FAQ
What does "natural" stones mean?
Natural means that the stones were made by nature and not in a laboratory. This means that they were made over tens of thousands and sometimes millions of years and painstakingly mined, cut, polished and set inside a beautiful piece of jewelry.
How do I know that the stones are real?
It is illegal, not to mention highly unethical, to represent a stone being natural when it is, indeed, synthetic. Synthetic stones are technically also real, meaning they have the same chemical composition as natural stones, but they are made in a laboratory instead of developing over many years in nature. We currently do not carry any synthetic stones.
What does "fancy color" diamonds mean?
Diamond prices can vary dramatically depending on the 4 C's. Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat Weight. For colorless diamonds, all the other C's being equal, less color is more rare and thus more valuable. For fancy color diamonds the opposite is true. In general, all else being equal, the deeper the color the more rare and valuable the diamond is.
What do the acronyms mean?
"18k gold". k means karat so in this case it is referring to the metal in the ring which is 18 karat gold. Gold is an extremely soft metal that must often be mixed with an alloy to make it more durable. 18k gold is 75% gold and 25% alloy. The number 18 refers to parts of 24, or karats. 12k gold is 50% gold and 50% alloy.
"5 ct t.w.". ct refers to the weight of a gemstone. t.w. stands for "total weight" and ct stands for carat. This means that the sum total of all gemstones of that particular type of gemstone will weigh 5 ct. If you have 5 diamonds on the ring with a 5 ct t.w. and they are all approximately the same size that will mean that each individual diamond is about 1 ct in weight.
Are your stones ethically sourced?
Absolutely! We take painstaking effort to ensure that the gemstones in any jewelry we sell have been sourced in an ethical manner. We want you to be proud not only of the beauty of your new jewelry, but of the manner in which it was sourced and crafted.
Are you a woman-owned business?
Yes, we are proudly a woman-owned business.
Can you help me choose the right product?
Absolutely, we have certified jewelers, gemologists and designers on staff who would love to help you choose the perfect piece. You can use the live chat function on our website or you can set up a time with one of our design consultants. Please be advised that sometimes we can get quite busy and may not be able to answer live chat in a timely manner. We don't outsource our customer service or let you talk to a robot but if you leave us a message in the live chat or email at info@gateofjewels.com we will get back to you promptly.
Where are you based?
While we sell our jewelry all over the world we are based in Portland, Oregon in the United States.
Can I see the jewelry before I purchase it?
Making a big purchase online from a company you have just met can be nerve-racking, we get it! We will be happy to show you the jewelry on a videoconference or set up an in-person showing in Portland, Oregon.
Do you make custom jewelry?
For select clients we sometimes source or manufacture custom designed jewelry. If you are looking for something specific please reach out to info@gateofjewels.com. We have jewelers, gemologists and designers on staff and a wide range of industry partners as well as a regular presence in all the major jewelry shows.
What is your return policy?
We have a 10-day return policy, which means you have 10 days after receiving your item to request a return.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, with tags, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase.
To start a return, you can contact us at info@gateofjewels.com.
If your return is accepted, we’ll send you a return shipping label, as well as instructions on how and where to send your package. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted.
Certain types of items cannot be returned, like custom products (such as special orders or personalized items). Please get in touch if you have questions or concerns about your specific item.
We will notify you once we’ve received and inspected your return, and let you know if the refund was approved or not. If approved, you’ll be automatically refunded on your original payment method within 10 business days. Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund too.
If more than 15 business days have passed since we’ve approved your return, please contact us at info@gateofjewels.com.
You will be responsible for return shipping costs.
You can always contact us for any return question at info@gateofjewels.com.
What if the item I received was damaged?
Please inspect your order upon delivery and contact us immediately if the item is defective, damaged or if you receive the wrong item, so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right.
Can I exchange the item for another item?
The fastest way to ensure you get what you want is to return the item you have, and once the return is accepted, make a separate purchase for the new item.