Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Heavy Metals Jewellery made?
Each piece of HMJ is designed and handcrafted in my studio by me in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa (Wellington, New Zealand). Where possible, recycled metal and locally sourced materials are used in the making process. All gemstones are sourced from ethical and reputable suppliers.

Can I see/try on the jewellery in person?
Yes! If you are located in the Wellington region, I usually have weekday & weekend availability to meet you at a centrally located studio so you can try on jewels. I am also able to size you for rings and discuss custom/bespoke pieces in person. Please email me at hello@heavymetalsjewellery.com to arrange this.

Do you have any stockists?
You can find Heavy Metals stocked in store at Absolution in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa NZ and online & in-store at Electric Sun Store, located in Cyprus, Europe.

A small selection of my work is also available in store at Stackhouse Knives in Brewtown, Upper Hutt and Mason & Collins Gallery in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington City.

I understand that choosing a piece of jewellery online can be daunting, please feel free to contact me via email or Instagram DM with any queries about sizing or how a certain piece may look being worn. I am happy to send videos and photos of listed pieces. If you are in Wellington and you would rather meet in person, then I am also available by special appointment for you to try on any pieces or discuss a bespoke design. Please contact me to arrange this at hello@heavymetalsjewellery.com.

Is it possible to commission a custom or bespoke piece from you?
Yes! I am available for commissions and am happy to discuss how we can create a bespoke piece just for you. Please use the contact form on the website to contact me about your dream piece. Please note, if you do order a custom design, I reserve the right to resell the design or something similar in my shop in future. Bespoke work is a one-off design that will not be replicated (although may be used as inspiration for future work).

How should I look after my jewellery?
The following advice is recommended for looking after all your jewellery:
- Avoid contact with water, strong soaps, chemicals and abrasives.
- Always remove your jewellery to shower, exercise, swim and sleep
- When not wearing it, keep your jewellery in a soft cotton or zip lock bag out of direct sunlight
- Remove jewellery when doing particularly heavy or hand intensive tasks which may risk breakage of stones, chips, scratches or misshaping of the band.

For opal and pearl jewellery in particular, please note that while the opals I use are solid stones and therefore not susceptible to water damage, they are a somewhat heat-sensitive stone. Sudden, extreme changes in temperature and climate can cause stress cracks in the stone (eg jumping into a hot tub on a cold night). Opals and pearls can also scratch more easily than harder stones (such as diamonds and sapphires) and so I highly recommend storing them carefully when not wearing them. Warm water and gentle soap can be used to clean opal jewellery.

How should I look after my gold-plated jewellery?
I only gold plate over sterling silver, not base metals, meaning your piece is 100% precious metal underneath the plating. Gold plating does wear off over time, but I do offer a replating service for a minimal fee throughout the lifetime of your jewellery. To care for your gold plated jewellery, avoid wearing it in water, do not use abrasive cleaning methods (warm water and soap will do) and avoid contact with perfumes/lotions.

I ordered the wrong size! Can you please resize it?
In some cases, it is possible for me to resize a ring for a small fee if you have purchased an incorrect size. Please contact me as soon as possible after receiving your item if this is the case. Please note that not all rings can be resized, and I do not offer refunds if you purchase an incorrect size.

Do you accept returns?
Custom or bespoke orders, personalised items and certain types of body jewellery such as earrings cannot be returned. Change of mind or customer error returns are not accepted. If you order the wrong size, please get in touch so I can advise you on the resizing process.
If your item arrives broken or damaged, please advise immediately via email and I will advise you on the process of getting it back to me to be repaired or exchanged.

When will my order be ready?
Each piece is on my website is clearly labelled in the listing as ‘Made to Order’ or ‘Ready to Ship’ and has a timeframe listed for when it will be ready. Please take note of this when you order! Made to order items generally take up to 4-6 weeks to produce as they are made from scratch each time so as to avoid creating in excess and to be as sustainable as possible. I will always email you to advise if I am going to be outside of the stated production time with your order. At certain times of year the studio is busier, and as such I will be at the later end of the production time frame. Please only contact me to ask where your order is if the timeframe has passed.

Do you do repairs?
Unless otherwise discussed, I only repair my own work and do not repair the work of other jewellers. If you own a piece of HMJ that needs repairing or altering, please email me directly. If you take your HMJ piece to another jeweller to work on, I will no longer be able to repair it for you.

How can I work out my ring size?
The most accurate way is to be sized by a professional jeweller. Try popping into a local jewellery store and asking (very nicely) if they would mind sizing you. Otherwise, I do have a small supply of plastic ring sizers and can send you one for a small cost, however please consider the enviromental impact of throwaway plastic before using this option!

Ring Sizing
All of my rings are listed in US sizes. You can easily convert other countries ring sizes HERE
You can find out your ring size at any local jeweller, or order a ring sizer from my website and measure yourself. Please note I do not accept returns if you order an incorrect size, so please measure carefully!

If your ring size isn’t listed, please email me at hello@heavymetalsjewellery.com and I may be able to assist.