Policies

Every ring from Vanessa Nicole Jewels is designed and made to order for one person. The policies below explain what that means for returns, warranty, resizing and shipping.

Return Policy

Every custom ring we create is one-of-a-kind specifically for you, and is therefore non-refundable.

We also want you to feel completely confident in choosing the design. That’s why we offer our Design Guarantee. If your new fiancée feels the design of her ring setting simply isn’t right for her or isn’t what she pictures wearing every day, contact us within 15 days of delivery. Vanessa will work with you both to redesign the setting around her preferences.

(If you’re planning to propose at a later date, just let us know before your ring is shipped. We’ll note the proposal/gift timing so your 15-day Design Guarantee can begin on that date instead.)

Thankfully, this is an exceptionally rare situation. In fact, to date, we’ve never had a client need to use our Design Guarantee!

Our smooth custom process is designed to give you complete confidence before the ring is ever created. You’ll have the opportunity to review your design from multiple 3-D views in the CAD model, allowing you to clearly see and approve the details before we move forward with creating the finished ring.

And there’s something especially meaningful about receiving a ring that was thoughtfully created just for her. Our clients repeatedly tell us that knowing the thought and intention that went into their ring is part of what makes them love it so much.

Purchasing a pre-made ring from existing inventory is one way to choose an engagement ring. Creating a custom ring is an entirely different experience. You become part of the creative process, helping to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art designed exclusively for her.

Our goal from the beginning is simple: for her to absolutely LOVE the ring she’ll wear for a lifetime.

How the Design Guarantee works

We want you to feel completely confident in creating a one-of-a-kind ring designed exclusively for you.

That’s why we offer our Design Guarantee on every custom ring setting we create.

This reassurance can be especially meaningful when a design is chosen as a surprise without input from the person who will wear it, but the same Design Guarantee applies to every custom ring we create.

Thankfully, this is an exceptionally rare situation. In fact, to date, we’ve never had a client need to use our Design Guarantee!

How it works if a ring setting needs to be redesigned:

If you would like to use the Design Guarantee, contact our studio within 15 days of delivery. Vanessa will work directly with you—and, when applicable, the recipient—to redesign the setting around the wearer’s preferences.

For rings being given as a surprise at a later date, let us know BEFORE the ring is shipped. We’ll note the proposal or gift date so the 15-day Design Guarantee can begin on that date instead.

A remake involves creating an entirely new custom setting rather than exchanging or refunding the original ring. We’ll reuse as much of what you already own as reasonably possible so that you’re not unnecessarily purchasing the same materials twice.

All diamonds and gemstones purchased for your original ring remain yours and are not refundable, exchangeable or eligible for credit. Whenever possible, we’ll incorporate your original stones into the redesigned setting. Any stones that aren’t suitable for the new design will be returned to you with your completed ring to keep or potentially repurpose in a future piece.

Where possible, we’ll also reuse or apply the value of recoverable materials from the original setting toward the new design. Because a remake requires new custom work—including casting, fresh metal, fabrication, finishing and stone setting—the redesigned setting will be priced according to the labor and materials required. Any additional diamonds, gemstones or materials selected for the new design would also be included in the new cost.

Before any work begins, Vanessa will walk you through the new design and pricing clearly so you know exactly what to expect and can confidently decide what feels right for you.

One-Year Limited Craftsmanship Warranty

We take great pride in the craftsmanship of every Vanessa Nicole Jewels piece and stand behind the quality of our work. Your ring includes a one-year limited warranty from the date of delivery, covering defects in materials or workmanship.

If an accent diamond weighing 0.03 carat or less falls out of its setting within the first year, we will replace and reset it at no charge, provided there are no visible signs of damage or impact to the ring and the replacement stone has a value of $200 or less. After the first year, replacement of lost accent stones is considered routine jewelry maintenance or repair and will be charged at the current repair rate.

What the Warranty Does Not Cover

Our craftsmanship warranty covers the way your ring was made. Diamonds, gemstones and precious metals can be damaged over time through normal wear, impact or accidental damage.

The warranty does not cover:

Normal wear and tear or maintenance needs that develop over time
Chipped, cracked, broken or otherwise damaged diamonds or gemstones
Stone loss resulting from impact, damage, worn or damaged prongs, or lack of appropriate maintenance
Accidental damage, misuse or trauma to the ring
Loss or theft
Damage resulting from repairs, sizing, alterations or other work performed by a third party

We always recommend returning your Vanessa Nicole Jewels piece to our studio for sizing, maintenance and repairs so that we can continue caring for the piece we created for you. If another jeweler services or alters the ring, any resulting damage or workmanship issues would not be covered by the Vanessa Nicole Jewels warranty.

Insurance

We strongly recommend insuring your ring as soon as you receive it. A craftsmanship warranty protects against defects in how your ring was made, while jewelry insurance is designed to protect against circumstances outside of the warranty, such as loss, theft or accidental damage.

Diamonds and gemstones are incredibly durable, but they are not indestructible—they can chip, crack or break if struck with enough force. For that reason, we recommend insuring all fine jewelry through a dedicated jewelry insurance provider, such as Jewelers Mutual, or through an appropriate personal jewelry policy. Coverage varies by policy, so be sure to confirm exactly what is included with your insurance provider.

Appraisals

An appraisal documents the details of your ring and establishes its value for insurance purposes, helping your insurance provider determine the appropriate coverage in the event of loss, theft or damage.

For our natural diamond rings, an independent third-party appraisal for insurance purposes is available. The appraisal provides an independent assessment of your completed ring’s value and can be prepared so that it is ready when you receive your ring.

For our lab-grown diamond rings, an Insurance Documentation Report is included with your completed ring. Prepared by Vanessa Nicole Jewels, this report details your ring and reflects its purchase value at the time of sale for insurance purposes.

Resizing

One ring sizing is complimentary within the first year of delivery.

Please note that full Eternity bands cannot be resized due to the continuous placement of diamonds or gemstones around the entire band.

Shipping Your Ring to Our Studio?

If you are not local to San Diego, we make the process easy by providing a prepaid FedEx label along with simple shipping instructions. We’ll cover the cost of shipping your ring to our studio, and the client is responsible for return shipping once the sizing is complete, typically $125–$155 depending on the value of the ring and destination.

Once your ring arrives, we make every effort to complete the sizing promptly. Most sizings are completed within 1-3 business days; however, please allow up to 5 business days depending on our studio schedule. We’re happy to discuss specific timing with you when arranging your shipment.

Local to San Diego?

Local clients are welcome to drop off their ring at our studio. Sizing is typically completed within 1–3 business days. When arranged with our studio in advance, we may also be able to offer same-day sizing for rings dropped off between 12pm-1pm.

Shipping

All orders delivered outside of San Diego ship via FedEx, fully insured, signature required.

We’ll arrange specific shipping details before your ring is complete. Unless you request other arrangements, we’ll ship your package to your local FedEx office that accepts high-value packages, so you can pick it up at your convenience within 2-3 days.

San Diego clients may pick up their ring at the studio.

Insurance coverage ends on delivery. Vanessa will email you a copy of the appraisal or insurance documentation report so insurance can be set up prior to delivery. Examine the package before signing to ensure the seals are fully intact. If you suspect tampering or damage, refuse delivery and call the studio immediately at (619) 800-0134.

Payment Terms

While most people pay in full upfront after the Diamond Selection, we only require a 50% deposit to begin creating your ring. The remaining balance is due once the ring is complete. All rings that are less than $8,000 (such as custom settings or wedding bands) must be paid in full upfront.

Once you select your diamond, it is held off the open market for five days as a courtesy while you make a confident choice and arrange payment.

Diamond Sourcing and Certification

Diamonds are guaranteed conflict-free, based on direct knowledge of and written guarantees from partners, and are supplied in accordance with the United Nations Kimberley Process.

Vanessa Nicole Jewels does not sell clarity-enhanced or laser-drilled diamonds unless a client specifically requests them.

Every diamond is accompanied by a grading report from an independent gemological laboratory.