Frequently Asked Questions

How Does Layaway Work?

Lets Talk Layaway!

1. Secure Your Item:

  • A 25% deposit is required to secure your item.
  • Layaway is available for most items priced over $200.00 USD.
  • There is no interest on our layaway plans.

2. Set Your Plan:

  • Work with our team to decide the length of your layaway plan and the amount for the remaining monthly balances. We are flexible!

3. Pay with PayPal:

  • We’ll email you a PayPal invoice for the total cost of the item.
  • To make monthly payments, select “partial payment” on the invoice instead of “full amount.”
  • For items over $500.00, PayPal fees may be added to the total cost.
  • Our PayPal email is accidentalantiquarian@gmail.com.

4. Receive Your Item:

  • Once the item is fully paid, we’ll pack and ship with tracking and insurance.
  • Shipping and packaging costs are complimentary and paid by us.

LAYAWAY TERMS ---

  • Final Sale: All layaway purchases are final sale. We will securely hold the item while you complete payments.
  • Missed Payments/Extensions: We understand that life happens! If you’re having trouble making a payment, please reach out and let us know so we can make a note in the file.
  • Limited Plans: To keep things manageable, we limit layaway to one items per person at a time.
  • Layaway Termination We will terminate layaway plans that go without payments or contact for 2 months. We will make 3 attempts to contact you via the email we have for you on file. A 20% restocking fee will be taken from the refund. (We've never had to do this)

By starting a layaway plan, you agree to these terms. Thank you for supporting our small business—we’re so excited to be part of your jewelry collecting experience!

How do you know the Age of the Jewelry?

Circa Dating antique jewelry can be tricky, but it is kind of our thing! With a special interest in antiques, especially Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco and Art Nouveau, we are comfortable working with older pieces. Design style, gem cuts, materials used, aesthetics and construction help us to identify our pieces. Each piece of jewelry has a story to tell and we read that story in the details, giving us clues into the history of each find.

It is important to note that some older pieces go through repairs and restorations and we cannot always determine when changes on an antique piece were made. We always disclose these types of repairs or modifications when we see them.

Do you Resize Rings?

Yes! Many of our pieces can be resized for an additional fee. It takes an approximately one week for the jeweler to complete the resize and then it will be packed and shipped. (Sometimes we do get a bit backed up around the holidays, please plan ahead!)

To inquire about a resize, please email us with the desired size and let us know which ring you are looking at. We will respond with a quote.

Some antique & vintage rings are unable to be resized. This includes enamel rings, eternity bands, Georgian rings and some filigree rings. Some rings cannot be resized more than 1-2 sizes. If you aren't sure- ask, our team is happy to help! Please note that all resized rings are final sale.

Returns & Exchanges

We want you to love your new jewels, but if you don't, we do accept returns and exchanges within our policy.

We accept returns on jewelry purchases so long as we are notified within 3 business days of the receipt of the item. Return shipping is the responsibility of the buyer and the package needs to be postmarked within 5 business days from the date of delivery (as noted by shippers final 'delivered' tracking update) to qualify for a return and refund.

To initiate a return, please email us at accidentalantiquarian@gmail.com or use the contact form on our website.

Return packages must be insured for the full amount of the order, and tracking information must be included. We cannot reimburse items that are Damaged or lost in the mail - so that insurance is important.

Import duties and fees related to international shipping are not refunded.

RESIZED or altered jewelry cannot be returned or exchanged.

Please review all product photos and read the descriptions carefully. We put detailed information about each piece on each product page so you can feel confident in your jewelry purchase. If you you have questions about something, we are always happy to help.

APPAREL Apparel and non jewelry items are made to order and are final sale.

How Do you Know Gold Purity on Items without Stamps?

We love a fully hallmarked piece! Many precious metal jewelry items will have purity Stamps, especially contemporary pieces, however not all of it does. Sometimes stamps can wear off over time, and some times they are lost in repairs/resizes. Occasionally older rings get reshanked/repaired and loose their stamps entirely. Some older and pieces never get a stamp to begin with. We use multiple metal tests to confirm the purity of the metal in our jewelry. Because we sell both solid gold and gold filled jewelry, it's important for us to thoroughly test everything. We use both acid and electronic testing on our gold pieces. You will find the materials of each item listed in the product description.

If I send a Picture, Can you tell me about my Jewelry?

Unfortunately we need to see jewelry in person to asses each piece. It is nearly impossible to guarantee any type of gemstones or metal without proper testing and handling.

We get hundreds of inquiries asking about antique/vintage jewelry. We do our best to answer everyone to the best of our ability, but sometimes it is not possible with our small team. If you are local, we encourage you to bring your item in, and if you aren't local- we highly recommend bringing your piece to a trusted local jeweler for an assesment.

Terms of Sale

All our pieces are authentic estate jewelry items unless otherwise noted, inspected for quality and described to the best of our ability.
Please note: Coupons can’t be used on already discounted items, and bench jeweler services such as resizing or alterations aren’t eligible for discounts. Custom or altered items are final sale. For full details, see our complete Terms of Sale.