Frequently Asked Questions
Exchange and Returns
We'd be happy to sell you a single earring. We will need you to ship us your single earring for matching.
If your item has broken within 30 days of receiving it, we'd be happy to repair it free of charge. After that time, we will need to evaluate on a case by case basis.
If you need an alteration to a piece, please call the studio at 800.561.5509, 9am-5pm EST. We charge based on labor and materials used.
Just give us a call at 1-800-561-5509 or email us at sales@katehines.comhttp://www.katehinesjewelry.com/sites/all/modules/extlink/mailto.png); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; padding-right: 12px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"> within 15 days of the receipt of your purchase and let us know you will be returning. Once the item has been received we will credit the credit card used for initial payment and mail you the refund slip in the mail.
We only accept exchanges on sale items. Please choose another item from our collection and call 1-800-561-5509 or email us at sales@katehines.com to let us know you will be exchanging and we'll be happy to assist you in figuring out the difference in cost and best way to get the original item back to us.
Just call us at 1-800-561-5509 or email us at sales@katehines.com within 15 days of the receipt of the item. We will be happy to assist you in figuring out the cost difference and best way to get the original item back to us.
Shipping
Many orders can be shipped the same day. Some items take a bit longer. A diamond next to the price on the website means it will take about 2 weeks to ship.
Materials
Pearl Puddles™ is a trademarked name that we created for our signature pearl earrings. We liked it so much we designed a line of jewelry around it and this online retail shop! Pearl Puddles™ are genuine baroque pearls mounted on gold hardware. We match the pearls - each and every pair - for size, shape, color and luster to create a perfect pair of earrings. We hope you enjoy and wear your Pearl Puddles™ every day!
Your Pearl Puddles™ are 100% genuine freshwater pearls. The difference between freshwater pearls and cultured pearls is that freshwater pearls are grown in a mussel in fresh water and cultured pearls are grown in an oyster in salt water. Freshwater pearls are more plentiful and easier to farm, thus more affordable. We believe that the organic look of freshwater pearls is a stylish update to the perfectly round cultured pearl.
Dictionary.com's definition of "Baroque" as "...characterized by free and sculptural use of the classical orders and ornament" is apt. These pearls have a beautiful, organic shape, an irregular-not perfectly round-look that gives each one its unique character.
The name South Sea refers to the region where these salt water pearls grow and are harvested, the waters north of Australia and south of China. They are noted mostly for their size and are usually between 9mm and 18mm. The mother oyster is a very large mollusk Pinctada Maxima and can grow up to 12 inches in diameter. The South Seas' waters are very clean and warm with a high plankton (food) count, this aids the nacre production, resulting in a pearl with very thick and very lustrous nacre.
A gold-filled post has a base metal core which is fused with 14K gold. This is a thicker coating than a plating of gold and will not run off. If you are able to wear sterling silver you will most likely not have a problem with gold-filled.
Vermeil is the term given to jewelry that is made out of sterling silver and has an electronically applied coating of another precious metal like yellow gold or rhodium. It is used when this top coating of metal is desired for color or stability of finish.
White is a creamy lustrous white-the "classic" white pearl color.
Pink is a pale, luminescent pink-like the inside of a shell.
Black is "peacock" black, with hues of green and purple, and an iridescent quality.
If you are looking for a silver color we recommend the 14K white gold.
Yellow gold is classic and most women will love its warm color, but if you notice that she wears mostly silver jewelry we suggest the white gold. Keep in mind it's only the post of the earring and cannot be seen when it's being worn.
The Dots are 5mm in diameter, similar to a pearl "stud". The dots are perfect for a younger customer or for a second earring hole.
Prices are determined by the size, shape, and luster of the pearls themselves.
We are in Providence, Rhode Island in the Historic Jewelry District.
Yes. Everything is assembled here in Providence.
Glass based pearls were invented in the first half of the twentieth century when costume jewelry was in its global zenith. They were created to resemble real pearls and to offer an affordable price point. Today the same core which is made from glass is dip-coated in many layers of pearlized material. Once applied it is very durable, standing up to years of wear without chipping or loosing its luster.
Gift Giving
Please call us so that we can offer an item better suited to the recipient. If you call within two weeks and once we receive the item back in its original condition, we will be happy to give you a full refund. After that we can exchange the gift.
We typically suggest 17" as a standard size. Those who like to wear jewelry a bit longer may prefer 18". Someone especially petite may prefer a 16" or 16.5" length.
We package each piece of jewelry in a recycled paper-covered box with a sheet of gold tissue wrapping inside.
We'd be happy to gift wrap your item. Our complimentary wrap is a sleeve of beautiful Japanese hand-made paper; or we can provide a traditional velvet jewelry box at an extra charge. You can personalize the gift card with your own message. At your request we can enclose a gift receipt rather than the invoice.
Care and Cleaning
Pearls are very hardy and never suffer from frequent wear. Avoid contact with alcohol or acid based personal products. When not in use, store flat in the cotton lined box your pearls arrive in or wrap in soft cloth. You can have your pearls professional cleaned by your local jeweler every few years. If they are knotted on silk you may want to have them restrung if the silk shows wear or appears stretched out.
