Frequently Asked Questions
Materials & care
When you buy a piece of jewelry from Donna Dorée, you receive an item of good precious metal that will last for years and can be passed on from generation to generation. A sustainable trend in jewelry.
The basis of the jewelry is 925 (sterling) silver. All jewelery is provided with a guarantee stamp, approved by Waarborg NL, with the number 925 and a personal responsibility sign.
Rhodium plating for extra protection
Silver jewelry can discolor (oxidize), which is a natural process with silver. To prevent this oxidation, my goldsmiths provide extra rhodium plating over the silver.
Rhodium is a hard, silvery-white metal. During rhodium plating, a layer of rhodium is applied over the silver jewelry. Because rhodium is a strong material, your jewelry is less likely to be damaged. Rhodium-plated silver is not only stronger but also much less sensitive to external influences. As a result, it will no longer oxidize, provided you take good care of it, and will, therefore, no longer become dull or black. This means you can enjoy your jewelry for much longer!
14 carat Gold Plating or Gold Vermeil
Do you prefer gold over silver or find that it suits your skin tone better?
Gold-plated jewelry has a base of silver or another metal, such as copper, covered with a thin layer of gold, while gold vermeil has a silver base with a thicker layer of gold. Gold vermeil, with its gold coating of at least 2.5 microns thickness, embodies luxury and durability without paying the price of real gold.
Our jewelry at Donna Dorée consists of a base of first grade silver 925 and is either gold plated or gold vermeil plated. You can find this information in the jewelry collections and/or products.
Please note: it is and remains a plating (a thin layer) which can fade and/or discolor over time. If you take good care of your jewelry, you will enjoy it much longer.
Ensure proper maintenance of your jewelry to keep it in pristine condition. Even precious metals are susceptible to external factors, and over time, silver jewelry may lose its luster due to oxidation caused by air, light, humidity, perfume, soap residue, or the acidity of your skin.
How do you prevent your silver or gold jewelry from becoming dull or black (with silver) and red (with gold plating/vermeil)?
- Wear your jewelry regularly. Even jewelry that is left unworn can lose its shine or become discolored.
- Put on your jewelry last, after applying perfume, makeup, and other beauty products.
- Avoid sleeping with silver jewelry to prevent unnecessary contact with the acidity of your skin and minimize the risk of damage or deformation.
- Remove your jewelry before showering, swimming, or exercising. Exposure to shampoo, soap, salt, and chlorine can adversely affect your jewelry.
- Take off your jewelry when engaging in heavy work or cleaning tasks as chemicals can cause damage.
- When not wearing your jewelry for an extended period, store it properly in a jewelry drawer or cotton/silk jewelry pouch, but certainly in a dark and dry place.
Jewelry from our own collection
Have you purchased jewelry from our own collection with a rhodium ring or gold plated or gold vermeil layer on top?
Use the provided satin polishing cloth to gently polish away dirt and restore the shine of your jewelry.
If your jewelry is heavily soiled, slightly dampen the tip of the polishing cloth and rub away the dirt. Follow up by polishing with the dry part.
Note: This cloth is not meant for deeply tarnished silver but can be used on various smooth surfaces, including metal, glass, and glasses, to remove dirt.
If your jewelry still requires cleaning, you can use a mild soap solution by mixing green or any other gentle soap with warm water. Brush the jewelry softly with a toothbrush, then rinse with lukewarm water. Dry it with a lint-free cloth. Avoid using cleaning fluid as it may damage the rhodium plating or gold plating protection.
Please note that incorrect use or cleaning techniques can cause the rhodium plating or gold plating to wear out over time.
Vintage jewelry or jewelry from other collections
If you have purchased some jewelry from other collections from us, different rules apply. You may have purchased jewelry made of pure silver or pure gold, without another layer on top. You can clean those pure jewelry well with an immersion bath (be careful with (semi-)precious stones!) and/or a silver or gold polishing cloth from, for example, Hagerty.
Order & delivery
All orders are shipped from my studio in the Netherlands. All orders are processed by Donna Dorée - on working days - and transferred to MyParcel (PostNL). The moment your package is shipped, you will receive an update with the necessary information.
MyParcel (PostNL) normally delivers - within the Netherlands - on the next delivery day (Monday to Saturday), but always within 2 delivery days. Donna Dorée will keep you informed of your shipment via track & trace. This way, you know exactly when you can expect your package.
Within the Netherlands and Belgium you pay no shipping costs above €100,-. Other delivery costs and/or any other additional costs are stated before the confirmation of the order by the customer.
You will receive your jewelry in luxurious sustainable FSC (shipping) packaging. It is a gift to receive your jewelry at home!
Please note: Our packaging is gift packaging, not storage packaging! Preferably store your jewelry in a dark and dry jewelry drawer or in a cotton or silk jewelry bag.
You can pay with:
- iDeal
- Maestro
- MasterCard
- Visa
- Google Pay
- Apple Pay
- Bancontact
- Sofort
In our system, you will also find Shop Pay, Powered by Shopify. With Shop Pay, you can check out even faster as a customer by securely storing your shipping and payment information.
Exchange & return
If you are not completely satisfied with your online order, Donna Dorée offers you the option to exchange the purchased jewelry or receive a refund for the products you wish to return.
After delivery, you have the right to open the package and check your purchase. However, products must be returned unused and in the original packaging. If the return does not meet these conditions, we cannot exchange or refund your purchase.
If you want to return a piece of jewelry, follow the returns procedure from MyParcel/PostNL. You will receive this in your email when you place your order. We ask you to complete the online returns form as completely as possible.
Then prepare the package for return? Then make sure that at least your name is on the attached note. Please include this with the package, including the items you want to return.
You have 15 calendar days to return your purchase from the date of delivery. Once you have arranged the return, your package should reach us within 7 working days for returns within Europe and 14 working days for returns from the rest of the world.
Please note that all return shipping costs are at your own expense. If you choose to return your items via local post, we recommend that you send the package by registered mail. We recommend using a shipping service with a tracking option as you are responsible for the package until it reaches us.
When your return package has arrived at Donna Dorée in good order, the money will be refunded within 30 days using the same payment method you originally used. NB! We charge €7.50 handling costs per return.
For questions regarding the return of your order, please contact us at service@donnadoree.com.
The legal guarantee applies to all Donna Dorée products. Legal guarantee means that a product is or must do what the consumer can reasonably expect from it.
Donna Dorée jewelry is partly made by hand. There may be inconsistencies in the natural materials used or imperfections may arise due to human actions. All jewelry is carefully checked before shipping.
Should you nevertheless be dissatisfied with the delivered product or if you discover manufacturing defects? Then you can claim the legal guarantee.
Warranty rules
Donna Dorée's jewelry is covered by a six-month guarantee from the date of purchase.
The gold-plated layer of our gold jewelry is a thin layer of 14-karat gold (U-gold plating). This can wear out over time due to careless use. Read more about our materials & care. Under this layer is real silver, so you always keep your valuable silver Donna Dorée piece of jewelry.
This warranty, therefore, only covers material and manufacturing defects.
Not covered by the warranty
- Breakage (unless it is a demonstrable production error);
- Damage due to normal wear and tear, improper use (such as being dropped) or mishandling;
- Discoloration due to the use of water, perfume, soap, lotion, or hair spray or a high acidity of the skin;
- Processing by a party other than Donna Dorée (for example, repair work by a local jeweler);
- Loss/theft of the jewelry.
To claim our warranty, first contact Donna Dorée about the item in question at service@donnadoree.com
When a complaint or defect falls within the warranty, the best possible solution will be sought. If you are unsure whether the defect falls under the warranty conditions, you can also contact service@donnadoree.com
Another question? Let me know...
If you find yourself in a bind, please don't hesitate to complete the contact form or send an email to service@donnadoree.com
Rest assured that your message or email will be sent directly to the artist, and I will make every effort to respond as swiftly as possible. Regardless, you will receive a response within one to three working days.