellery, your refund will be processed within 5 business days by the same payment method. Please note: shipping costs are non-refundable.
If you’d prefer an exchange, email us first so we can see if we have something similar available. Every piece is handmade and unique, so we’ll work with you to find the closest match.
Custom work cannot be returned or exchanged, but we take care to ensure you’re happy with your design before we begin — so returns are rarely needed.
That’s a tough one to answer — our sources change all the time as supply and availability shift. But since so many of you ask out of genuine curiosity, here’s a glimpse behind the scenes.
We’ve been attending the Tucson Gem Show for years. It’s a great place to meet skilled lapidaries — the craftspeople who cut our stones. Once we’ve built trust with a lapidary and are confident in their quality, cut, and carat accuracy, we continue working with them over time.
Some stones come from our own travels. In the Dominican Republic, we found a wonderful lapidary for Blue Pectolite (Larimar). Years ago, during a trip to Australia, we visited the Coober Pedy opal mines, and we still have a few of those opals in our collection.
Availability changes constantly. Right now, we’re seeing excellent Topaz from Thailand, but Grossular Garnet has been nearly impossible to find for the last few years. Aquamarine has also become much rarer — prices have tripled and supply is limited.
In short, when we find high-quality stones, we make sure to stock up — because there’s no guarantee we’ll find them again anytime soon.
We don’t have an automatic gift card option on the website, but we’re happy to create a personal one for you. Just contact us with the amount you’d like, and we’ll make a custom gift card for you to give. Each one is prepared by hand and can be personalized with a short message if you wish.
We always jump on the opportunity to work with a shop or gallery whose values align with our own.
We invite you to get in contact so we can get to know each other. If it’s a match made in heaven, we will be happy to fulfill wholesale orders.
Currently, A & R Jewellery is sold in the following galleries.
Avenue Gallery – 2184 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria BC. www.theavenuegallery.com
Kunze Gallery – 215 Northwest Boulevard, Creston BC www.Kunzegallery.com
Repairs are not a problem at all. Every purchase you make at A & R Jewellery comes with a 1-year warranty. We’re happy to re-etch, freshen up the antique finish, or return your piece to its original shine for the cost of postage only. What this warranty does not cover is the gemstones, these elements can be damaged at any time and this is beyond our control. Also, this warranty doesn’t cover lost jewellery.
After your 1-year warranty is up, we will still repair your pieces. There will be a small repair fee which will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
What we won’t do is repair the work of other jewellery makers. It’s impossible to know what these pieces are made of, so we would be uncertain as to what can and cannot be done to it. Our jewellery though, we will repair anytime.
We still accept a small number of custom requests, but only within our existing designs. That means we can adjust the size, gemstone, or finish of a piece already in our collections — for example, making a ring in your size with a different stone, or creating a pendant slightly larger or smaller than the one shown.
While we’re not able to create designs from outside sketches or other jewellery styles, we’re happy to adapt pieces from our own collections to make them more personal to you. Each variation still reflects the A & R Jewellery style and craftsmanship that define our work.
Custom orders have a minimum value of $200 and require a 50% deposit before work begins. The deposit is non-refundable once the project is underway.
If you’re interested in a variation of one of our designs, you’re welcome to email us your idea. We’ll let you know what’s possible and guide you toward the best materials and details for your piece.
In case you were wondering which stone aligns with your birth month, here is a chart for you to find out.
January – Garnet
February – Amethyst
March – Aquamarine
April – Diamond and Clear Quartz
May – Emerald and Jade
June – Alexandrite Freshwater Pearl, and Moonstone
July – Ruby and Carnelian
August – Peridot
September – Sapphire and Lapis Lazuli
October – Tourmaline and Pink Opal
November – Topaz and Citrine
December – Zircon and Blue Turquoise
It’s difficult to pin down exactly how long a piece takes to make because each one follows its own path. Some designs I’ve been making for years come together quickly — simple earrings can take about thirty minutes, not counting polishing and packaging.
When I’m developing something new, the timeline stretches — sometimes up to a week for a single piece. I often start in copper because it’s less expensive and perfect for “throw-away” trials that help refine an idea. I don’t sketch — I lay out the metal and stones directly and let the shapes guide me. Some pieces sit on the bench for days while I wait for inspiration or a solution to strike. Other times, the idea shifts overnight — I guess I keep working on it in my sleep.
Even after more than twenty years at the bench, every design still has its own rhythm and surprises. Some pieces feel effortless, others demand patience, but each one ends up teaching me something new — and that’s what keeps the work alive.
Yes, ask us anything. Contacting us by email is best so we have a moment to think about the best answer for you.