General Questions:
Grading, Sizing & More
Payment
Shipping, Insurance and Liability
Security & Fraud
User Agreement
General Questions:
1.
What is your return policy? I see a sapphire I like but I'm not sure if I will want
to keep it.
At The Natural Sapphire Company we make sure that all of our customers are satisfied.
Below is our return policy for our loose sapphires, jewelry, and special custom
orders:
For Loose Sapphires:
We offer a 5 day inspection period to review your sapphire. The 5 day period starts
when you sign and receive your item from the shipping carrier. If you are not completely
satisfied with your item, you can return it within the 5 day inspection period for
a full refund.
If you require more than a 5 day inspection period, special circumstances and arrangements
can be made, but it must be done prior to the shipment of the item you have requested.
Loose stones will not be accepted for a refund if they have been set, scratched,
polished, chipped, fractured, weigh differently or have been altered in any way.
We strongly recommend that you do not set your gemstone until you fully intend to
purchase it.
For Finished Jewelry:
We offer a 5 day inspection period to review your sapphire. The 5 day period starts
when you sign and receive your item from the shipping carrier. If you are not completely
satisfied with your item, you can return it within the 5 day inspection period for
a full refund.
If you require more than a 5 day inspection period, special circumstances and arrangements
can be made, but it must be done prior to the shipment of the item you have requested.
Items must be returned in the same condition as they were sent. If the item is damaged
in any way it will not be accepted for a refund. While you have possession of any
item you are fully responsible for its value and care.
Custom Special Orders:
Special order, custom made jewelry has a different return and refund policy from
our loose sapphires and sapphire jewelry. ‘Special Order’ or ‘Custom
Made’ is when you choose one of our loose sapphires and one of our accompanying
setting designs to be created into a completed piece of jewelry .
Payment in full is required before production begins for all custom-made orders.
We reserve the right to refuse a return on custom made jewelry orders. There are
special circumstances where we will offer a full return for refund, but this needs
to be discussed at the time of sale, before the custom order jewelry piece is created.
We normally will allow for a credit and/or refund to be made on the loose
sapphire value, but in most cases the cost of the custom order setting will not
be returnable.
The reason we have a different return policy on custom orders is because the sapphire
you chose and the setting design is a custom creation that only you decided to create.
It would be very difficult in most cases for us to resell it just as you designed
it, so we have to reserve the right to refuse a refund/return in most situations.
We encourage our clients to preview the loose sapphire before you ask us to create
a finished piece of jewelry. We can potentially offer to include a wax model of
the setting design you are considering. This way you can see the virtual completed
ring before it is made in precious metal.
Please contact us if you have any specific questions regarding returns.
Items must be returned in the same condition as they were sent. If the item is damaged
in any way it will not be accepted for a refund. While you have possession of any
item you are fully responsible for its value and care.
2.
How do I return an item I have purchased?
If you have purchased an item that you would like to return, you must contact us
to request an RMA Number (Return Merchandise Authorization). Do not send in
a return unless you have an RMA #. All shipments will be refused and returned
to sender if no RMA is issued.
Depending on the value of the item you are returning, you will be given special
instructions on how to send in a return.
Items returned MUST be in the same new condition as they were when they were delivered
to you. We will NOT accept damaged items. Please review our return policies
before calling in for an RMA #.
A refund will be issued after we receive your return. Shipping costs cannot be refunded.
If you paid by credit card, the charge will be credited back to your card. If you
paid by check or wire transfer, a company check will be issued to the name on the
account from which the purchase was made from.
In order to deter potential theft, please do not write any words on the package
shipping label that may allude to the contents of the package (such as ‘Gems’
‘Sapphire’ ‘Jewelry’ etc.). Do not declare to any customs
or shipping clerk the exact nature of the contents you are sending. If required,
specify the item is an ‘Antique Sample’ or ‘Rock Crystal Samples.’
Send Returns to:
NSC Inc. RMA # (You must have an RMA Number)
6 East 45th Street, 20th Floor Penthouse
New York, NY 10017
Please Note:
NO insurance coverage OR value is to be declared on returned items. Our insurance
company will issue insurance coverage on the return shipment once your RMA Number
has been generated.
3.
Do you offer a military discount?
We are happy to offer a 10% discount for active duty military personnel and their
dependent family members. A valid military email address is needed for verification.
4.
What does "Status: On Hold" mean?
"On Hold" means the item is out on preview with another client and is
not available for immediate delivery. The item may not sell and could be returned
to us within a short period of time. If the item is returned the status will be
changed to "Available" and can be shipped immediately.
If an item is on hold you can still select to go through the steps of purchasing
the item. However, it may not ship immediately. If the item is not returned to us
we will contact you to let you know that your transaction has been voided.
If you are extremely interested in buying an item that has an "On Hold"
status, you should complete the online purchase process. You will have top priority
in receiving the item if it becomes available.
5.
What does "Status: Available" mean?
"Available" means just that – the item is available for immediate
sale and delivery. If you would like to purchase the item you can select "Purchase"
and follow through with the payment details. Your item will be sent on the day of
your order.
6.
What are your "Settings/Setting Options" and how do they work?
We are a full custom order manufacturer; we offer our designs for you to create
your own one-of-a-kind custom jewelry. ‘Setting’ or ‘Setting Options’
are our custom order jewelry designs that you can choose to have your sapphire set
in.
As sapphire specialists, our aim is to maintain the widest selection of loose sapphires
that our customers can choose from. We know that every client has their own personal
style and design preferences, so we are happy to create specially commissioned jewelry
pieces.
You can choose to browse our jewelry setting designs and then pick a sapphire, or
look at our sapphires and then pick a setting. Either way, we want our clients to
feel confident and comfortable in designing their own finished piece of custom made
jewelry.
If you have more questions about special setting designs please call us - we can
create anything!
7.
Can I request to see more than one item even if I only plan to purchase one?
If you see more than one item that you would like to preview, please call us directly
to discuss your order. We will usually ship more than one item for customers to
compare in person. However, please do not purchase multiple items online that
you do not intend to buy without notifying us of your intent.
8.
Can I visit your showroom in person? Where are you located?
We welcome visitors to our offices during our normal business hours. We are not
a traditional retail storefront. However, we are more than happy to meet with
any clients in person in our showroom.
We have very strict security procedures to enter our building and our offices. You
must call ahead to make an appointment and bring valid photo ID when you arrive.
You should be willing to submit to metal detector testing.
Please view our Security and Fraud page
here to learn more about our security measures when visiting us in person.
We are located at:
6 East 45th Street, 20th Floor Penthouse
New York, NY 10017
9.
What are your business hours?
Our normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 10AM to 5PM.
10.
The Natural Sapphire Company Warranty & Guarantee
The Natural Sapphire Company proudly stands behind our products and offers a full
lifetime warranty.
We guarantee our sapphires and jewelry to be as described in our documentation and
reports. If the sapphire or jewelry is not as stated in our documentation, we offer
a full return policy.
This warranty is based on the condition of the item at the time of sale.
This warranty remains in effect during your lifetime for so long as you own the
sapphire or jewelry.
If you make a claim under this warranty, you must allow us to try to resolve your
claim amicably; inspect the sapphire or jewelry and conduct a gemological evaluation
to assess your claim.
You should direct inquiries to: The Natural Sapphire Company: 6 East 45th Street,
20th Floor Penthouse, New York, NY 10017 or call (212) 869-1165 and we will work
to resolve your claim.
This warranty is subject to the conditions stated above.
11.
Our Media Imaging Guarantee
We are a third generation family business. Since 1939 we have been trading in the
finest sapphires available. We pride ourselves on offering a truly rare and valuable
product to all of our customers.
It is certainly understandable to be concerned with the accuracy of the color and
clarity of an item when shopping online. We use very advanced photography
to capture a stone’s true color properties.
However, we do not have control over the brightness and color settings of individual
home computer monitors. While we test the color accuracy of all our images
across multiple monitors, there is no uniform standard in brightness or color tone
from one monitor to the next. Please keep in mind these limitations when viewing
an item.
Grading, Sizing & More
Ring Sizing
We use the US system for ring sizing. Below is a ring size comparison chart for
the different systems.
USA SIZE
DIAM. INCH
DIAM. MM
CIRCUM. MM
BRITISH
FRENCH
GERMAN
JAPANESE
SWISS
Don't know your ring size? Open and print this ring sizing PDF
Please note: The Ring Sizer is based on the US system for ring sizing and provides
an approximate ring size only. When used correctly it is very accurate.
Stone Size Chart
Please
click here
to open a PDF of our Stone Size Chart.
Stone Shape Chart
The chart below features common gemstone shapes. The most popular shapes for colored
gemstones are round, cushion, emerald, radiant and princess. If you would like more
information regarding the characteristics of each shape, please call us to speak
with a gemologist who will be happy to help you select your sapphire.
Clarity Grading
While diamonds have an internationally established grading system, there is no standardized
method to analyze clarity in sapphires and other gemstones. No natural gemstone
is flawless. Diamond clarity is graded under 10x magnification. If viewed under
20x magnification a diamond with FL (Flawless) clarity would still have inclusions.
Natural untreated sapphires inherently have more inclusions than diamonds at the
standard 10x magnification. Therefore, we grade our sapphires at eye level, as almost
no natural untreated sapphire would be considered flawless under 10x magnification.
At The Natural Sapphire Company we grade the clarity of our sapphires on a comparative
basis. We have over 70 years of experience dealing exclusively with sapphires. We
have borrowed some of the standard diamond grading terms and applied them to sapphires
to better assist customers who may be familiar with diamond clarity terminology
(example: VS1, SI2).
Below is the scale we use to grade clarity in our sapphires at eye level :
Color Intensity Grading
Metal Care
What is rhodium ?
Like palladium and platinum itself, rhodium is a member of the platinum group. It is one of the rarest and most expensive precious metals in the world. Rhodium-plating is broadly used as the final step in the finishing process for fine jewelry: it adds a gleaming white finish to the slight golden hue of even the highest-karat white gold.
Rhodium-plating is tarnish-resistant and tremendously durable, but it can fade with time according to wear and body chemistry. If you detect any change in the tone of your jewelry, it can easily be re-dipped to restore it to its original gleam.
Click here to open our Metal Care guide PDF for information about proper jewelry care.
Payment
Payment Methods
We accept the following credit/debit cards:
VISA , MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, DISCOVER
Paying with a credit card is by far the safest and most secure way for all parties
to be protected and transact business. We also accept bank wire transfers and personal
checks. If you choose to pay this way please contact us so we can manually process
your order.
You are welcome to contact us if you feel more comfortable making any final payment
clarifications before you order. Please call us during our normal business hours.
Payment in full is required before production begins for all custom-made orders.
Shipping, Insurance, and Liability
Domestic Shipping Services
FedEx and UPS shipments are sent NEXT DAY AIR, SIGNATURE REQUIRED. We will
only ship to confirmed addresses. All client details must match with your credit
card authorization information. Shipments placed on Friday will have an optional
delivery for Saturday or the following Monday.
If you pay by credit card and need your shipment sent to a non-confirmed billing
address, you can arrange to add an ‘alternative confirmed address’ with
your credit card company. This would require you to call your credit card
company and provide them with your alternative confirmed address. Only after
you arrange this with your credit card company can we ship to a non-billing address.
Please call us if you have more questions about shipping to alternative addresses
other than your billing address.
You can expect that once an item is shipped, it will arrive at its destination before
12 pm noon the next day. Shipments to Alaska and Hawaii typically arrive within
2 days. All deliveries are sent to street addresses only. PO Boxes are not accepted
as shipping destinations.
Domestic Shipping Costs
We ship to all locations within the US. Below is a guideline for postage costs and
delivery times.
Depending on the value of the item you are ordering, you may have different shipping
options to choose from:
Domestic Orders $300 or Less
Signature required
on Delivery?
USPS Priority Insured
Mail
2-4 Business Days depending on
your location within US
Domestic Orders From $301 To $1000
Signature required
on Delivery?
1-4 Business Days depending on
your location within US
Domestic Orders Over $1000
Signature required on Delivery?
While you have possession of any item you are fully responsible for its value and
care. It is NOT insured after you have signed for it by the shipping carrier; therefore
it is your full responsibility and liability while the item is in your possession
to keep it safe and in good care.
International Shipping Services
We ship worldwide on a daily basis. FedEx, UPS, DHL, and other international carriers
reach most parts of the world within 2-3 working days for a relatively low cost.
Authorizations and confirmation of a credit card’s validity is not always
possible when shipping to international destinations, and in some cases bank wire
transfer payments must be received before an item is shipped to international destinations.
International shipments may be subject to customs fees, import duties, taxes, and other charges.
These additional charges required for customs clearance are the responsibility of the recipient. When your order arrives at customs either our
shipper, FedEx, or the customs office will contact you directly to arrange for the payment of any charges that may be due.
International Orders $300 or Less
Signature required
on Delivery?
United States
Insured Mail *^
International Orders Over $300
Signature required
on Delivery?
FedEx Express International
*In some countries this service is not available. We will contact you if this is
the case.
**This charge will cover most destinations. If the cost is higher we will contact
you directly.
^Items over $1,000 can only be shipped via FedEx. Unfortunately, we cannot ship
to military PO Boxes.
While you have possession of any item you are fully responsible for its value and
care. It is NOT insured after you have signed for it by the shipping carrier; therefore
it is your full responsibility and liability while the item is in your possession
to keep it safe and in good care.
Security & Fraud
This informational page outlines how we prevent potential Fraud and measures we
take to secure our security as a jewelry company.
Our extensive collection of loose sapphires and sapphire jewelry has been built
over three generations. We take great pride in our business and it is important
that we provide our customers with the highest assurances of security and legitimacy.
We do not consider ourselves an “internet company." Rather, we are a
70+year old company that has created an e-commerce venue where
our clients can review and purchase any item in our inventory.
Purchases made online through our secure website, in person, or by phone are subject
to extensive security checks to make sure the order and transaction are legitimate
and legal.
For Online Orders
1.
We subscribe to various third party services that do extensive background checks
to research if any fraud activity has been associated with the person purchasing
an item.
2.
We will only ship to confirmed and authorized billing addresses.
3.
If an item is paid for by check we will confirm that the check was not written or
issued fraudulently.
4.
We do not ship items that are paid by check until the check and funds have cleared.
5.
We call, email, and communicate on a need basis for all of our orders.
6.
We check the billing and shipping addresses for all orders and contact the purchaser
if there are any discrepancies or issues not matching the credit card payment method.
8.
We log all incoming IP addresses for our online orders.
9.
We verify all AVS and Card Code Verification details.
10.
In most cases we can only discuss the details of an order with the individual paying
for the item.
11.
For clients returning merchandise, our procedures must be followed per our exact
return instructions, items will not be accepted unless an RMA is issued (see FAQ
page for more information).
12.
For international orders, we reserve the right to refuse payment methods that are
not direct bank transfers. However, in most industrialized countries we subscribe
to services that can verify and meet our needed security measures to confirm valid
orders.
13.
We have other investigative procedures in place to flag potentially fraudulent activities.
14.
We reserve the right to refuse a sale to any person or entity for any reason.
15.
We follow the laws relating to the United States Patriot Act.
For Phone Orders
Questions or changes regarding an order and/or its shipping service can only be
discussed with the individual paying for the item, unless permission of the purchaser
is given otherwise.
All Online Order security measures listed above also pertain to phone orders.
Please Note
Attempts of fraud will be vigorously pursued, reported and prosecuted by all available
legal means. Our staff and security detail are extremely skilled and dedicated to
preventing and detecting fraud. We actively report to law enforcement authorities
for all attempts made against us.
For Showroom, Office and Workshop Visits
Additional details for customers who wish to visit our physical location:
1.
You MUST have an appointment. Visitors will not be allowed entry to our showroom,
offices, and or workshop without a pre-existing appointment. Due to security measures,
we need at least two hours advanced request for an appointment.
2.
All visitors must present a valid photo ID.
3.
Visitors must be willing to have their photo ID scanned for our security records.
4.
All persons granted access need to accept a fingerprint scan if requested (our scanning
system is non-ink, it is only photo scanning of your thumb or index finger).
5.
Visitors are scanned by metal detector and bags are subject to inspection.
6.
Weekend and after hours appointments are not available. We only accept visitors
during our regular business hours, by appointment only (see our Contact page for
hours of operation).
7.
If you are a returning visitor you will be subject to our normal security procedures
as will any accompanying guests.
A Note About Our Security Practices
We work with a contracted third party security company to keep our office extremely
secure at all times. Our 24/7 armed guard security and surveillance service includes:
- 16 high resolution video cameras with audio in and around our location
- 10 motion sensors
- 18 door and window security contacts
- 6 vibration sensors
- 10 silent call buttons for police and third party armed guard response
- 3 sets of double door man trap systems with fail safe hardware
- 1 intake window with 2 inch thick bullet proof glass (will stop all handguns)
- Steel reinforced walls at all entry walls and doors
- We are located in a high security office building
- Lobby and back room security guards are on duty at all times, 24 hours a day, 7
days a week
- Armed guard security is on full time staff
Our independent 24/7security monitoring company is one city block from our location
and will respond immediately if summoned. They have remote access to all our security
systems for instant monitoring and reporting.
Our security is meticulously detailed and we make no exceptions for anyone or any
situation.
NOTICE: ARMED GUARD ON PREMISES
Our Online Security Policies
All online payments with credit cards are protected by the latest and most advanced
online security technology. We use the same security used by commercial banks for
their online banking services.
As an added security measure, we are certified by Verisign.
User Agreement
Online Security
All transactions on our website go through SSL (Secure Socket Layers). This is the
industry standard for online security and is also used by financial institutions.
The security and privacy of your credit card, personal contact data, and all other
electronic information is never at risk of being stolen or misused.
Privacy Statement
We do not sell or use your personal information for anything other than transactions
within our company. We will not offer for sale, solicit or share your name, address,
email address, purchase information or other personal information with any outside
entities. You will never be contacted by The Natural Sapphire Company for any reasons
other than to address your initiated inquiries, purchases and emails. If you specifically
request that we add you to our mailing list, then we will contact you from time
to time to let you know of company news and updates.
Eligibility
Purchases from The Natural Sapphire Company can only be made by individuals who
can form legally binding contracts under applicable law. Without limiting the foregoing,
our services are not available to minors. If you do not qualify, you cannot use
our services.
Taxes & Fees
You are responsible for paying all shipping fees associated with the transportation
of merchandise and all applicable taxes.
Release
You agree to release The Natural Sapphire Company (including our officers, directors,
agents, subsidiaries and employees) from claims, demands and damages (actual and
consequential) of every kind and nature, known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected,
disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in any way connected with customer
dissatisfaction of service or merchandise, after the inspection / return period
expires on orders placed for our merchandise.
Access & Interference
Our web site contains robot exclusion headers and you agree that you will not use
any robot, spider, other automatic device, or manual process to monitor or copy
our web pages or the content contained herein without our prior expressed written
permission. You agree that you will not use any device, software or routine to interfere
or attempt to interfere with the proper working of The Natural Sapphire Company.
You agree that you will not take any action that imposes an unreasonable or disproportionately
large load on our infrastructure. You agree that you will not copy, reproduce, alter,
modify, create derivative works, or publicly display any content from our website
without the prior expressed written permission of The Natural Sapphire Company.
Disclaimer
Prices and availability of products and services are subject to change without notice.
Errors will be corrected where discovered, and The Natural Sapphire Company reserves
the right to revoke any stated offer and to correct any errors, inaccuracies or
omissions.
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