Contact
FAQ
As someone running a micro business, I can get a bit swamped with queries. So to avoid a delay in having a regularly asked question answered, please check my FAQ below before emailing. Click on each question to reveal or hide the answer.
Otherwise, you can use the form below to contact me.
- Do you ship jewellery internationally?
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Yes! I'm based in Australia, but I send my jewellery to happy customers all over the world.
You can choose to make your purchase in my international handmade jewelry shop (prices in US$) or my Australian handmade jewellery shop (prices in AU$) for delivery to any country.
- How much does delivery cost? How safe is it? How quick is it?
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You can find the answers to these questions and more on the delivery page in my international shop.
There is more information specific to delivery to Australian and NZ customers in my Australian shop.
- Can you send my order by Fedex or similar?
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Yes, generally I can. However, be aware that international courier costs are expensive from Australia. Be prepared to pay US$60 to US$80 for a delivery.
If you are happy with this, use the form below to send me the details of what you would order and the city/town, state (if applicable), country and postcode (or zip). I will get back to you with the total cost and an estimate of turnaround time so you can decide whether to proceed.
If you are in Australia you can choose to have your item/s sent by Express Post when you checkout.
- Can I pay using a different currency?
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Yes, I can accept payment in major/stable currencies.
If you would like to pay in your local currency, use the form below to contact me and tell me what you would like to order. I'll then calculate the exchange, including delivery, and send you a money request for the amount via email which you can choose to pay by credit card or a Paypal account if you have one.
Note that I cannot accept international payments by bank transfer, Western Union, cheque or money order.
- Can I pay using a bank transfer?
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Yes, provided you are in Australia. I cannot accept bank transfers from other countries.
If you are in Australia and would like to pay via bank transfer, use the form below to contact me and tell me what you wish to purchase. I'll then email you the bank details and total amount.
Note that I am not able to accept cheques or money orders even from Australian customers.
- Will you make a custom jewellery design?
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Generally I don't have the capacity to undertake entirely custom made pieces.
If you feel that something is a perfect fit for me based on what I make already, then feel free to send me the details using the form below. However, be aware that I may not be able to do the work. I can generally at least pass on the details of another maker who may be suitable.
If you wish to have one of my existing designs substantially customised, then again you can send me the details, but depending on what is involved I may not have the capacity to do the work.
Important: note that custom work I do undertake will usually be a higher cost than even similar pieces in my shop. This is because custom work often requires a lot more time than a regular sale, including time liaising with the customer and often problem solving and testing for a design I may never make again.
- Can you make an existing design in gold?
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Yes, generally I can.
However, be aware that gold can be up to at least 30 times more expensive than sterling silver. This doesn't mean the piece will be 30 times the price, however, you need to be aware that it will be a lot more expensive than the same design in silver - as a rule of thumb around two or three times more expensive, but it depends on how much gold is required, along with other factors.
If you are happy with this then send me the details using the form below and I can work out a price.
Note that I usually only keep a very small amount of gold in stock because of its cost, so if you do wish to proceed with having an item made in gold I may need to order it in specially.
Finally, note that I am not currently set up to do gold plating or other types of plating.
- Can you make an existing design in white gold?
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Yes, generally I can - please read the FAQ above about regular gold for information on costs, etc..
However, be aware that white gold is not actually white, particularly compared to silver or platinum. It's more of a warm grey colour. The white gold you see in commercial jewellery shops is actually rhodium plated to give it a white finish, so you are looking at rhodium rather than white gold! Unfortunately commercial jewellery outlets are not often good at telling customers this.
I can make pieces in raw white gold but am not currently set up to do rhodium plating (or any other sort of plating). If you would prefer a white finish you can take such a piece to a local manufacturing jeweller who may be able to plate it for you.
- Can you engrave a piece of jewellery for me?
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The short answer is 'no'. Hand engraving is a very specialised skill - many of the people who do it (master engravers) have spent years learning their craft and often don't do any other jewellery-related work. I am not one of those people!
However, I may be able to etch some writing into a piece of jewellery, depending on the design, etc.. Note that etching is not as crisp as engraving and fancier script texts often don't work well with etching as the details are too fine.
I would suggest seeing if you can find a local engraver (perhaps at a manufacturing jewellery outlet) who could do this for you once you have received the piece.
Alternatively I can liaise with a master engraver who could do the work, but this will add time and costs, not only for the engraving, but for delivery to and from the engraver as well.
- Can you change the type of chain on a necklace?
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Generally, yes. I do have a small selection of different chains on hand. However, let me know using the form below what you have in mind and I can also check what my suppliers have available.
Note that different chains have different costs and there may need to be an additional cost factored in if the chain needs to be specially ordered and delivered.
Finally, for some pendant designs a change in necklace style may require a slight change in construction of the pendant. This may also attract an additional cost, depending on what is involved. I can let you know the total cost once I know what is required.
- You mention you can make silk necklaces in other colours. What are they?
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Usually I have the following colours in stock:
- Black
- Deep red
- Bright red
- Dark green
- Light/medium green
- Yellow
- Dark brown
- Soft pink
- Dark but bright purple
- Silvery grey
- Coppery orange
If you would like to select one of these colours to be used in your purchase, simply include the details in the note when you checkout. There is no additional charge for this.
- Would you sell your work in my shop?
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I currently sell through a very limited number of bricks and mortar retail outlets, but I have decided to expand this side of my business, so I'd love to know more about your shop.
Note that I rarely undertake consignment arrangments. If I do, these will only be within Australia and only with outlets which I feel are a good match for this sort of arrangment. If you would like to talk to me about consignment, let me know where your shop is, give an idea of jewellery (or similar) sales volumes, the percentage you work with, etc..
For wholesale customers I can provide a wholesale pricelist in US$ or AU$ (ask about other currencies) and details of minimum amounts, etc..
To tell me more, please use the form below. Thanks!
- Can I come to your studio to see a piece of jewellery?
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Unfortunately no.
I operate my studio within my home and it is not set up to have visitors. In addition there are insurance and other legal reasons as to why I cannot have customers come to the premises.
I'm also generally unable to travel to meet with customers given the time involved.
However, all of my jewellery comes with a money back 'happiness guarantee', so if you purchase a piece and it's not the right thing, you can safely return it for a refund of the price of the jewellery.
Also if I am doing any markets in future I will let people know about this via my blog and you'd of course be more than welcome to come along!
- Can I use your images in my blog post or media article?
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Yes! Photographs of my jewellery are covered by a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
This means I'm happy for you to use them as long as you provide attribution by referring to 'Handmade Jewellery by Simone Walsh' (or 'Handmade Jewelry by Simone Walsh' if you are in the US) and providing a link back to me at www.simonewalsh.com (and ideally a link to the item you are referring to as well).
Under the license, the image/s should also not be made into a derivative work or used for direct commercial gain.
I'd love to know the details of the article if you'd like to send them through using the form below.
Finally, if you are interested in a press kit or high resolution images, please visit my media page. You can of course contact me if the images aren't suitable or if you would like further information.
Contact form
Use the form below to send me an email and I'll endeavour to get back to you as soon as I'm able to.
Note: I am not interested in purchasing manufactured jewellery, jewellery supplies, SEO services, selling advertising or exchanging links with other jewellery businesses or non-indie design businesses. Please do not use this form for such purposes.
