FAQ Unasked

Unasked FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS THAT NO ONE ACTUALLY ASKED!

ARE YOU OPEN FOR BUSINESS?
Always!

ARE YOU AVAILABLE FOR CUSTOM DESIGNS AND PRIVATE LABEL?  CAN WE MAKE MONEY TOGETHER?
Yes and yes! 

This is a great time to bring your visions to life. Let's use this time of social distancing productively, looking forward to securing our financial health.

If you have an idea, or need an idea, maybe need a new source of income, let's talk. We can turn your logo, art, and/or ides into jewelry. Whether it’s fundraising for your favorite cause, having your own jewelry line, branding, a clear vision of a piece of jewelry, or just an idea, together we’ll figure it out and I will make it happen for you.

The artisans and manufacturers I work with around the world are closing and opening in waves. I'm keeping in touch and searching out new people who are able to stay open, re-open, or set up at home. Step by step we can get things done.

Let’s put the work in now while we have the time. There is no charge to brainstorm!

Click here to see examples of custom jewelry, repairs, matching lost earrings, etc: Custom Made Examples

HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS?
It's just me, designing and coordinating:

  • Inventory
    • Many of the pieces are here, ready to be sent to you immediately.
  • Custom work
    • First it's you and me working remotely together on your design.
    • Next I find right artisans/ manufacturers for your specific project.
      • Current projects are around the USA, India, Bali, Australia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and China. 
    • With waves of closings and re-openings I keep contact with artisans and constantly connect with more.
    • Step by step we move forward.

WHAT GEMSTONES COORDINATE BEST WITH FACE-MASKS?
Excellent question! 

  • Blue surgical face-masks:
    • The surgical masks are a beautiful sky blue.  Because our eyes are used to matching the sky with any color, you really can wear anything.  Think about it, we never look at a garden and think that the flowers are clashing with the sky. 
    • If you really want to be color coordinated: 
      • Anything with blue topaz is perfect. 
        • If possible, go with Swiss Blue rather than the London Blue, but either will work.
      • Aqua Marine is also an excellent match.
      • Contact me for more in alternative jewelry materials, such as sky-blue glass, silk, suede etc. 
  • White N95 and KN95 face-masks
    • Pearls are perfect, and pearls, as always, make anything look better, including masks.
      • Note: We are wearing masks to protect others, both physically and emotionally.  Try not to clutch your pearls even if you get upset: it just sends the wrong message!
    • Diamonds, white topaz, and CZs
      • Of course, white sparkle adds sparkly to any masked outfit! 
  • Lavender Masks
    • Amethyst is a great stone with wonderful energy for self love.  It comes in all shades, but is generally darker than the purple masks.  It's fine that the mask is not an identical match - the amethyst jewelry will really pop!
    • Many other stones that we think of as other colors can also be found in purple, this includes diamonds, chalcedony, spinel, sapphire, kunzite, tourmaline. jasper and more.
    • Iolite is an interesting stone.  Some see it as blue, and some as purple.  I am one who only sees blue.  However, in my experience, when someone sees purple, they no longer do when I hold the stones next to something that is unquestionably purple. So it you want to match, let's choose something less mysterious.
  •  Black is the new black; ski masks, and other scary looking face coverings.
    • Onyx and black diamonds are for those who want to be color coordinated.
    • Anything goes with black. Contact me to best coordinate your style and complexion.
  • Aritsnal, multi-color, hand-made masks
    • Contact me for shopping assistance, or for custom jewelry to perfectly coordinate with any color, multi-color, and your favorite color face-mask.

DO YOU ENJOY WEARING MASKS? 
We do what we have to do, right?

I do not like masks on my face.
I do not like them any place.
I don’t like that they mess my hair.
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them on my ears.
I don’t think they allay our fears.
I wear masks for just one reason:
We know that masks are now in season.
We wear them just because it’s right.
We wear them in this crazy fight.
We wear them to protect the others,
Maybe masks aren’t such a bother.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER FACE MASKS FASHION TIPS? 

  • Test your earrings with your face masks before wearing them outside. Some styles will get awkwardly twisted into the loops that fit behind your ears. 
  • Try not to wear colored lipstick with your face mask.  We look somewhere between crazy and stumbling drunk with lipstick smeared all over our faces!  But if you are like me, you just put on the lipstick without thinking.  To remind yourself, keep clear lip balm right next to your lipstick. 

SHOULD I BE WEARING RINGS?
It's debatable. The CDC explains: “Some studies have shown that skin underneath rings contains more germs than comparable areas of skin on fingers without rings,” but notes that more study on the topic is needed. Just wash your hands often, and clean the rings, too.

SHOULD I BE WASHING RINGS?
While I haven't read anything about this, it makes sense. However over the years, too many people have come to me for replacements of lost rings. It almost always lost because of hand washing. Even cherished family heirlooms, engagement and wedding rings can be lost in a moment of distraction.

HOW DO I SAFELY WASH MY RINGS TO KEEP FROM LOSING OR DAMAGING THEM?

  • When washing your hands in a public place, keep the rings on your fingers!
  • If you must remove the rings, put them in your pocket, never on the sink, shelf, etc.
  • If you put rings in your pocket, do NOT put them inside a tissue or towel. So many have told me they tossed the tissue only to remember later that the rings were inside.
  • After washing rings with soap or disinfectant, rinse extremely well in water to remove soap and disinfectant.

ARE THERE ANY GEMS OR OTHER MATERIALS WHICH SHOULD NOT BE WASHED?
Yes!  Some jewelry should never be washed!

  • Hand sanitizer should not be used on any organic gems or porous gems.  Soap, alcohol in sanitizer, and other chemicals will dry the gems and damage the surfaces in ways that can not be repaired.
    • Do not use chemicals on:
      • Pearls
      • Emeralds
      • Coral
      • Opals
      • Turquoise
      • Onyx
      • Amber
  • When in doubt, remove your jewelry off before washing your hands.  
    • NOTE: See above for tips so you won't lose your rings.
  • Pure metals like silver, gold, etc. should be fine with washing.  Most plated jewelry needs refinishing periodically, and washing, especially with chemicals, might make that necessary sooner.  Stay healthy- keep washing your hands - anything can be refinished. 
  • Contact me if rings need refreshing or refinishing.

IS MOISTURIZER SAFE FOR RINGS? 
Keep moisturizing your hands to help keep them from cracking making them more vulnerable to infection, but it's best to remove your rings, first.

Rings set with gems can collect lotion, debris, and bacteria behind the stones. This can lead to skin irritation, wear on the gems, and can even loosen prongs to the point where gems can be lost. 

See above in hand washing for how to avoid losing your rings while moisturizing.

WILL YOU REDESIGN, REPAIR AND REFRESH MY OWN JEWELRY?
Yes, let's get started.  Why leave cherished jewelry languishing in a drawer?  Let's get you and your baubles ready to re-enter the world when the time it right!

DO YOU RE-STRING PEARLS AND BEADS?
Absolutely.  Let's get this done:

  • Why Restring Pearls?
    • You will be astonished at how much more fabulous they look with fresh, clean thread.
    • Pearls should be re-strung every year or two whether they are being worn or just inside a drawer.  Thread deteriorates, breaks more easily, and pearls get lost.  
    • Restring as is, or take this opportunity to re-design and make them perfect for you.
    • Have me do the work, or do it yourself.  I teach about pearls, and teach my super-easy pearl knotting technique. Everyone can learn in a day. I even taught a woman with only one arm, and taught a 3 year old! 
  • Do it yourself:
      • Click here for my YouTube Channel: Jane A Gordon on YouTube where you will find three versions of my pearl knotting demonstrations. 
      • Contact me for written instructions, and a list of getting started materials.
      • If you need supplies, I have some here, including pearls, beads, tools, thread, clasps, etc.  I can also can locate suppliers who are still open. 
  • Do it yourself, in a Zoom class with me. 
    • Contact me to schedule the class, which can be all at once, or over several days.  Your choice.
  • Have me do the work.  Remember that your jewelry can be re-strung exactly as you have now, or we can work together to create new designs. 
      • Start by getting out all your jewelry, and we can discuss what you might want to repair, refresh, scrap, and take apart to make something new and exciting. 

ARE YOU STILL SHIPPING IF I ORDER ONLINE?
Absolutely yes!  As long as the piece you want is in inventory, shipping continues as usual.  USPS, UPS and FedEx pick up every day but Sunday.

DO YOU OFFER GIFT CARDS?
Yes, and good news, they are 10% off the face value! Click here for Gift Cards

DO YOU STILL OFFER THE "BUY NOW AND PAY LATER" OPTION?
Yes- this is from PayPal and can be used for jewelry and for custom work. Get what you want now, and pay 0% interest for 6 months. Click here to Shop Now & Pay Later

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF JEWELRY THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION?
For my own jewelry line, which has always been made here in NY city, anything that is part way completed will have to wait until the artisans are back at their benches. For jewelry being made in other places, some are also delayed, and some moving forward.  We are also connecting with new artisans to best serve you.

I’M NO LONGER SEEING THE PRODUCT I WANT. WILL YOU BE GETTING MORE?
We are in this together across the world. Because of this, some products may be delayed. Please check back frequently. We will be able to make you whatever you want.  In the meantime, let's chat about what is available or making a custom version of what you have in mind.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR KEEPING SPIRITS UP DURING ALL THIS?
Absolutely.  Struggling is nothing new for me, and pathways to joy is the foundation of my work. For many years I struggled with depression, and had to learn, step by step, how to clay my way out and up into happiness.  Click here for one of my seminars on YouTube:  Jane A. Gordon Visions: Life, Only Better   You will find several more versions of similar seminars, as well as the pearl knotting demonstrations I mentioned above.  These techniques worked for me.  I do hope they work for you, too.

DO YOU KNOW OTHER FUN JEWELRY RELATED FILMS TO WATCH?
Below is a list of Jewelry related films suggested by ASJRA // Association for the Study of Jewelry and Related Arts

  • “Sex and the City II” (2010).  Fun for fashion jewelry, in the original series which aired on HBO from 1998 to 2004, as well as in the first SATC movie, which came out in 2008.
  • “Suspicion” (1941).  Suspicion,” stars Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine, who according to ASJRA, wears one of her own jewels in the film—a pink topaz brooch by Verdura.
  • “Romancing the Stone” (1984). This romantic comedy-adventure was the first in a string of big Hollywood films to star the trio of Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. It involves a lovelorn New York romance novelist, a handsome scoundrel, a bunch of bad guys and the big, beautiful emerald they’re all after.
  • “Gone with the Wind” (1940).  ASJRA says of the jewelry: “Lead star Vivien Leigh (Scarlett O’Hara) wears Civil War-era inspired jewelry largely supplied by Josef of Hollywood, although some ornaments, such as the cameos, are period pieces.”
  • “Girl with a Pearl Earring” (2004 Set in 17th-century Holland, it tells the story behind one of Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer’s most well-known works. Fun fact: Though many describe this painting as a portrait, the museum where it hangs, the Mauritshuis, notes that it is actually a “tronie,” a picture of an imaginary figure wearing “an improbably large pearl in her ear.”
  • “Murph the Surf” (1975). This Marvin Chomsky-directed movie is based on a true story: in 1964, thieves made off with two dozen gemstones from the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
  • “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” (2003).  Starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. McConaughey’s character, Ben, works for an ad agency and is angling to land the big new diamond advertising account with a company that’s basically De Beers. (In the movie, it’s called “De Lauer.”) He’s fake-dating Hudson’s character, Andie, who’s fake-dating him. In the penultimate scene, Andie’s wearing a gorgeous yellow dress and an 80-carat yellow diamond from Harry Winston that isn’t bad either. Bonus: Kathryn Hahn is in this movie.
  • “Sorry, Wrong Number” (1948). Starring Barbara Stanwyck, who, the ASJRA says, is “wearing fabulous jewels” in this particular film where a bedridden woman overhears a murder plot on a crossed telephone line and tries to stop it.
  • “A United Kingdom” (2017). This was not on ASJRA’s list, but was referenced in another article as worth seeing if you’re interested in the jewelry industry. Starring Rosamund Pike and David Oyelowo, the movie tells the true story of how Botswana earned its independence and became a democracy, and it touches, albeit lightly, on the role diamonds played in that.
  • “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961). The classic rom-com starring Audrey Hepburn and the best little black dress in history is a staple on any jewelry movie list.

ASIDE FROM COVID FASHION AND MATCHING THE MASK, ARE THERE MORE COVID UPDATES?
Yes, you might want to keep up on new words.  Here is a list, which will be constantly updated. Contact me with suggestions.
"Language in a World Where a Toilet Paper Roll Costs More Than a Barrel of Oil"

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SHARE THAT WE HAVEN'T ASKED?
Yes. In these days of alternative-facts, it's now more important that we check facts before sharing and posting.  The place I see the most false information shared is in Facebook messenger.  People can instantly forward to all their contacts, and have been sharing videos, memes, posts, etc. with fake ways to protect ourselves, fake cures, etc. It makes people feel good to think they are helping, but intentions don't matter when lives are at stake.  Let's ask Facebook to remove this feature that shares with everyone instantly.  If you feel comfortable, please sign my Change.org petition:
  www.change.org/Help-Stop-False-Information-Shared-in-Facebook-Messenger 

WHAT IF MY QUESTIONS AREN’T ANSWERED HERE?
For other questions contact me.  As usual, I am here for you:
Jane@JaneGordon.com
212-688-8600 for phone, text, WhatsApp, and WeChat.