Frequently Asked Questions and Product Resources
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Shipping Policy Privacy Policy
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FAQ
How can you sell quality fashion jewelry at such low prices?
We do not have storefront expenses and commissioned sales people, all of which drive the prices of these products at other retailers.
Is this a secure shop?
Yes. PortiaJewelry.com is dedicated to protecting the privacy of our customer's personal information. All information sent from your computer to our e-commerce system is encrypted using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software. Only parties responsible for processing your order will have access to your information. We continually review our procedures to ensure all customer information remains secure. Please read our Privacy Policy to learn more.
Do you keep, distribute or sell my personal information including my name, address, email address and credit card information?
Absolutely Never! Please learn more by reading our Privacy Policy.
When will my order be processed?
To help you plan when to expect your order, you will receive an e-mail confirmation containing the status of your order, shipment method and estimated arrival date, as well as a tracking number from the shipping vendor you have chosen.
For most products, if you place your order before 3:00pm eastern standard time on a regular business day (Monday through Friday), your order will be processed and shipped the next business day. Products that take longer to process will have this noted on the details page for the item.
If you place your order on a holiday, Saturday or Sunday, or after 3:00pm eastern standard time on a regular business day, your order will be processed and shipped the following business day. Read more about shipping
Do you ship outside of the United States of America?
We currently ship to Canada only. You can read our Shipping Policy for more information.
Who is the carrier for shipping and when will my order get to me? How do you calculate shipping charges?
We have partnered up with U.S.P.S. providing you with a live feed for the most up-to-date pricing based on weight and multiple options. You can choose ground service or expedited service. Please read our Shipping Policy to learn more.
How can I track my order?
You can track your order with the tracking number provided to you at the time of shipping at http://www.usps.com/. If you no longer have your tracking number email customerservice@portiajewelry.com and we will send it to you. Please note that USPS.com shipping methods are used at this time to provide our consumers with the most inexpensive and reliable way to receive their package. USPS tracking number will only provide confirmation of receipt and delivery notification.
What credit cards do you accept?
We currently accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Please read Ordering Information to find out about other acceptable payment options, including PayPal, as well as mailing in or calling in your order.
Are your products priced in US dollars? How can I view your prices in another currency? How can I order from another country?
Our website shows all prices in U.S. dollars. However, you can visit http://www.xe.com/ for the most up-to-date currency exchanges.
Do you offer discounts for bulk orders?
Yes. Please view Portia Wholesale to learn more! We do not permit our jewelry being re-sold through internet-based sites and/or third party website, such as Ebay.com.
What if I forget my log-in or password?
You can easily go to the log-in page, click "Forgot your password", enter your email address and we will automatically send you your password. If you have an email address that is no longer valid or you forgot which email address you entered, please email customerservice@portiajewelry.com and we will help you gain access to your account.
How can I inform you if there is a problem with your site?
Please email customerservice@portiajewelry.com for any web site errors or difficulties. For a quick fix try refreshing the page in your browser. If this does not help, please notify us. You can always place your order over the phone by calling 1 (866) 5 PORTIA. Please click this link for Portia's business phone hours.
How can I subscribe or unsubscribe to PortiaJewelry.com's newsletter, sales and promotion communications?
You can go to the Newsletter Subscription page to subscribe or unsubscribe as well as send comments.
Do you have a hard copy catalog that you mail out?
We do not have a catalog at this time. However, it is in the works! Please go to the Newsletter Subscription page to send us your information, so that we can send you one, once it becomes available.
Definitions of Materials and Components
Alloy: A metal made by combining 2 or more metals to make the resulting metal a different color or fineness.
Baguette: A stone in the shape of a narrow rectangle.
Bangle: A rigid bracelet often tubular and hinged.
Baton: A stone cut in the shape of a long narrow rectangle.
Bezel: A metal rim which holds the stone often seen in a ring, cameo, or crystal on a watch.
Brilliant Cut: A cut that returns the greatest amount of white light to the eye. It usually has 57 or 58 facets. Used for diamonds and other transparent stones.
Briolettes: A teardrop-shaped cut covered with facets.
Brooch: An ornamental piece of jewelry which has a pin back for affixing it to clothing or hats.
Cabochon: A stone cut in a round or oval shape in which the top is convex shaped (not faceted).
Channel Setting: A type of setting in which stones of the same size are held in place by a continuous strip of metal at the top and bottom literally creating a channel for the stones.
Chasing: The technique of embellishing metal by hand using hammers and punches to make indentations; thus raising the design.
Cubic Zirconia: A very inexpensive Diamond simulant and an excellent alternative to Diamond. Although mostly seen in its white or colorless forms, CZ (as it is commonly known) is also available in a wide variety of colors. Nearly as hard as Ruby and Sapphire, the optical properties are high and CZ has good brilliance. It's near stranglehold on the Diamond simulant market has been going strong for the last two decades.
Cushion cut: A square or rectangular shape with rounded corners.
Electro-plating: the process of covering metal with a coating of another metal by using electrical currents.
Enamel: A glass-like material used in powder or flux form and fired onto metal.
Filigree: Ornamental designs made by using plain, twisted or plaited wire.
Gold- Filled: Gold filled is like a sandwich made up of a sheet of gold, a sheet of base metal, and another sheet of gold. The metal touching your skin is gold but it has the added strength of the base metal.
Gold- Plated: A piece that is gold-plated is made of a base metal and then a very thin coating of gold is applied. Another term most common is "gold electroplated".
Marcasite: A misnomer that is now a commonly accepted trade name for pyrite.
Marquise: A boat shaped cut used for diamonds and other gem stones.
Pave Setting: A style of setting in which the stones are set close together as possible, representing a cobblestone effect.
Rhinestone: Originally rock crystal found along the banks of the Rhine river. Today, a misnomer for colorless and colored glass.
Rhodium: Rhodium plating is mostly used as an alloy with platinum. The resulting alloy has a brilliant silvery white long lasting shine and is hard and very durable. Sterling silver items are rhodium plated to prevent tarnishing and gives a beautiful white gold look.
Silver Plate: A thin coating of silver is applied to an item made of base metal by means of electrical current. Nickel silver and copper are most popular base metals used for silver plating.
Sterling Silver: Pure silver is relatively soft and is not durable for everyday wear because it can easily be damaged. Therefore, sterling silver is most used most often. It is combined with other metals. This most popular alloy consists of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, being the most popular. Other metals have been known to be used and these metals do not jeopardize the value of silver. Silver has long been valued by the detail and quality of the craftsmanship of the piece of jewelry it is used for. You will often see jewelry stamped "sterling", "sterling silver", "ster" and ".925".
Synthetic: A man-made material with the same physical, chemical and optical properties as the natural. Not to be confused with imitation.
Credits for Definitions: C. Jeanenne Bell, G.G., "The Jewelry Detective" Author of "How to be a Jewelry Detective"
Caring for your Jewelry
The costume jewelry you find at PortiaJewelry.com is high quality and durable but of course, as a general rule of thumb, no costume jewelry will be as durable and reliable as fine jewelry. Costume jewelry does, however, allow you to follow the newest trends without having to spend the hundreds of dollars fine jewelry may cost you. It would be unreasonable to expect costume jewelry to last indefinitely; even fine jewelry will not look new forever.
However, with proper usage and care, you can prolong the life of your jewelry. You need to make sure that a cleaner doesn't contain ammonia, vinegar, or any other acids or alcohols. Read the label and make sure you are using a cleaner safe for whatever material your costume jewelry is made from (silver, gold, brass, bronze, copper, chrome, stainless steel, aluminum, pearls, opals, marble and any gems.) Don't use soap and water, because most soaps will leave a residue on the metal and make the stones look dull. Windex can damage delicate stones and finishes. Vinegar is also harmful to the gemstones. Use a very soft cloth to clean the surface of stones and gold or silver, using a bit of water. Do not submerge your jewelry entirely.
I. Keep your jewelry away from the following as much as possible: Water, lotion, perfume, or other harsh chemicals.
II. Perspiration will also shorten the life of your costume jewelry.
III. For Rhodium Plated Silver and Vermeil jewelry - Do not use soap/water or jewelry cleaner to clean your jewelry as the soap will leave a film clouding your jewelry. This plating is known to prevent tarnishing but can certainly be compromised when exposed to harsh chemicals. Again, a soft jewelry cloth should do just fine!
IV. Most importantly, after you have cleaned your jewelry, you must make sure your jewelry is completely dried before wearing it or storing it.
Storing
How you store your costume jewelry depends upon the space that you have available, your budget, and whether you want to display them, wear them, or simply protect them. Here are some tips for safely storing your jewelry:
I. Temperature change - Any extreme change in temperature can affect stone settings and glue.
II. Moisture - Moisture is the worst enemy of costume jewelry. Not only can it destroy the foil backing of rhinestones; it can also damage the metals used.
III. Space - Vintage jewelry must never be allowed to rest on top of another piece or be jostled together. This can dislodge or scratch stones.
IV. Oak - Oak cabinets or boxes can release fumes that damage costume jewelry.
V. Cardboard boxes - Even the cute little boxes that jewelry is sold in has been treated with sulpher, which tarnishes gold and silver.
Good storage choices:
- Ziplock bags
- Metal drawers
- Plastic boxes
- Soft cloth
- Curio cabinets
Costume jewelry can certainly last for years and years with proper care. There are many vintage costume jewelry pieces that have been passed from generation to generation and many stunning pieces can be found in historical museums all over the world!
