FAQs
CHOOSING YOUR LOCKET
What metals do you work in?
All of our lockets are available in sterling silver, 9ct gold, or 18ct gold. All items carry the Edinburgh Assay Office hallmark - an official guarantee of the metal and purity. Another lovely thing about hallmarked jewellery is that a date letter confirming the year the piece was made is also applied, along with the Maker’s Mark, which in Letters to Jinny’s case is HL in a little square.
What finishes do you offer?
Sterling silver finishes are available in plain silver (white), oxidised (black), and 18ct goldplated (yellow & rose).
Oxidised: Silver naturally oxidises over time and darkens. However when you choose an 'oxidised' finish, we have quickened this process of darkening to achieve a dark grey or 'black' finish. This is not to say that the finish is permanent, as jewellery that is oxidised will naturally polish on high-wear areas. We like to think this adds to the ageing and history of your piece!
Goldplated: Goldplating is where a thin layer of gold is fused to the surface of the silver using an electroplating bath. This gives a beautiful golden finish, but at a fraction of the cost of solid gold. It also means that eventually the gold will wear away over time in high-wear areas, just like the oxidised finish.
All finishes (plating/polishing/oxidising etc) are, in essence, temporary and will dull through wearing. The rate at which finishes diminish is dependent upon wear. Items where finishes dull over time fall under ‘customer wear & tear’ and are not available for return. We are happy to bring your piece back to it's former glory if you so wish, with reconditioning prices varying depending on item. To have a piece refinished please get in touch and we can sort this out for you. Please also see our Repairs and Reconditioning section below.
In both 9ct & 18ct gold, the different colour options denote the differing alloys of gold. Yellow means yellow gold, rose means rose gold (which contains copper, hence the rosey hue), and white means white gold (which contains mainly silver as a component metal, amongst others such as palladium or nickel).
All lockets are finished with a fine brushed surface texture. Other finishes are available on request and are subject to an additional charge.
PERSONALISING YOUR LOCKET
Can I personalise my locket?
Yes. At the very heart of Letters to Jinny is the belief that you and your loved one’s connection is the most important aspect when it comes to choosing your locket. There are numerous ways to make your locket your own:
Every locket (excluding the Bauh & Frye Lockets) comes with a blank piece of paper for you to write your own personal note on. We also offer to print your message onto the notepaper as we know not everyone is confident writing small.
All the lockets have a blank space either on the back or inside the lid which can be engraved with a name, date, or even a small message. The amount of characters depends on the size of locket, and some of the lockets have scope for a truly unique engraving.
For the Bauh Locket & Frye Locket there are spaces for photographs. Templates for printing and cutting your own photos out can be found HERE.
On the Thedra Locket there are blank spaces within the surface pattern which can be set with up to 12 small hard precious gemstones. If this is an addition you would like to make, please get in touch.
All lockets are supplied on standard length chains, however there is some wriggle room on this and so if there is a specific length of chain you would prefer that isn’t listed, please do get in touch and we can work together ensure your locket fits your needs.
For any personalisation not available in the Extras section of the Shop we will create a bespoke quote for you before carrying out any work. For details on how commissions work, please see our Terms of Business page.
To read more in-depth about personalising your locket, please visit our Bespoke Options pages.
What should I have engraved?
It is an understandably difficuly choice to make. Below you will find a list of suggestions. Please bear in mind that the lockets range from small to not quite as small, i.e. there is limited space for engraving. Some lockets however do offer more space for engraving than others (such as the Bauh Locket and the Frye Locket). Have a read over the list below and see if any of the options feel right to you:
First name
Last name
Your pet name for them
Their nickname
Their DOB & DOD
The year they were born, and the year they passed eg '1955 - 2020'
The current year '2020'
Simply their birthday, eg '1st January'
The name of their home area, eg 'Aviemore'
'Love you' or relevant short phrase you used to say to each other
'Miss you'
'In memory of'
'In memoriam'
A quoted word or short phrase that they used to say to you often, eg 'My darling'
A word or short phrase they were known for saying, eg ‘Och, away wi ya’
ONCE YOU PLACE YOUR ORDER
How will my order arrive?
Your order will arrive in a plain envelope with a Letters to Jinny branded return address label. Inside the parcel your jewellery will be packaged in a grey branded jewellery box with tissue paper. If you have opted for free giftwrapping at checkout then your order will be wrapped in a piece of fabric. If the recipient and shipping details are different to those of the person who placed the order, then we will assume that the order is a gift and we wont put in a receipt. We can include a free personal message along with any gift, simply enter these details at checkout.
How do I clean my jewellery?
There are a number of ways to go about cleaning your jewellery. The first and most important method is preventative by looking after your jewellery as best you can.
Jewellery Care & Storage
As described in the FAQ about colours of metal, all silver tarnishes with time, and all finishes are, in essence, a temporary state. To maintain this as long as possible we recommend the following measures:
When not being worn store your locket separately in it’s original box. This avoids tangling and scratching, as well as delaying tarnishing.
Do not apply perfumes, lotions, sprays or hairsprays either on the area where your jewellery will touch your skin, or apply whilst wearing your jewellery. These liquids and creams will either react with the metal, and/or build up a residue on the surface of the metal.
Do not wear your jewellery when in water of any kind. The lockets contain paper parts which will spoil if they get wet or damp, so please take particular care to keep them dry.
It is best not to wear your jewellery during exercise of any kind, such as the gym, gardening or cleaning, as this will ensure your jewellery is not accidentally damaged. Perspiration can also contribute to the tarnishing of your jewellery.
Lastly heat will speed up the process of tarnishing, and so keep your jewellery away from heat sources such as sunlight, radiators, or hot bulbs.
Cleaning
To clean up a piece yourself we recommend a few different ways:
For unlined lockets only we recommend hot soapy water and a soft toothbrush. Be sure to remove the notepaper first! Use gentle brushing motions, following the direction of the original finish if possible.
For lined lockets we recommend using a polishing cloth, available from most high-street jewellers.
For plain white sterling silver unlined lockets and earrings, you can use a silver dip (also available from most high-street jewellers). Be sure to only place items in for 30seconds max, and be sure to agitate the items in the solutions. Then rinse thoroughly with cold water. Be careful to wash your hands thoroughly afterwards, along with the area in which you have used the dip as it is a very strong chemical mix and will cause irritation to skin. It will also cause stainless steel to rust, so be sure to wash down your stainless steel sink afterwards.
Alternatively you are welcome to return your piece to us for reconditioning. Please see the Repairs & Reconditioning section below for details.