Product info & Policies
About our jewelry
Between Jan-June 2020, we took steps to improve our product quality and become more sustainable. We did this by transitioning our jewelry to 18k gold filled over a surgical grade stainless steel using a physical vapour deposit process. This is the highest quality metal and gold overlay out there and more durable than 14k vermeil. Surgical grade stainless steel is the same grade of steel found in medical instruments and piercing jewelry. It is known for being anti tarnish, rustproof, water resistant and 100% recyclable. It is also considered hypoallergenic and safe for most people with metal allergies.
Please be advised that water resistant is not the same as waterproof. Water resistant means your jewelry is ‘shower safe’ can get wet occasionally and will not tarnish, however it is not suitable for chlorine/pools or ocean/salt water. Chlorine and salt water will dull your jewelry's gold overlay.
All of our gold stainless steel items come with a 1 year warranty against fading (est. June 2020). If your gold stainless steel item fades within the first year it will be replaced free of charge. It is important to note that over time and with wear, all gold overlay item will be susceptible to lose their shine and luster. The only gold that will never fade is solid gold (10k-24k).
While we work mainly with stainless steel, we also offer solid gold (10k-22k) upon request. To inquire please email info@iamkrwnd.com.
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About our materials:
18k gold filled over surgical grade stainless steel:
By industry standard, in order to be considered 'gold filled' the item must contain 5% or 1/20th of gold (using a minimum of 10k gold) that is pressure and heat bonded to a base metal such as brass or sterling silver. We use 18k gold over surgical grade stainless steel and our pressure and heat bonding process is called physical vapour deposit. Stainless steel is considered a sustainable metal because it is 100% recyclable. It is a very durable metal and is known for being safe for most people with metal allergies & skin sensitivities (i.e similarly to surgical instruments & piercing jewelry). Stainless steel is anti tarnish and rust proof making it perfect for everyday wear. It is important to note that the only items that will never lose their colour and shine is solid gold.
Solid Gold (10k-24k):
The karat number of a piece of jewelry indicates what proportion of it is made up of gold. Pure gold is 24K, meaning that all 24 parts out of 24 are pure gold. This type of gold is not used often in jewelry because pure gold is a soft and malleable metal that tends to bend, dent or scratch very easily. The higher the karat, the softer the metal but the higher the value. This makes pure 24k gold impractical for daily wear as it is too fragile. To improve durability, gold is mixed with other metals before it’s crafted into jewelry. The gold’s purity is measured using the karat system, which measures the ratio of pure gold to secondary metals.
- 10k gold is made up of 41.7% gold and 58.3% alloy, or 10 out of 24 parts are made with pure gold.
- 14k gold is made up of 58.3% gold and 41.7% alloy, or 14 out of 24 parts are made with pure gold.
- 18k gold is made up of 75% gold and 25% alloy, or 18 out of the 24 parts are made with pure gold.
- 22k gold is made up of 91.7% gold and 8.3% alloy or 22 out of 24 parts are made with pure gold.
- 24k gold consists of 99% gold with 24 out of 24 parts of the metal being pure gold.
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Jewelry Care
While we strive to make our gold plated items as durable as possible, jewelry requires care in order to maximize it’s wear. It is important to note that the only pieces that will NEVER fade and will last FOREVER are solid gold items (10k-24k).
All of our jewelry is made with gold plated surgical grade stainless steel and is anti tarnish and water resistant. Please be advised that water resistant is not the same as waterproof. Water resistant means your jewelry can get wet occasionally and will not tarnish, however it is not suitable for constant water submersion. While our items are 'shower safe' (can be worn in the shower) they are not suitable for swimming in the pool or ocean. It is important to note that with all gold plated items—over time and with wear the gold plating can fade. Chlorine and salt water will dull your jewelry's gold plating.
Every KRWND piece comes with a polishing cloth and care instructions. The most important steps you can take to preserve your piece is:
1. Keep away from harsh solutions or chemicals like chlorine, salt water, lotions and perfumes. While our items are 'shower safe', it is important to dry your piece thoroughly after it gets wet to preserve the plating's luster and colour. Do not let your item air dry, instead pat dry.
2. Remove pieces before strenuous activity to prevent breaking/chain popping. Be mindful with tangling/popping while sleeping. When not in use, store your item the same way you received it-in the jewelry box or the jewelry bag. This keeps the item protected and prevents tangling or friction to the surface.
3. Clean your jewelry occasionally by wiping it down with the polishing cloth provided. This will remove any natural oils or acidity left from your skin. This is the most important step you can take as the oil/acidity from your skin can cause a chemical reaction and cause a green buildup on your jewelry. If this happens, use our DIY jewelry cleaning recipe that comes with your order.
Our pieces are made & tested to last up to 1-3 years before needing to be re-polished/re-plated. However, it is important to note that everybody's skin reacts differently. Individuals with higher levels of acidity in their skin will cause a quicker fading reaction on plated items.
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Refunds & Returns
If you receive an items and decide you no longer want it you can return it. However, since we have to discard of any jewelry that gets returned for sanitary reasons, if you wish to return your item you can only receive store credit or exchange for a different item. In this case, the customer is responsible for returning the item and any costs associated.
Refunds are only available if you receive a damaged item, if you receive the wrong order or if your item gets lost in the mail and cannot be retrieved through the shipping carrier. If you receive the wrong item or your item arrives damaged or defective, please notify us IMMEDIATELY at info@iamkrwnd.com. To qualify for a refund you must notify us within 7 days of receiving your item. If you notify us after the 7 days you are only eligible for an exchange. To receive your full refund, you MUST return the original item. Your refund will be issued as soon as proof of return if issued (i.e receipt, tracking number). In this case, customer is responsible for returning the item and will be reimbursed for shipping cost to return it.
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Warranty
All designs and materials undergo thorough testing before being sold to the public. We stand by the quality and craftsmanship of each piece however it is VERY important to note that all jewelry is delicate and MUST be handled with care. Jewelry is not indestructible or maintenance free.
Gold plated warranty
All of our gold plated stainless steel items come with a 1 year warranty against fading. If your item fades within the first year it will be replaced for free. If we’ve already replaced it once and you still experience fading within the year, the issue is probably the levels of acidity in your skin that is causing you he fading at a small quick rate. Damages caused by customer wear and tear is not our responsibility. This includes but is not limited to damages caused by accident , neglect, improper use or storage of the product and unauthorized modification (resizing or any repair work done by a third party). All pieces are received fully functional and in brand new condition. You are responsible for making sure your piece does not pop, get caught, tangled, bent, dented, scratched, broken or lost--all of which are considered wear and tear or damages caused by accident and neglect. We will however, extend and offer 1 free repair for damages caused by accident or neglect. All repairs after that will incur additional costs and are the responsibility of the customer. Please note that shipping costs associated with the repair is the responsibly of the customer.
Solid Gold warranty
Solid gold is a fine and fragile metal that can be easily compromised. Damages caused by customer wear and tear is not our responsibility. This includes but is not limited to damages caused by accident ,neglect, improper use or storage of the product and unauthorized modification (resizing or any repair work done by a third party). All pieces are received fully functional and in brand new condition. You are responsible for making sure your item does not pop, get caught, tangled, bent, dented, scratched, broken or lost--all of which are considered wear and tear or damages caused by accident and neglect. We will however, extend and offer 1 free repair for damages caused by accident or neglect. All repairs after that will incur additional costs and are the responsibility of the customer. Please note that shipping costs associated with the repair is the responsibly of the customer. We offer a lifetime warranty against all manufacturing defects and craftsmanship/design related deficiencies (measurement discrepancies, gold quality, foundation issues). Please note that shipping costs associated with the repair is the responsibly of the customer.
All items undergo a quality control inspection before being sent out. If your item arrives damaged or defective. Please notify us IMMEDIATELY at info@iamkrwnd.com.
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Production Timeline
All 'Custom Jewelry’ is handmade abroad and are made to order. Due to the nature of the items being made to order, custom jewelry is not eligible for refunds unless you receive a damaged or incorrect order. Every custom jewelry piece goes through a 7 step production process before leaving the factory. Since our items are handmade abroad and then shipped to us upon completion, this is something to keep in mind when it comes to understanding the production timeline.
Please allow an average of 4-6 weeks for the production of your custom piece. This 4-6 week timeline is for production only and includes the time it takes for your custom piece to be made and the time it takes for us to receive your item from our production department abroad. This does not include shipping to you. Shipping/transit times are separate and are calculated at checkout based on your location.
This 4-6 week turnaround time is based on a seamless 7 step production process with NO challenges, however, this is not always a guarantee. In some occasions longer wait times can also incur if there is a higher than normal volume of orders or if there are any production challenges/errors. Orders that exceed the 4 week production time frame cannot be refunded. If you wish to cancel a custom order, you will only be issued store credit or you can exchange for in stock items at the same value. Please note we do not accommodate rushed production requests. Since custom jewelry production involves many stages/steps, production cannot be rushed as this can risk or compromise the quality.
Unlike fast fashion accessory brands, we are a small, virtual, bespoke jewelry design studio. Bespoke items are made from scratch and to your specifications. Each item is custom, handmade and takes time. If you need an item for a specific time frame, please contact us before placing your order so we can confirm if your time frame is doable.
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Shipping/Pick up.
Shipping is available to CANADA, US, EUROPE. Comes with insurance and tracking. Transit times are as follows: 3-5 days withing Canada. 5-7days to the US. 7-10+ days everywhere else. For shipping elsewhere, please email info@iamkrwnd.com to inquire.
Pick up option is available at checkout for local orders (Toronto).
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Pricing
Although we are a Canadian based company, all pricing is listed in $USD dollars to accommodate and reflect our world wide customer base. You can find a currency converter at the header/footer of the web page.
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If you need any further clarification or have any questions please feel free to email us at info@iamkrwnd.com.