Frequently Asked Questions

These are some of the questions I often hear from clients, if you have any other queries please do get in touch and I’ll help wherever I can.

HOW DO I CARE FOR MY SILVER JEWELLERY?

Sterling silver can quite easily become tarnished over time, this is a natural chemical reaction that occurs when the silver is exposed to substances in the air. However there are several things you can do to delay this process.

While wearing your jewellery, try to avoid contact with products such as moisturiser, hair spray and perfume. Your jewellery should be the last part of your outfit you put on. Also, avoid wearing silver while washing up, cleaning, cooking, bathing and swimming.

Keep a silver polishing cloth and give items a quick buff after taking them off. When you’re not wearing your jewellery, keep it in a closed container such as a jewellery box. I provide an anti-tarnish strip with all my items, pop this in your jewellery box too and it will help absorb the natural pollutants in the air for a few months. The small silica sachets that come with so many purchases are also great for keeping your jewellery box nice and dry, so don’t chuck them straight in the bin.

Lastly, one of the best ways to keep your silver shiny is to wear it frequently, so get out there and show it off!

WHAT RING SIZE AM I?

To find out your ring size, ideally you need a ring sizer, any jeweller would be able to help you with this. If you’re local to me drop me a line to organise a time and I’ll get you measured up.

Alternatively, there are plastic ring sizers available quite cheaply on sites like Amazon, they look a little like zip tags. Or you can use a strip of paper, wraping it around your finger (not too tight), mark it where the paper crosses and then measure in millimetres to your mark. With that measurement I can tell you your size.

The last two ways of measuring aren’t always the best solution due to the plastic and paper being flexible but they can work. With both, it’s very important to make sure it will go over your knuckle as that is generally the widest part of the finger.

Please bear in mind that this size will only be suitable for bands of less than 4mm. For wide band rings such as spinner rings, you may need to go up a size or more. Please get in touch if you’d like further help.

ARE THE ITEMS SOLID SILVER?

Yes, all of my jewellery is made with solid 925 sterling silver.

ARE ALL ITEMS HALLMARKED?

Any sterling silver item over 7.78 grams must by law be hallmarked. I’m registered with the Edinburgh Assay Office and the majority of my jewellery (even some under the weight threshold) is sent there to be tested and hallmarked. A few of my lower priced items are unhallmarked, but are made with the same 925 sterling silver.

“Ask if it’s hallmarked – it’s your guarantee.” View Dealer Notice.

ARE ALL ITEMS HANDMADE?

Yes, I make all the items myself from scratch using traditional silversmithing techniques. The only components I don’t make are fine chains and earring scrolls/butterflies.

WHERE DO THE PRODUCTS COME FROM?

I make all the items myself, in my small workshop in North East England. My suppliers are all UK based.

HOW LONG WILL MY ORDER TAKE?

I hold a small amount of stock, if the item you order is in stock I’ll ship it next working day by your chosen delivery method. Most items are made to order, please allow 10 working days for me to produce the item, and if hallmarking is required, another 10 working days. If these times need to be altered or any materials need to be ordered in I’ll let you know straight away, and also try to keep you updated on the status of your order.

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Christmas 2024

Please note, as all jewellery is hand made and requires hallmarking at Edinburgh Assay Office, the deadline to place an order for out-of-stock items to ensure Christmas delivery has passed. We will continue to despatch in stock items as quickly as possible.

Many thanks

Emma Picton
Thornley Silver

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