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SOUTHWEST DESIGNS
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SHIPPING INFORMATION & ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS This page provides information on Southwest Designs’ Payment, Shipping & Return policies and also responds to questions I hear most often from Clients, including questions about sizing. If you don’t find the information that you need here, please Contact Us and I’ll respond promptly. JOIN OUR CLIENT LIST!
PRODUCT AVAILABILITY, PAYMENT, SHIPPING & RETURNS
If you are paying by Bank Check or Money Order, I require receipt of your payment prior to shipment of your Jewelry. Once the check is Prices & Taxes
Express Mail (overnight) delivery is also available for a fee of $15-$25, plus insurance, depending on destination. You will be charged the actual shipping rate based on your delivery address. International Shipping Returns Please return your Jewelry with the original receipt, indicating on the receipt your reason for return. For your protection I recommend shipping your return with insurance and delivery confirmation. Please Contact Us to confirm our Return Address and other relevant information. * Please Note: I do not issue merchandise credits for Jewelry that is returned after 30 days, has been used, or is not in its original condition.
Do you have a printed Jewelry Catalog? This website is the Southwest Designs Catalog. A printed Catalog would be impractical as my designs are one-of-a-kind and constantly changing. Please Contact Us if you need assistance in locating a special piece of Jewelry online.
I accept VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, Bank Checks and Money Orders. If paying by Bank Check or Money Order I will ship your Jewelry immediately upon receipt of your funds.
I offer a 6-month workmanship warranty that covers breakage due to normal wear and use. You will pay only for the cost of shipping. Beyond this 6-month period -- or if damage has resulted from improper care and use -- I will repair your piece for the cost of materials and labor, plus shipping.
I offer a 100% merchandise credit for Jewelry returned within 15 days of invoice date (original shipping date). If this credit is used within 30 days I will ship your new piece of Jewelry to you for free. Can you change the length of a Necklace or Bracelet? In many cases I am able to modify the length of the piece for an additional fee. Please see Necklace and Bracelet Sizing for more information. Do you do retained custom design work? To date I have not offered retained custom design services, but there is a first time for everything. Please Contact Us to describe what you are looking for and to discuss options.
Each of my designs is displayed online with a detailed description, including materials, length & weight. Where possible I have included information on the original of the materials -- such as “Turquoise from the Pilot Mountain Mine in Nevada” -- or noted where a Pendant has been signed by the artisan. Some of the Sterling Silver Beads and Pendants are Navajo Handmade, and I have indicated this. When I use the term “Sterling Silver” or “Sterling” this applies to Silver with 92.5% Silver content. When I use the term “Silver” this applies to Plated Silver or in some cases Silver-colored metal. Many of the Gemstone & Sterling Silver Pendants have full Sterling Backs and where this is the case I have stated it. Otherwise, the Pendant may have a partial back (i.e., a cut-out) or a simple Sterling bezel (no back). The Gemstones I use in my designs -- Turquoise, Coral, Onyx, Pearl and others -- are to the best of my knowledge legitimate, quality stones and not fake. I do not knowingly use Chalk Turquoise (lower grade Turquoise that is ground up, mixed with an epoxy and dyed) or Howlite (a porous white stone with gray veins that can be dyed to look like Turquoise) in my designs. I do use Natural Untreated Turquoise (porous) and Stabilized Turquoise which has been treated with a resin to “seal it” and preserve the color. Each of my designs is original and painstakingly crafted. If you have further questions about a particular piece of Jewelry I’d be happy to address them. Please Contact Us for more information.
There are a number of factors that determine the price of an individual Necklace or Bracelet: - Cost of materials My Jewelry is competitively priced -- it is easy to find comparable pieces from other online vendors and retail stores selling for hundreds of dollars more. My goal is to provide my Clients with terrific, custom-made Jewelry at prices that don’t break the bank. In general, a Southwest Designs Necklace using hard-to-find expensive materials with a complex and time consuming design will have a higher price than one without these attributes. In the end, my Clients are the final arbiters of price & value, and I work hard to exceed their expectations.
I use a variety of Semi-Precious Gemstones in my Jewelry designs, along with Sterling Silver Pendants, Beads & Findings. Turquoise and Coral, in particular, are softer than other Gemstones and can be susceptible to scratches. Many Gemstones are porous and can be damaged or discolored by exposure to harsh chemicals. Sterling Silver can also be scratched by harder materials and tarnishes when exposed to air. Silver with deeply carved patterns that are enhanced by an oxide should be carefully handled and cleaned to protect the design. I recommend the following care for Southwest Designs Jewelry: Turquoise, Coral & Other Soft, Porous Gemstones Freshwater or Saltwater Pearls Sterling Silver
The Navajo Indians are the United State’s largest tribe. Since the “Long Walk” in the 1860’s, the Navajo Nation declined to a population of 8,000 but has since increased to more than 210,000. Their reservation in Northern Arizona, New Mexico and southwestern Utah is the largest reservation in the US. The Navajo ancestors were hunters and gatherers from the north who wandered into the Southwest about 500 to 800 years ago. The language is Athapascan and is similar to the Apache tribe of the Southwest. Their language is related to that of the Athapascan people living in northwestern Canada. The Navajo were the first Southwest American Indians to learn silversmithing. The first Navajo to learn silversmithing was Atsidi Sani, or ”Old Smith,” in the 1850’s. The earliest Navajo Indian jewelry was made using American or Mexican silver coins as well as ingots. Today Navajo artisans produce squash blossoms, concha belts, necklaces, pendants, beads, bracelets, watchbands, rings, barrettes & earrings. Their jewelry is valued for its beauty, craftsmanship and attention to detail.
The Hopi, or ”Peaceful Ones,” have an ancestry that traces back to the Anasazi who were the prehistoric inhabitants of the Four Corners (CO, AZ, NM, UT). The Hopi nation totals approximately 8,500 and is surrounded by the Navajo reservation in northeastern Arizona. The Old Oraibi Pueblo -- which lies at an elevation of 6,500 ft -- was built before 1150 A.D. and is said to be the oldest continuously occupied village in the United States. The Hopi speak a Shoshonean language. Early Hopi Indian jewelry was made from turquoise, shell, wood and seeds. Around 1890, silverworking was introduced to the Hopi and in the 1930’s a distinctive style emerged known today as overlay. The Hopi Silvercraft Guild was founded in 1949. Top of PageOUNCEMENTS, PRESS RELEASES HERE] |
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Copyright © 2009 Southwest Designs |
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