FAQs
CAN I ORDER A GIFT CARD?
Gift cards are available for online purchase and can be used to towards anything in our online store.
AM I ABLE TO REQUEST A CUSTOM ORDER?
If you spot a treasure you love and it's sold out, email us and we might be able to make one for you.
A custom order generally takes about 4-8 weeks and requires a 50% deposit to commence. Please note prices listed for any item to be pre-ordered or custom made are a guide only and may vary depending on the size and materials used.
IS GIFT WRAPPING AVAILABLE?
All items purchased from Pieces of Eight will come beautifully presented in our signature packaging.
HOW DO I CARE FOR MY JEWELLERY?
To keep your jewellery looking perennially gorgeous, take care not to expose it to perfume, hairspray or harsh chemicals. Be sure to follow any specific care instructions included in the product pages.
We will, wherever possible, include specialised care instructions with your item.
GOLD AND PLATINUM
Use a soft polishing cloth to wipe away any grime, or clean in warm soapy water with a soft brush and dry with a soft cloth.
STERLING SILVER
You might notice that your silver oxidises (darkens) over time and with use. To maintain the shine and finish of your jewellery, clean larger items like rings and bangles with a soft polish cloth, and clean chains and fine wires with 'silver foam'. Gently pat your silver with a damp sponge covered in silver foam then rinse clean, and your jewels should be gorgeous again!
OXIDISED SILVER
An oxidised (or blackened) silver finish is a surface treatment and its nature is to fade over time and with wear. This should be considered part of the charm of the finish, as it will eventually reveal the sterling silver surface below. To prolong the blackened appearance, always avoid using silver cleaning agents on items with an oxidised finish. Instead, clean with warm water and a drop of dishwashing liquid then give it a light buff. Alternatively, wipe with a cotton ball dripped in methylated spirits.
PLATED METALS
Some of our pieces have been plated with gold or rhodium. These will inevitably wear down over time and likely need replating. Extend the life of your plated pieces by avoiding hard impacts, abrasive surfaces and chemicals. Remove plated pieces when swimming, showering, gardening or washing dishes. Avoid stacking your plated jewels (rings, for example) as this can wear down the plating very quickly.
MATTE OR POLISHED SURFACES
Matte and polished finishes are considered a surface finish which will change and evolve with time, especially if your piece is subjected to knocks, rubbing, contact with other jewellery or abrasive surfaces. This change is noticed most with rings.
Neither of these finishes are permanent; matte surfaces will wear back to a polish and polished pieces will scratch and dull with time. The timeframe for this change depends on the individual, the design of the piece and the frequency of wear. These surfaces can usually be refreshed by our artists for a small fee; please contact us to discuss.
DIAMONDS & GEMSTONES
It's important to be mindful that gemstones and even diamonds can be damaged by impacts (which can cause chips and fractures) and abrasive materials (which can cause scratches). Be mindful how you wear your jewellery and always remove it when doing something that might potentially damage the pieces you are wearing.
Ideally we'd recommend you have your gem and diamond set jewellery checked annually. Contact us to arrange for your stones and settings to be cleaned, checked and polished.
PEARLS
Pearls can be vulnerable to perfume and acids so it is always best to always wear them after you have applied your make-up and fragrance. If you notice the surface of your pearls have become dirtied with cosmetics or general wear, you can gently clean them with a soft damp cloth. If strung on a silk thread, as is traditional, the thread can become worn, stretched or dirtied over time and will need to be replaced. Please contact us to arrange for re-threading.
OPALS
Opals are considered a soft gemstone. They are vulnerable to scratching and can chip when knocked. Intense light, high heat or sudden temperature changes can cause an opal to fracture. Avoid chemicals and do not wear your opal jewels while swimming, showering, gardening or washing dishes. Clean with a soft cloth and warm soapy water.
ACRYLIC & RESIN
Coloured acrylic and resin are wonderful materials but they are susceptible to fading and discolouration if placed in direct sunlight for an extended period of time. Avoid hard impacts as acrylic and resin will break if dropped. Clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth.
REPAIRS
We are happy to arrange for repairs by our represented artists. Please contact us and we'll advise you of the best way to proceed and if there will be a cost associated. Usually we will require you to deliver the piece to the gallery so the repair can be assessed and processed. The turn-around time on repairs varies but may take 2-4 weeks.
HOW DO I KNOW MY RING SIZE?
Now this can be tricky - but we promise to do our best to help you! The best way to know your ring size is to visit us at Pieces of Eight Gallery (Shop 27, Royal Arcade, 335 Bourke Street Melbourne), where we can size you. Failing that, the next best thing is to request a free ring sizer from us, which we can mail out to you anywhere in the world. Just email us requesting one and include your full name and postal address.
Just as with clothing and shoe sizing, different countries use different units of measurement. In Australia we use the UK letter system. If you know your ring size using the US number system, see below.
Typical sizes for the ring finger or middle finger:
IMPORTANT NOTES ON RING SIZING
Each finger on each hand is different, so be sure to measure the actual finger you need sized. Your ring finger on your right hand may be a different size to the ring finger on your left!
Your fingers will also change size depending on the weather. We recommend being sized on a day when your hands are not too hot or cold – tricky, we know! If your fingers are prone to swelling in hot weather, or the band you're considering is wider and/or thicker than the ring used to size you, we recommend going up half a ring size.
If the ring you’ve purchased is not the correct size we offer the first resize at no cost, if it's within two sizes of the stock piece. If a larger size is required, there will be a small charge due to the extra metal required to resize your ring. We will confirm the charge with the artist and let you know immediately.
We aim to complete ring resizes in up to three weeks. Please let us know if you need your resized ring urgently and we’ll endeavour to make it happen.
In some situations, some artists may choose to make you a new ring in your required size, instead of resizing. This can take up to four weeks. We will contact you if this is the case.
WHAT IS MY BIRTH STONE?
January — Garnet
February — Amethyst
March — Aquamarine
April — Diamond
May — Emerald
June — Pearl
July — Ruby
August — Peridot
September — Sapphire
October — Opal
November — Citrine
December — Blue Topaz
WHAT ABOUT ANNIVERSARIES?
1 year — Paper or Clock
5 years — Wood or Silverware
10 years — Tin or Aluminum Tin
15 years — Crystal or Watch
20 years — China or Platinum
25 years — Silver
30 years — Pearl or Diamond
35 years — Coral or Jade
40 years — Ruby
45 years — Sapphire
50 years — Gold
55 years — Emerald
60 years — Diamond
