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Frequently
Asked Questions |
Click a question to see the answer:
Q: What do I do if my Celtic ring or other jewelry from MyCelticRings needs repair?
Q: Where is the jewelry actually made?
Q: What can you tell me about the new slide shows?
Q: I live in Oklahoma, can I visit your showroom and see your Celtic jewelry in person?
Q: How reliable is the customer service and support at MyCelticRings?
Q: How do your prices compare with your competitors?
Q: What is "tarnish resistant" Sterling Silver?
Q: How can I clean regular, non-tarnish resistant or Rhodium finished silver?
Q: Is it safe to use my credit card to order online?
Q: Why was my credit card declined?
Q: What is antiquing and how long does it last?
Q: How soon can I have my order delivered?
Q: In what ways is your Celtic jewelry different from your competitors?
All Answers Are Found Below
Q: What do I do if my Celtic ring or other jewelry from MyCelticRings needs repair?
A: We will make needed repairs on any item that we have made for you. The pricing details can be found here: REPAIRS.
A personal note, so that you can understand what can happen to a ring in the course of an ordinary day of our lives. One of my personal rings is our Celtic Infinity Knot band. I've been wearing it day in and day out for about 2 years. I noticed that there was a hair-line fracture, a crack in the knotwork and did not immediately know how it happened. It was "just there", seemingly for no reason. I discovered 2 days later that there was a reason and am certain of exactly how it happened. Let me explain:
For nearly all of my adult life I have been licensed to carry a concealed firearm. Just recently I was test firing my newest weapon at the local firing range. When finished I gave it to my gunsmith for some adjustments. When I picked up my new .45 cal Springfield the gunsmith pointed out that some of the gray finish on the grip had been rubbed away. He asked if I wore a ring when I was firing. Of course! The finish was worn off in the exact location where my Infinity knot band made contact with the grip. Every time I fired the weapon some of the recoil shock directly impacted the knotwork on my ring. One or more of these impacts had caused the fracture. This reason had never entered my mind until I was shown the damage on the grip of my .45. I never felt it happening, not at all.
It is not difficult to repair or replace the damage to the knotwork or most other damages that occur with our jewelry, rings especially. It should, however, be appreciated that these damages do not happen by themselves; they are not "self inflicted." I would imagine that similar damage can occur by using a baseball bat, a hammer, or any other means of generating a sharp impact to the inside of your hand. Rings take more inadvertent abuse than any other jewelry that we wear. One of our repeat customers is a fireman. He has had us repair and replace his ring not less than 4 times in about 2 years. He says he doesn't want to take it off; it is his wedding band and is "lucky" for him. He accepts the additional expense and inconvenience as part of his lifestyle and personal preferences.
The moral of this true story, for me anyhow, is that I should not wear any of my rings when I go to the shooting range, or to batting practice or to my wood shop, etc. The ring goes into my change pocket until it is safe to put it back on my finger. I suggest that you give your rings the same amount of respect.
Yes! We always select a ring box from our current inventory of ring boxes, which we believe to be most appropriate in terms of color, quality, design, and style. The price of the ring is also a factor in the box that we select and ship with the ring inside. Our boxes usually make a very nice impression.
Q: Where is the jewelry actually made?
A: We make all our own Celtic jewelry designs by hand and from scratch, here in the USA.
For security purposes we do not publish the exact location of our workshop. Our workshop is not at the address shown at the top of every page. The address shown is that of our front office.
A: We have created 3 entirely new Celtic Rings Slide Shows. One is an easy to use online slide show displaying most of our jewelry products. To try it now just click HEREAdditionally we have also created 2 new slide shows that can be easily downloaded and then played on your own computer at your convenience. The major differences between these 2 new downloadable shows are their sizes and completeness.The smaller show is about 2 meg in size and takes about 2 minutes to download when using a 56K dial up modem. With a Cable or DSL connection the show takes about 30 seconds or less to download.The larger show is about 6 meg in size and takes about 4 or 5 minutes to download using a 56K modem or about 30 seconds or so with a Cable or DSL connection. It is worth the extra time to download this one because it enables the selection of separate categories such as Wedding Rings, Engagement Rings, Claddagh Rings, etc. It also allows you to choose to listen to a nice selection of Irish melodies (mostly flute and whistle). You can, of course, optionally select "no music" at all. This slide show is downloaded in .zip format. Nearly all computers can "un-zip" .zip files. I recommend viewing and printing this help file before you download: ReadMeFirstHere are the links for these downloadable Celtic Rings Slide Shows:These new slide shows are very user-friendly, easy to navigate, can be sent as an email attachment to friends, fiancee's, spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc. The download is totally FREE and is always the latest version.We are also making the Celtic Slideshows available on a Mini-CD disc that is self-starting. The disc can be ordered online for FREE, and sent to any US address.Note that the Mini-CD will fit inside the small inner circle all PC CD drive trays. Open your CD tray and you will see it. Most folks have never noticed it before. It has been there for many years. The disk will not play on Mac or Apple computers.Here is the Secure Order form if you wish to have this slide show on a Mini-CDThese are great shows, especially the largest one. You are in for a real treat.
A: No, this isn't possible because we do not have any showrooms. We are a "virtual" jewelry store. A "virtual" jewelry store exists in "cyberspace" -- on the Internet. The only "real" physical locations are our office and workshop. We do not require a showroom because our web site is our virtual showroom and catalog that is open 24 hours every day all year round. Our web pages are updated instantly whenever we have new products to offer.
Q:How reliable is the customer service and support at MyCelticRings?
A: A good way to judge customer service is to see what other customers have to say in unsolicited testimonials. Here's a few pages worth of actual customer comments for you to evaluate: Customer Comments. Did you know that about 25% of our new customer are referred to us by previous customers? Also, a surprising number of our customers, also about 25% are repeat customers within 1 year of their first purchase.
Q:
Other jewelry companies charge by the size of the ring, your prices
are
the same for any size ring. How is this possible?
A: Our business model is based on averages. It costs us much more to make a large gold ring than it does a small one. This means that we make a small profit on the large rings and a larger one on the small rings. The number of large rings is roughly equal to the number of small ones, so our average profit is somewhere in the middle. Additionally, although the market prices of gold and silver are related to the prices of our jewelry, our customers are actually paying for and buying unique designs that are handcrafted by fine artisans. Our prices are based mostly on design and quality, not on the cost of precious metals.
Q: How do your prices compare with your competitors?
We monitor the prices of only one genuine competitor. The quality of their work is very much the equal of our own. The problem in making helpful comparisons is that their styles are totally different than ours. Nonetheless, if the comparisons are made based on the sizes of their Celtic rings their prices are much higher. By example, their 14K band, with rails, in size 10 and larger , is are at least 9.8% higher than ours.
We do business "in the open"; nothing is hidden except the exact location of our workshop. This is not publicly published because it would be a security risk and the workshop has no facilities available for visitors. The workshop is just that, a workshop, not a showroom or sales area.
Q:
What is "tarnish resistant" Sterling Silver?
A: Tarnish is a discoloration of the surface of silver and many other metal items caused by oxidation, it is caused by exposure to air. Ordinary silver alloys, including Sterling Silver, are subject to tarnish and must be polished or plated with a protective metal, such as Rhodium, to block the tarnishing process.
Tarnish resistant silver is an entirely new silver alloy. It uses germanium to inhibit (block/prevent) the process of oxidation. We are now using this wonderful new tarnish resistant silver exclusively; no need for Rhodium and needs very little maintenance to keep it new looking. The creator of this wonderful improvement declares that it never needs polishing.
It's true, it's real. No hype, no exaggeration. It is a genuine scientific breakthrough.
Q: How can I clean regular, non-tarnish resistant or Rhodium finished silver?
Until August of 2003 we offered silver jewelry as either "Natural" or "Rhodium" finished. A natural finish is simply a high polish which brings out the natural luster of fine silver (.925). All regular natural silver jewelry requires routine maintenance to remove tarnish and restore the finish. Rhodium plating is a complex and labor intensive process to effectively enhance the luster and prolong the beauty of silver or white gold. Rhodium is one of the platinum family metals. It's purity and white luster is desirable for enhancing white gold which in its natural state is slightly yellow. When rhodium is plated over silver, it helps to prevent the silver from tarnishing.
Most jewelry can simply be re-plated with rhodium at your local jeweler. The plating on pendants and earrings do last longer since it is not exposed to friction. Rings may need the most maintenance.
To prolong the beauty, follow these simple steps to care for your rhodium plated jewelry.
1. Don't use any abrasive polishing cloths.
2. Don't use harsh jewelry cleaning solutions.
3. Clean gently with warm water and mild soap.
Q: Is it safe to use my credit card to order online?
A: Yes, of course. All orders are processed using SSL, Secure Socket Layers with 128 bit encryption. This means that all of your vulnerable information is scrambled (coded, encrypted) when you place the order. This information is then decoded, unscrambled, on our computers when the order arrives. Absolutely none of your personal financial information is stored on our servers. Here is a perfect sample of a typical web invoice from our Secure shopping cart: Security Sample. We are jewelers and we MUST provide the tightest security for our customers and for ourselves.
Additionally, credit card orders are never processed automatically. Credit card orders are always processed individually and manually. We consider automated processing to be risky both for our customers and ourselves.
Lastly, our web server is scanned every single day by the "Verified Secure" program by TrustGuard®. This insures the safety of our web server both for our customers and ourselves.
We are a "HackerSafe" company
A: The most common reason is a misunderstanding of the term "billing address." "Billing Address" means the exact address where the credit card company sends your monthly statement. The Street Address (house number), City, State and Zip Code must all match the billing address that is on file with the bank that stands behind your credit card. It is best to copy it from the most recent credit card statement. Credit cards are declined much more often on the Internet than when using them in a "face-to-face" transaction. Security measures on the Internet must be stricter due to the problem of dishonest people using stolen credit cards to buy merchandise on the Internet and address verification helps to verify that the customer and the card are both legitimate.
Wrong "Billing Addresses" are usually entered because the customer has relocated to a new address and has not yet notified the credit card company. In this instance customers should provide us their FORMER address as their billing address. After the card is successfully processed the customer should then contact the customer service department (800# on back of credit card) and give them the NEW physical home address where monthly statement should be mailed.
Another reason why some cards are declined is that they are debit cards and a dollar size purchase purchase limit lower than the price of your order is active. This is a security system put in place usually by agreement between the customer and the bank providing the debit card services. It is good to have such a system protecting your debit card and it should be kept in place EXCEPT for special purchases. To use your debit card for a purchase above your limit you should first call the Customer Service department; their number is on the back of your card. Tell them that you want the limit changed for a day or to authorize a specific amount of money from a specific company..just give them the details that they request. This way your debit card will not be declined when processed and you will still have the security system protecting the funds in your bank account.
My personal choice is using a credit card rather than a debit card. It is more flexible and the funds do not come out of my account immediately.
"Antiquing" can mean any of several techniques or finishes intended to enhance the appearance of jewelry. One method is to chemically treat the item to cause the effect of oxidation which darkens the area more or less depending on the amount of time the chemical is allowed to work. The chemical most commonly used for this is Liver of Sulphur. When finished the item is polished wherever the antiquing effect is not wanted.
We usually use a black or brown media applied by hand. The media is similar to enamel. We apply 2 coats and allow drying time between each. When dry the surface areas are polished to remove the antiquing effect from the top surfaces leaving the media in the deeper areas. The item is then baked to cure the media much the same as automobiles have their paint jobs baked. Our antiquing is very durable. It is, in fact, difficult to remove. The effect adds interest, beauty, contrast, depth, and dimension, especially to Celtic rings.
One should exercise care to keep soap out of the design work because it will make it seem that the antiquing has been damaged or removed when it is only that it is being covered over by soap from ordinary hand washing. To remove soap scum just use a VERY SOFT tooth brush while running under warm water.
Antiquing is a "cosmetic" effect. It adds exceptional depth and character. How long the antiquing lasts depends on friction (rubbing), exposure to harsh chemicals such as chlorine in swimming pools and as in Clorox bleach in the laundry. Nail polish remover may be able to remove antiquing, but not easily if the baking process was done well. Fortunately all rings can be re-antiqued at very little expense by most jewelers or jewelry repair shops. We will re-do antiquing on any of our rings for FREE; your only cost will be return shipping which is currently $18 for FedEx.
We make every piece of Celtic jewelry to order "from scratch." Under ordinary circumstances we build and ship our orders in 16 or fewer working days. This is longer than we usually need; the 16 days includes a "buffer" of several days to allow us extra time if we need it due to any unforeseen events and circumstances. Some unforeseen events in the past have been power outages, hurricanes, serious illness of key staff members, failed castings, etc. Despite these events we have been able to ship 99.5% of all of our orders in 16 or fewer days.
If you have a special circumstance and really need faster service just call or us and we can probably arrange to make and ship your ring in as soon as 6 or 7 business days. We ship by FedEx 2 Day Box, so your order would be delivered in 8 or 9 business days from the first work day after your paid order is received.
We are required by law to collect sales taxes only on shipments to addresses in Oklahoma. Oklahoma sales taxes are based on the shipping location, and OK residents are acquainted with their current sales tax rate.
Many of our competitors are different from each other as well as different from us. Some craft very fine jewelry of which they should be proud. Here are some of the features of most of our jewelry that is very different from most other Celtic Jewelry companies:
Nearly all of our rings are composed of 2 or more separate sections which are permanently fastened to create the completed ring. Our rings are actually built in 3 dimensions; the designs, the knotwork, are separately cast and finished. The knot designs are not flat like so many others. The flat designs are usually attempts at creating the illusion of 3D. With our rings there are no illusions because they really are 3D.
All of our jewelry, all Gold and Sterling Silver, is hand crafted, hand cast, hand assembled, and hand polished by highly trained, skilled and experienced professional jewelers. Our jewelers are not hobbyists. They are highly paid artistic craftsmen, masters of their trade. Each and every item is made to order for one customer at a time. We have no inventory, no assembly lines, no mass production. We cannot reach into a box of rings and ship one to you.
We do not import any of our Celtic Jewelry from other places. Everything is made, one piece at a time, right here in the USA.
We are not resellers or distributors for jewelry made by other companies. All of our jewelry is made by us, right here in the USA. Several of our competitors are based in other countries where there may or may not be laws equal to those in the USA regarding purity of metals and other issues related to quality.
How many Celtic Jewelers do you know that offer 30 Day Refunds on made to order jewelry? Although a refund is a net loss of labor and material, we honor our 30 Day Refund guarantee. The guarantee is NOT 100%, there is a 20% creation and handling charge subtracted from the original price paid for the jewelry, and shipping, $15, is not refundable. The risk to our customer is only 20% of the purchase price plus $15 shipping; our refund risk is far greater.
Copyright © 2000 - 2008 My Celtic Rings, Inc.