Due to travel commitments, I will not be available to ship any orders until further notice.
1-808-212-8597
Call Today
 
 
Frequently Asked Questions




Why should I trust Jewels of the Reef with my purchase?
Because you're working with me, Craig Threshie (Thresh). I am Jewels of the Reef, and my reputation, integrity and honesty are exceptional, and yes, the buck does stop here, with me. I have operated Jewels of the Reef since 2006 and I have been serving customers and clients successfully for four decades, earning my living primarily from my reputation, recommendations and referrals from my past customers and clients. People know me to do things right, with extra care and attention to detail. I care that every transaction is handled quickly, professionally and fairly and that I earn your repeat business. My primary weakness is the "quickly" part. I work my tail off, and I apologize if I'm not able to be as quick as Amazon, but sometimes I am stretched thin, usually because I care so much about the quality and detail of my jewelry art. Please see Craig's Story for more on me and why you can buy my jewelry art with confidence and peace of mind.
How fast will you ship my order?
Typically within 2 to 3 business days. I strive to ship each order within one business day of your payment clearing my credit card processing bank, which is typically the business day after your order is placed online; sometimes this can vary due to the time of day you place your order. On my Payment & Shipping page, you'll see that I state that I typically ship within 2 to 3 business days from the day you place your order. If you need your purchase shipped faster than this, call me at 1-808-212-8597 and I'll let you know if I can accommodate your request.
Can I have my order shipped overnight?
Yes. Please see my Payment & Shipping page for more detail.
Do you ship internationally and can you accept my credit card from another country?
Yes. You will see the options in the check out process.
Is delivery Guaranteed and my jewelry insured?
Yes. I insure every package I ship so that I can replace it if it has been lost, stolen or damaged, and I will replace it as quickly as possible once we confirm that it cannot still be delivered. This has never occurred to date, as every piece of jewelry I have shipped has been delivered undamaged, so far. This being said, a crucial detail of my shipping process requires that a signature is obtained by the shipper upon delivery to the destination you choose. This is a standard practice in the fine jewelry and art trade and it protects both you and I. For shipping of expensive, one-of-a-kind art works that cannot be reproduced, lets choose the safest way to ship your collectible heirloom piece that works for you. Call me and we will choose what fits your situation the best.
Can I return my purchase or the gift I received?
Yes, of course you can. Please see my Returns and Exchanges page for details.
I'm traveling through the Sierra Nevada Foothills. Can I pick up my jewelry from you?
Yes you can and I'd be happy to meet you. Please just call me at (808) 212-8597, or email me at [email protected] and we'll schedule your appointment.
What if the jewelry piece doesn't quite fit?
I want you to be Totally Thrilled with your jewelry I created, so please let me modify it so that it fits beautifully for you. Depending on the piece, there will be a minimal charge for my time, materials and shipping which I can quote for you quickly and easily. When you are choosing jewelry from my web-gallery, please refer to my Sizing Help page for some good guidelines for size selection, and please always feel free to call me at 1-808-212-8597 or email me at [email protected] and I will try to help you decide what sizing is best for the jewelry you are considering.
I found the jewelry piece I want, but the size isn't quite what I need. Can you resize it?
Yes. If you see a piece of jewelry you would like, but it seems like it won't fit based on the dimensions I have shown, I would be happy to modify it (with a minimal charge for my time and materials, based upon the specific piece and the re-sizing dimensions) before shipping it out for you. Please call me at 1-808-212-8597 or email me at [email protected] and I will help you decide what sizing is best for the jewelry you are considering and I can quote the resizing for you quickly and easily.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Domestic or international Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards and PayPal. I do not accept checks or Am Ex. I can accept cash if you are picking up your jewelry in person. Please see more details on my page.
I want to send a great gift to my loved one and want it to be really special. Can you create a beautiful presentation for me?
Yes indeed I can. I love to create a great impression for you and your loved one with my jewelry art sent as a gift. I specialize in great gift giving, so you can show how much you really care! Please see my Gift Box, Wrapping & Card page for details. I nestle every piece of my jewelry in a beautiful blue leatherette jewelry box with white satin lining for you, I offer a gift card with your personal message inside, and I offer beautiful gift wrapping too!
Do you offer a gift Certificate? I love your jewelry, but I don't know what to get for a gift.
Yes, I have a really beautiful Gift Certificate that you can get right here on my web-gallery (click the link) and it's easy to redeem by entering the code in my checkout process in the "Coupon Code" field. If there is a balance left over after the certificate code is used to redeem jewelry, the code can be used again in the future until the balance is all used. You can choose any amount you would like to give. The certificate looks great to give and it can be emailed (it can then be printed) or mailed. Either way, it's a great way to spread your aloha!
I have a discount code for Jewels of the Reef. How do I use it?
I have set up my checkout process on this web-gallery to accept and redeem codes for discounts, coupons, gift certificate codes and promotional codes. You will want to select the jewelry you'd like to get by putting it in your Treasure Chest, then proceed to Checkout and enter the code you have in the "Coupon Code" field. Press "Update" and you will see the discount applied to your total. Please note that only one discount can be applied to each purchase. Multiple discounts cannot be combined.
Is your website secure for my credit card transaction?
Yes it is. This is a state-of-the-art Volusion website, an industry leader, and it integrates Volusion's own Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate. It is a "Certified Secure Site" by Volusion and features industry standard 128-bit encryption to keep your sensitive credit card information secure. You can see the Volusion SSL security seal in the footer of my web-gallery, ensuring that the security system is installed and performing it's job.
Do you charge tax?
Just what the State of California requires that they get paid.
Do you have any testimonials from previous customers?
Yes, I sure do and I'm happy to share them. You'll find a number of them on my Give Feedback page, as well as in the reviews of my jewelry throughout my web-gallery near the bottom of all of the specific pages for each piece of jewelry, as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, and Google Places.
I am allergic to some low quality and plated metals. Does your jewelry have either of these in it?
Good question and a very important one. I only source my precious metals from a select few suppliers because I know I can trust them to supply me with exactly what I specify and pay for. They are reputable and outstanding, have been in their business for decades and I can trust them. I don't believe in designing and creating my jewelry art with anything fake, ever! You can trust that what I note here on my web-gallery and on my jewelry for material content is true. All of my silver is solid sterling silver and is either marked ".925" or "Sterling". It will always be an alloy of 92.5% fine silver and 7.5% copper, which is the highest quality sterling silver made. It will not contain lead or other lesser quality or harmful metals. I won't ever use plated silver in my jewelry, ever. My gold lost wax castings, findings and bench fabricated jewelry are exactly as stamped (e.g. 14k, 18k, etc) and of the highest quality, purest precious metals attainable today. I create some of my Gem & Pearl Compositions, my beaded jewelry work, with a very high quality gold vermeil from a fantastic studio in Bali. This is 24k pure gold, plated over a solid sterling silver base, so these are completely precious metals of the highest purity made today.
Are your gemstones and pearls real?
Always. I do not use any synthetic gems or fakes, ever. There are tons of fakes and lab created gems out there. It is now commonplace. They will never be in my jewelry. My gemstones will always be natural as mined from the earth. My opal is real opal mined from the earth; never lab created, never fake. If I create an opal doublet or triplet (meaning that there are layers of other materials bonded with epoxy to the real opal) I will state so with crystal clarity. I am an opal purist. I've had the honor of cutting and carving natural, real precious opal from the earth since I was a boy, and nothing can match it for beauty and majesty. It can be awe inspiring and an absolute exploration and adventure to cut. Much of the jewelry on the market today marketed as opal is not. It's fake. I consider it criminal misrepresentation and I'll have nothing to do with it. My pearls are real, all cultured and grown inside an oyster or other mollusk. They are never epoxied ground shell, as many pearl-like fakes are today. My turquoise is real and natural, a rarity today. A lot of what is being marketed as turquoise today is in fact fake, and I won't be involved with it. In all of these gems and pearls, you pay for what you get. If the price seems too low, you're likely looking at a fake.
Are your gemstones treated?
Sometimes. Creating jewelry art with natural gemstones today automatically means that a few gems are treated. I try to avoid them, but one cannot source untreated gems in some species today, period. The reason for this is simple, the market today demands outstanding color, and the gems in some species are not released on the market without it. I avoid and do not work with natural gems that have been filled to hide inclusions and imperfections, such as today's emeralds. My turquoise is what I feel to be the most beautiful, natural turquoise available today, which I hand select in person. It is sometimes purely unenhanced and sometimes what is termed enhanced or stabilized in order to create a more durable and beautiful finish, as most of the A and B grade turquoise available today is softer (less durable) than desirable for jewelry creation. It's definitely not fake. Please see this link to the Rings & Things website that discuss some gemstone treatments being used today to educate yourself more on the topic: http://www.rings-things.com/gemstone/a.htm#agate
How should I care for my gemstone jewelry?
Gemstones are naturally of varying hardness and durability. The softer the gem, the more likely it's finish will be dulled and damaged by abrasion caused by rubbing against other gems and metals, such as might occur if you wear more than one pendant or necklace at the same time, or stacking jewelry pieces on top of each other. It's best to avoid this. With a significant impact, even the hardest of gemstones can break. Some gems, even untreated ones, can be damaged from being exposed to the sun for too long, so it's best not to let your jewelry sit out for long periods of time in direct sunlight. Gems can shatter or crack from thermal shocks of going from one temperature extreme to another, (say, being heated in the sun, and then dipped into a nice icy cold drink) so this needs to be avoided.
How should I clean my gemstone jewelry?
This is a fairly complex issue. The most important thing to remember is that many, many gemstones and pearls can be damaged from the wrong cleaning practices, so it's best to refer to specific information about each gem. If the jewelry piece has a number of gems in it's composition, you'll need to use the cleaning technique recommended for the gem or pearl which is most susceptible to damage. This link is to the International Colored Gemstone Association's Gem Tips section. There is a great deal of information on this site that is of value. http://jewelry.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=jewelry&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gemstone.org%2Fgem-tips%2Fask_07_00-care.html This link connects to a valuable chart that shows us safe and unsafe ways of cleaning many precious and semi-precious stones. Please use care when cleaning any gemstones as permanent damage can occur very quickly if cleaned improperly. http://jewelry.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=jewelry&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jewelry-appraisal.com%2F220_Gem_Care.htm
How should I care for my pearls?
Even cultured pearls with thicker nacre coatings are more fragile than most other gemstones, so you must handle them carefully to keep them in the best condition. Your pearls will stay cleaner and show more luster longer if you put them on after you've applied your makeup and perfume. These can actually damage nacre. Be sure to take off your pearl rings before you apply hand and body creams. Wipe your pearls with a soft, lint-free cloth as soon as you take them off. The cloth can be dampened with water or it can be dry. If damp, allow the pearls to air dry before putting them away. Dirty pearls can be cleaned with a mild soap and water solution (try Ivory flakes). Never clean your pearls with solutions that contain ammonia or harsh detergents. Don't put pearl jewelry in an ultrasonic cleaner. Don't use abrasive cleaners or rub pearls with abrasive cloth. Both can wear away the nacre coating, leaving you with a plain looking bead. If your silk strung pearls get wet, do not hang them to dry as this will cause the silk to stretch. Lay them out flat on a soft cloth to air dry. Do not wear them, put them away or hang them again until they are completely dry.
How should I store my pearls?
Don't store your pearls with other jewelry, because they can be scratched easily when metal or gemstones rub against them, and don't store them in the sun. Find a special slot in your jewelry box for the pearls, or keep them in a soft bag made from chamois or another non-abrasive material.
How should I care for my opals?
Opals are unique in many respects. They do have some water content (this varies significantly depending on their origin on the planet, with precious Australian opal having very little water content and being the most stable) and they are amorphous, meaning they are not crystalline structures like diamonds. They are a relatively soft stone in comparison to other valuable gemstones, yet when designed and set into jewelry compositions properly, and cared for properly, they can last indefinitely. Unfortunately, much of the time I see opals improperly designed into jewelry pieces and improperly set, making it very difficult for the person wearing the jewelry to make the opal last properly. This is the primary reason why opal has a bad reputation for breakage. Opal does not benefit from being kept in fluid of any type, so don't. Opals do not like being locked up inside your bank's safe deposit box, so don't. It's not a safe deposit for natural opals. They last best when worn, but not abused by being knocked into other objects and not exposed to thermal shocks or chemicals, so avoid these things. Don't wear them in a swimming pool and don't wash your hands with soap or do the dishes with an opal ring on. If an opal is going to crack or craze (without being caused by abusive use), it almost always happens before you ever see it. They are exposed to severe stresses when they are jack hammered and chipped out of the ground, when they go from the cool, humid state of being buried in the ground where they were formed to being exposed to some of the hottest, driest climates on earth, when they are cut on grinding wheels and mounted on dop sticks, and when they are set in hard metal settings. When you see the finished jewelry piece, the natural opal has gone through many tough transitions and conditions, so it has proven itself to be very strong and durable by the time it becomes available to you, finished and set in a gorgeous jewelry composition. You should store your opals similarly to your pearls, keeping them out of the hot sun and away from other heat sources and preventing abrasion and knocks from other jewelry.
How should I care for my silver and gold jewelry?
As with your gems and pearls, avoid abrasion, chlorine and other chemicals. You can and should remove tarnish periodically and carefully from sterling silver with a red rouge or other type of polishing cloth made for precious metal care, such as a Sunshine Cloth. You'll want to be careful when using these cloths to try to keep the polish in the cloth off of your gems and pearls, often a tricky task I know! Preventing tarnish from building up is your best defense against it on sterling silver. If you keep your sterling jewelry near the coast, most likely you will experience more tarnish on it than if you were inland. Salt air and humidity are the culprits. Sulpher and hydrogen sulfide in the air also cause tarnishing on sterling. Here in Hawai'i, surrounded by thousands of miles of salt water seas, I have found that keeping the silver in an air tight zip lock bag with the air squeezed out helps. I also put a 3M brand anti-tarnish cloth in the bag, and that helps too. Keeping your silver and gold jewelry clean is a good practice to avoid abrasion, tarnish and discoloration, so use a solution of warm water and detergent-free soap with a very soft-bristled brush to gently clean away dirt and let the jewelry air dry on a towel.


If you don't see the answer to your question here, please give me at (808) 212-8597, or email me at [email protected] and I'll be glad to help you.