How long do orders take?
Because each piece is made to order, there is a two to four week turn around period for Sterling Silver and 14K yellow gold. 18K or
colored golds usually take at least 3 weeks. Platinum can take a month or more. It is wise to order early for your best chances of excellent
service and selection.
Metals and Alloys.
Most metals used to make things are alloys. Alloys are mixtures of pure metal elements that have better working properties than pure
metals.
What is sterling silver?
Sterling is an alloy that is at least 92.5% pure silver. Silver is the whitest of all metals. Pure silver is very soft. Sterling makes more
durable jewelry and has better working properties. It is the standard in North America, Britain and Ireland. It is frequently marked "925".
The 7.5% that is not silver is traditionally copper. Our casting alloy, that almost all of our Celtic jewelry is made from is a de-oxidizing alloy
of copper, boron and a silicon deoxidizer. This alloy is tarnish resistant and less likely to cause skin problems.
What is 14 Karat gold?
Gold alloys are described in terms of 24 parts or karats are pure. 14 karat (carat in the old country) is 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy. 9
carat is used frequently in Britain and Ireland = 37.5% gold. 10 karat = 41.7% gold. 14 karat, most common in US = 58.3% gold. 18 karat
= 75% gold. 22 karat = 91.6% gold. Generally speaking the lower karats are harder and more like brass and the higher karats softer and
have more gold color and shine. This is not however universally true since modern alloys have been cleverly engineered for various
properties like hardness and color. Our work is substantial enough that we are confident that an 18 karat ring will hold up almost as well
as a 14 karat ring. Unless you do very heavy or abrasive work with your hands we would not think that wear should be much of a
consideration in choosing karat for one of our rings.
What is white gold?
White gold is alloyed with nickel. White gold is substantially harder than yellow gold. We offer only 14K white gold. 18 K white has been a
problem for us. Some people are allelic to nickel, but if you are you probably already know it. Because silver has been historically used
for Celtic jewelry white gold is frequently chosen to give a historical look but with the durability of the much harder metal.
What is rose gold?
Red, pink and rose gold alloys look like copper because they are alloyed with copper.
What is platinum?
Platinum is a precious metal that is very hard and heavy. We offer an alloy that is 95% platinum. It is almost as white as silver, absolutely
hypoallergenic, very hard, will not tarnish and very expensive. Platinum is very dense and about 80% heavier than 14K gold. We do not
cast our own platinum and have difficulty changing the size of a platinum ring so if you choose platinum please plan at least a month lead
time. To estimate the cost of a platinum ring multiply the 14K cost by 3.5.
How do I find my Ring Size?
If you can either try on rings of known size or go to a jeweler and get your size from his finger gauge. The correct size will be the ring that
is the smallest you can comfortably get on and off. Wider rings have more surface and therefore more friction and will need to be slightly
larger for a comfortable fit.
Copyright and Originality
Celtic designs have an ancient heritage, but most of the designs on this site are original or are old designs re-worked for contemporary
artistic use. Because Celtic Art often is used to make a link to the distant past it is often misunderstood that genuine designs can only be
copied from antiquity. This is unfortunate because artistic integrity demands that the designer create a new manifestation of the art,
unique to present times.
As a living art form, Celtic Art can only be sustained by pursuing the goal of mastery of the creative process that ultimately results in new
and imaginative work. The work shown here is not an imitation of historical Celtic Art but rather an affirmation that new and original
creations are authentic continuations of that artistic heritage.
The work illustrated on these pages represent the creative effort of Leslie Jamieson. There a few reproductions of vintage pieces that
have been added to the collection that have been reworked into my own creations. (our small charms are also reproduction With the
exceptions of several of the simplest knots, none of these designs should be considered public domain. It is commonly and wrongly
supposed that all Celtic designs are ancient and therefore free from copyright restrictions. The truth is that new, traditionally correct
designs often look as if they could be very old, but they are nonetheless intellectual property of the artist. Use of copyright designs by
anyone other than the artist requires permission in the case of personal use or a licensing agreement in the case of commercial use. All
rights reserved.
How can traditional Celtic designs be copyrighted?
Firstly a distinction should be made between historic designs, which are copied from antique sources and traditional designs that follow
the rules and conventions of Celtic Art. New designs can be traditionally authentic without being copied from old sources when the
designer is faithful to the cultural style. Original graphic designs of this kind may be protected by copyright. Reproducing this jewelry by
digitally scanning it or by any other method of mechanically or electronically reproducing it is strictly prohibited.
Do feel free to copy any of the JPEGs on this site if you wish to e-mail them to friends, lovers or family in the process of shopping and
comparing. Please obtain permission before publishing any of our JPEGs to a web page.
If you want to order platinum rings we highly recommend that first you order the same size and design in silver to be sure of the fit. If for
instance you think you need size 7 1/4 you should order 3 silver rings size 7, 7 1/4 & 7 1/2. Which ever ring fits best should then be worn
for several days at least to be sure of size and comfort. The silver rings can then be returned for credit against the cost of the platinum
ring. 50% of the cost of the platinum ring is charged when the order is placed and the balance when the order is complete.
Can I trade in my old gold for new jewelry?
Yes you can. But we will credit the old gold for a scrap price (usually $8.00/gram)when figuring your cost. Your gold will be sent to a
refiner not used in your piece I do not actually re-melt your gold to make a piece for you, because quality often suffers when unknown
alloys are mixed and reused your item will be freshly cast from new metal alloys. When for sentimental reasons you want to keep your old
gold this is not a good idea. If you just want the monetary credit--Go for it.
Silver: skin problems. rashes, green or black fingers.
If you have problems wearing our metal you do have the option of returning it for a full refund. If you have problems but like your jewelry
so much that you want to keep it, you may be able to minimize the problem if you understand what is happening. The most common metal
allergy is to nickel. There is no nickel in our sterling silver or any other readily available sterling silver alloy.
Silver will sometimes cause skin staining, usually black or green. In most cases this causes no physical harm and is an aesthetic rather
than a health problem. Silver will naturally turn black when it oxidizes. The amino acids in your skin can accelerate this. When it is hot, two
factors occur. The metal is more reactive to oxidation when it is warmer and perspiration can cause a chemically reactive climate. If the
jewelry turns color you can polish it, if the skin turns color you have to decide how much this bothers you. In cooler weather the problem
might go away but it could be that your chemistry is not compatible with the material.
Since we have gone to using the deoxidizing alloys we have had very few complaints about green fingers but we do still have a few. When
silver or the skin it contacts turns green it is a reaction with the copper in the alloy. Some customers have had good luck polishing the
inside of their rings daily for the first week or so. As the copper reacts and is polished away there is a gradual depletion of the copper
near the surface available to react with the chemistry of the skin. As that copper is depleted the problem lessens.
If you have an actual rash, blistering, irritation or infection by all means take the jewelry off until it clears up. If you have an allergy to the
metal you can return it for a refund. Other factors besides the metal may be causing the problem. Most frequently soap trapped behind
the ring irritates the skin or persistent dampness behind the ring causes a rash. Be sure to rinse well and dry under the ring, especially if
the ring is a wide one.
I have some silver jewelry that turns and some that does not. How can that be?
Metallurgy is mysterious stuff. Our deoxidizing alloys are less reactive than traditional copper alloyed sterling. Different finishes can react
differently. Some manufacturers actually electroplate silver jewelry as part of the finishing process with either pure silver or rhodium. Cast
jewelry has different grain properties than stamped jewelry or jewelry wrought from wire or sheet. There are many factors that vary from
one piece to another that can affect how quickly a piece tarnishes.
Do you do special orders or custom work?
Please do not send me photos of another craftsman's work and ask me to copy it. I respect other designers' copyrights and expect them
to respect mine.
Do we do custom work?
That depends on what you mean. If we make one of our regular designs in a size that fits you that is not custom work. We will make any
of our designs in a variety of different karats or colors of gold, silver or platinum. We will substitute special stones. We will also modify
pins to make them pendants and similar metamorphosis of purpose.
Feel free to ask if you are looking for something not seen here. We are very familiar with what is out there
When it comes to special projects from scratch to customer’s drawings and designing one-of-a-kind pieces for one-of-a-kind situations----
. Basically, if your project would involve a new original carving it is the kind of custom work we will consider on a one by one Basis. The
most frequently declined custom requests are something like, "I want that ring but a different width." We are constantly adding to our
range of designs but each new carving is a major project and we are not prepared to do this on a frequent basis. When I am asked: "If I
show you a picture of something can you make it?" often is asking me to steal someone else’s design. I have two problems with this. If the
designer is living it is probably a copyright design that would be unethical and illegal for me to copy, but also I am a designer in my own
right and what precious time I spend carving new models I intend to spend on my own designs. This is not to say that I will not carve a
design for you, but my time is valuable and that will be figured into the cost of your project.
Engraving?
We do not do letter engraving. Please look for a local jeweler in your area for this service. Also please be sure rings fit before they are
engraved. We usually correct sizing in our free sizing policy by exchanging rather than reworking rings. We can size rings that have
been engraved usually but it is a lot more work.
Do you wholesale?
We do sell to the trade on a limited basis Please note, we always verify business listing before discussing terms, so please do not make
trade inquiries if you are not really in the trade.
