Q&A – Sherry Tinsman Metalsmith

Q&A

What is your jewelry made of?

My jewelry is made of primarily sterling silver & fine silver with occasional accents of 14k rose/yellow gold, brass, copper and bronze. All ear wires are sterling silver and all earring posts are 14k gold. 

How do I care for my cuff bracelet and what is the best way to put it on and take it off?

Do not bend, open or close the cuff repeatedly as it will weaken the sterling silver and over time it will lead to breaking. Only fit the cuff once. 

Click here to see the best way to put on a take off your cuff bracelet.

How do I string a pendant onto my pendant chain?

Click here to see how to string your pendant onto a Sherry Tinsman Metalsmith pendant chain.

How do I figure out my ring size?

I have a ring sizer for sale on this website!

After purchasing the ring sizer for $10 you will receive a coupon code (valued at $10) to use on the purchase of an item from our online store. And you get to keep the ring sizer!

You can also visit a local jewelry store to have your finger sized.

Please keep in mind that for certain rings you may want to size up a 1/4 to a 1/2 size depending on the width of the ring. Please let us know if you have any questions.

I can't find the size or the length that I want.

Many of my rings, necklaces and bracelets can be made in additional sizes or lengths. Please let us know if you have a concern about what size or length you may need before you order the item. We are happy to help to make sure you are getting exactly what you want!

Please note that some of the items on my website are one of a kind or discontinued pieces that cannot be duplicated or made in a different size or length. 

I lost one of my  Sherry Tinsman Metalsmith earrings! Can make a mate?

Sure! Please send me a photo of the earring that you have and I will be able to provide you with a price for the mate. I will need you to then ship that earring to me so I can match them perfectly. 

Can you make any of your earrings in posts or dangle?

Many of the earrings up on my website can be made in post or dangle. Please contact us to find out of the particular pair you are interested in can be made in post or dangle.

Where can I buy your jewelry in person?

Please view my list of galleries! All of my galleries have access to my current years line, which is not available for sale on this website. 

Do you accept returns?

It is important to us that you are happy with your purchase! We always prefer to do exchanges however we will also accept a return. 

Do you gift wrap?

Yes! And we love to do it.

Every order placed will come to you in its own jewelry box which is nicely wrapped in tissue paper and a ribbon. Each item comes with a small polishing cloth, a set of care & cleaning cards and a handwritten note.

Please let us know if your order contains gifts for multiple people or if the gift is going directly to its recipient. 

A gift bag can be provided upon request at no extra charge!

How do we get in touch with you?

The best and most efficient way to get in touch with us is through the "Contact Us" tab. You can also email us at info@sherrytinsman.com or call at (215) 297-8764 and leave a message. 

How do I take care of my jewelry?

I often oxidize the silver before I complete the piece, creating a contrast between the darkened (oxidized) surface and highly polished areas. I let the recessed parts of the design carry the darkened color and let the raised parts gleam. Avoid using liquid silver cleaner on these pieces because it will remove all the oxidation. Rather, use a dry silver polishing cloth to restore the sparkle and store your pieces in a zip lock bag to keep them shiny and bright.

If your jewelry needs a major cleaning , follow these instructions using Wright's Brass Polish (can be purchased online or at your local hardware store). The reason I use the brass polish and not the silver polish is because the liquid silver polish takes off the nice oxidation I put on my pieces. The brass polish just takes off the grime. It's amazing!

You will need:

Pyrex dish
clean sponge
baby toothbrush

Place your jewelry in a Pyrex dish, cover with the Wright's Brass Polish. 
Cut a small piece of a clean sponge, dampen it, dip it in the bowl then dab all over your jewelry. You don't want to rub it just dab. 
Try and get in all the recessed areas.

Because my jewelry has so much form, rinse really well under running water. You don't want the cleaner to dry on the jewelry or it will dry as a white powder. I use a baby toothbrush to gently get in the little hard to reach places while running it under the tap.

If a piece of yours has a stone in it, you will notice I always drill a hole under the stone. This allows the light to shine through and provides a place for moisture to escape. If the brass cleaner gets into that hole and dries, you may want to use a water pick to get it out. Better yet, avoid that by putting a little piece of scotch tape over the hole, take it off after rinsing, then rinse some more. 

This brass cleaner works like magic on all sterling silver, but naturally, I only guarantee my own.