Materials and process
We’re glad you asked! While these types of jewelry may appear similar, there are key differences. Click the questions below to learn more about 14k, gold-plated, and gold vermeil.
Gold-plated jewelry is a very light layer of gold — 0.05% actual gold or less — placed on top of a base metal (usually brass or copper). This thin layer of gold is then plated onto the base metal. Gold-plated jewelry contains the least amount of real gold, and it will tarnish in time.
Gold vermeil (pronounced ver-may) is 2.5 microns of gold plating placed on top of sterling silver. Over time, with lots of wear and use, gold vermeil can wear off — especially in areas with frequent contact. While we don’t recommend gold vermeil if you’re looking for an heirloom piece, this option lasts much longer than gold-plated jewelry.
Gold-filled jewelry is created with a solid layer of gold, mechanically bonded to a base metal of jeweler’s brass. In the United States, standards require the gold layer to consist of 1/20th — or 5 percent — of the jewelry’s total weight.
Gold-filled jewelry is tarnish-resistant. With proper care, it will last for a long time.
Solid gold is the highest quality of gold available. These are the heirloom pieces you will want to pass down, generation to generation.
Gold comes in numerous forms of karats: Pure gold (24 karat) is too soft and malleable to wear in jewelry, so the gold must be alloyed with other metals to give it strength and durability. 14k solid gold means it is 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy, while 18k solid gold means 18 parts gold to 6 parts alloy.
All of our stones are conflict-free and natural, sourced by our founder, Jennifer Newton, at local gem shows. We partner with lapidaries who have sourced particular stones for generations and intentionally seek out the very best quality.
Most of the diamonds found in Leela Grace jewelry are melee — which is often hard to grade. We inspect each stone for quality, clarity, and what best suits the final designed piece.
If you are seeking a custom engagement or wedding ring, we focus heavily on the 4Cs: Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat Weight.
All of our stones are natural (not lab-grown). Sometimes, designer Jennifer Newton will fall in love with a heated stone — however, we’ll always note if this is the case!
While some may feel otherwise, we feel that a natural stone — even if heated — still possesses the inherent qualities of that gemstone.
Care and maintenance
Gold vermeil can tarnish quickly if left in the open and not protected in an air-tight bag. We recommend storing your gold vermeil jewelry in a safe container. If dark spots do arise, polish them with a polishing cloth. In general, gold vermeil (with its sterling silver base metal) looks best if treated like a sterling silver piece. To keep vermeil looking its best, do not shower in it.
While gold-filled jewelry is tarnish-resistant and relatively durable, we recommend that you avoid swimming, showering, sleeping, and exercising in gold-filled jewelry. This will directly impact the life of your jewelry.
In contrast to other types of jewelry, such as gold vermeil, gold-filled, or gold-plated, solid gold jewelry is the most durable. Try to avoid chemicals that could dull your jewelry, like harsh shampoos or hairsprays, and limit exposure to swimming in the pool or ocean, spending time in the sauna, or doing hot yoga to maximize the life of your jewelry.
Depending on where you live, you can take your Leela Grace jewelry to the local jewelry store or purchase a jewelry cleaner. Double-check that any products used are safe for the stones in your jewelry. Pearls, emeralds, and opals are very sensitive.
If you live in Boulder, we offer free jewelry cleanings at our studio.
Yes, absolutely. Email us (livjoyously@yahoo.com) and let us know your questions or concerns. We’ll help you find a safe cleaner and answer any questions you may have.
We’re happy to repair any piece of Leela Grace jewelry for free within the first 30 days of purchase. We completely understand that unpredictable mistakes happen. We want you to wear your jewelry often — so if something happens (a dog, a kid, a life!), we’re here to help.
Please note: Shipping charges to and from Leela Grace may apply for repairs.
Email us pictures of your piece, let us know what happened, and we’ll take care of your repairs. For pieces outside of 30 days, we’re still here to help — reach out to discuss and we’ll give you an estimated fee.
We understand! We love layering — and tangles happen!
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Gently finger through the different chains. Never yank! You might want to unclasp one necklace to help this process.
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Wear different types of chains to prevent tangling. One example is combining a satellite chain with a cable chain.
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Wear longer and heavier necklaces paired with shorter, lighter ones.
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Sizing and adjustments
There are so many ways to wear necklaces! You might want a short one, a long one, or a medium one — and you might want to wear them all at one time. If you’re trying to figure out the right length, here are a few tips:
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Measure your neck to where you want the necklace to fall. We’ve found it best to use a piece of string, ribbon, or floss. Look in the mirror, find your desired length, and then measure the length with a ruler.
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Consider the image below as a guide — but remember, every body is different! You know your body best, so take this and adjust to what you feel would work best for you.
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Standard sizing tends to be:
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12–14”: Choker length
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14”: Falls right at the base of the neck
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16”: Falls near the collarbone
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18”: The most popular length for pendants
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20”: Falls right above the cleavage
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If you haven’t been properly fitted for a ring, we recommend stopping at your local jewelry store or visiting our local studio in Boulder, Colorado. While there are downloadable ring sizers online, we recommend avoiding the paper options — too much room for error!
Shipping and delivery
We ship orders as soon as possible. If your piece is in stock, it will typically be sent on the next business day. We ship using FedEx two-day shipping. For items that are made to order, it can take two weeks plus to ship. We will reach out to you with specific lead time details.
We will do our best to make that happen! Email us when ordering to discuss options and shipping costs.
Yes, we do! International shipping rates vary greatly by country. Please place your order and understand that you will get an invoice for any differences in shipping charges.
Many times, our packages go through without any charges. However, some may incur charges. We have no control over how your country handles taxes, fees, or duties — and we are not responsible for paying any customs taxes on international orders.
Returns and exchanges
As a small independent business, returns can be challenging! Items purchased from Leelagracejewelry.com, or at our home studio in Boulder, may be accepted for exchange within seven (7) days of you receiving your order. During the busy holiday season, holiday sales can be exchanged until January 8th.
You can also be issued a credit (with no expiration date) if you don’t want to shop right away. Custom pieces cannot be exchanged.
To initiate an exchange, please email us a photo of the item and a receipt of purchase. Once the returned item is received, your exchange piece or credit will be shipped/issued.
Exchanges are only accepted for unworn, unaltered items in their original packaging. Any merchandise that shows signs of wear, resizing, damage, or purchased from a third-party retailer will not be accepted.
All return shipping and insurance is the responsibility of the customer. The customer is responsible for any and all shipping charges on any bounced or undeliverable packages.
Did you make a mistake and want to cancel your order? You can cancel your order anytime before it ships. Please note: This does not apply to personalized or custom items.
Custom orders
Yes, we do! Please email us to set up time to discuss your vision, pricing, and timeline.
Still have a question? Reach out to us →