FAQs

We ship most everything with tracking information. We use our discretion to decide which shipping carrier is best based on what is ordered and where it is being sent. If you do not receive your order, contact us. We will do what we can to help locate your package.  If delivery has been confirmed to the address you provided when you placed your order, we consider the package successfully delivered. We are truly sorry if your doorman, concierge, or management office has misplaced it.

We are constantly adding new products. We also retire products and or decide not to remake certain products again. Most CKS jewelry and much MAE jewelry are one-of-a kind jewelry pieces. When it is gone it may be gone forever.  Sometimes an item or a similar item may reappear.  If you want it, you best get it NOW!  No promises that it will be there next week, tomorrow or even in the next hour!

It does not!  The item is not yours until after you check-out, pay, and receive confirmation that the item is being shipped.

You can subscribe using the form at the bottom of every page on this site. Every email we send contains an easy unsubscribe link.

Yes we do!  Please contact us.

Both CKS and MAE jewelry is guaranteed against defects. There is NO guarantee on jewelry from other manufacturers or watch batteries.  If CKS or MAE jewelry breaks or is defective we will repair, replace or (in cases of one-of-a kind pieces) give merchandise credit.  We only accept items purchased directly from CKS ventures.  If you purchased the item from any other source, please contact that retailer.  Before returning, you must email or call for authorization.  All returns must be accompanied by the original receipt for proof of purchase (no exceptions). Shipping and insurance costs are the responsibility of the owner, so please insure your package appropriately.

The karat system is used to reveal the amount of pure gold found in an item.

• 24 karat (24K) gold is pure gold.
• 18 karat (18K) gold contains 18 parts gold and 6 parts of another metal or metals, making it 75% gold.
• 14 karat (14K) gold contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts of another metal or metals, making it 58.3% gold.
• 10 karat (10K) gold contains 10 parts gold and 14 parts of another metal or metals, making it 41.7% gold. 10k gold is the minimum karat designation that can still be called gold in the US.

Gold is simply referring to the color of a base metal, or alloy (mixture) of metals usually consisting of copper, brass, zinc and nickel.

Karat gold filled jewelry is not actually filled, but is made of base metal (usually brass or copper) covered by sheets of gold in a mechanical bonding process, and by law has a 1/20th (by weight) layer of  karat gold bonded over the base metal. Gold filled jewelry has a hundred or more times gold than the few microns of gold in gold plate. Under normal wear and reasonable care that you would give any precious metal jewelry, karat gold filled jewelry will not peel or flake and can be treasured as valuable pieces. Gold plate may eventually wear off based on how often it is worn, body chemistry and any other things it comes in contact with.

Fine silver is 99.9% pure or more, but it is very soft and unsuitable for most uses. Sterling silver is defined as 92.5 % pure or higher. Sometimes, 95% pure silver is sold; while it has more silver than the minimum required to be called sterling, it is still sterling.  The remaining 5 to 7-1/2% is usually copper because this has been found to be the best metal to alloy with the silver to maintain its color while making it more durable.

Silver is the color used to describe base metal which is a metal alloy usually comprised of copper, brass, zinc and nickel.

Both sterling silver and silver may tarnish, but can be polished to restore it.

Silver plate is a thin surface layer of silver color or actual silver. Like sterling silver, silver plate can tarnish. For this reason, it’s frequently lacquered to prevent tarnish (until the lacquer wears off). Similar to gold filled, silver filled has hundred or more times fine silver than the few microns in silver plate.

Base metal is a catch-all term in the jewelry industry for metals used in costume jewelry. In metal working, base metal is any metal that is not one of the noble or precious metals, including brass, copper, nickel silver, pewter and others.

Vermeil (pronounced “vehr-MAY”) is a plating of karat gold over sterling silver.

A carat is a weight measurement in reference to gemstones.  A karat is the measurement of the purity of gold.

A gemstone or gem (also called a precious or semi-precious stone or a jewel) is a piece of mineral or rock which, in cut and polished form, is used in making jewelry or other adornments.  The precious stones are diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald; all other gemstones are semi-precious, including amethyst, tiger-eye, turquoise, lapis, and onyx, to name a very few!  This distinction reflects the rarity of the respective stones in ancient times, as well as their quality.

A patina is a corrosion or oxidation that takes place on a metal surface. Rust on iron is one example; tarnish on silver is another. Patinas often form naturally by long exposure, but can also be created artificially for an antiqued look or to “color” metal.

Laser cutting and engraving either melts, burns, vaporizes or is blown away by a jet of gas. Depending on the material, this process can create some potent odors.  NOT TO WORRY, the odor dissipates! We rent time on our lasers and do custom laser work. Contact us for more information.

MDF stands for Medium-density fiberboard. MDF is an engineered wood product made by breaking down hardwood or softwood residues into wood fibers combining it with wax and a resin binder and forming into panels by applying high temperature and pressure. The MDF used in our products is CARB Certified and TSCA Title IV.

If you lose, misplace, break, want additional parts (or whatever!) we can help you out!  For the cost of shipping we will send needed additional pieces.  If pieces are missing or broken from shipping please let us know. Sometimes “things” happen!

PLA plastic or polylactic acid is a vegetable-based plastic material, which commonly uses cornstarch as a raw material. PLA is a fully biodegradable thermoplastic polymer consisting of renewable raw materials. 3D printed parts are not as strong as traditionally-manufactured (injection molding) parts, thus resulting in a lightweight, less “sturdy” object. The layer-by-layer technique of 3D printing results in a matte finish with rough layer lines.  The print pattern may very slightly from each item and may be more pronounced in some items. This is the nature of 3D printing with PLA.  If you are looking for an item with a smooth surface and substantial weight this may not be it!  DO NOT leave a 3Dprinted PLA item in direct sunlight or very hot temperatures as it will warp/melt.

100% wool felt is an amazing material.  It is naturally moisture wicking. It can absorb up to 30% of its weight without feeling wet. Wool felt is stain resistant, heat resistant, fire resistant and mold and mildew resistant.  It is lightweight and soft.  On top of all that, 100% wool felt is super durable and flexible.  Plus it is renewable and sustainable, making it an eco-friendly choice!