Ordering, Payment, Shipping and Returns

Last updated: October 4, 2026

We are an appointment-based and online store. We don't deal in mass merchandise; every piece is selected or made individually, and our process is designed to protect both you and us. Every step below exists so that you know exactly what you are buying, and we know the sale is secure, before anything changes hands.

1. Choosing a piece

• Most pieces on this site are available by appointment or online. Use the Inquire button on any piece and we'll confirm availability, price and details.
• Certification. In most cases our gemstones and diamonds come with a report from GIA, EGL or another respected laboratory, so you are not relying on our description alone. The report is shown to you before purchase and ships with the piece. Lab-grown diamonds are always identified as lab-grown.
• Private showings. If you are in the New York tri-state area, we can arrange a private showing so you see the piece in person before final payment.
• Stones on our Gemstones for Sale page are drawn from our cutting and sourcing partners' inventory, so a stone can sell before we confirm it. You reserve a stone with a 50% deposit; within 2 business days we confirm it in hand, photograph it for you, and invoice the balance. If the stone is no longer available, your deposit is refunded in full.

2. Payment

• We accept wire transfer (preferred), Zelle, certified bank check, and cash in person.
• Credit and debit cards are accepted through our Square checkout on purchases up to $1,500. We never see or store your card number.
• Purchases over $5,000 must be paid by wire transfer. Call us for wire instructions.
• Payment must clear before any item is released or shipped. Wires and Zelle usually clear within a day; certified checks generally take 2–3 business days. We confirm by email as soon as funds have cleared.
• New York State purchases, including local pickups, are subject to New York sales tax.

3. Shipping

• We ship within 7 days of cleared payment and send you the tracking number.
• Shipments go USPS Priority Mail, Registered, Return Receipt Requested, fully insured, signature required.
• For items over $5,000 we can ship by Malca-Amit, the armored courier used throughout the jewelry trade, billed at cost.
• We ship to the continental United States only. Local clients may collect in person by appointment.
• Please include a phone number with your order so the carrier can reach you.

4. Custom orders

1. Design. We discuss the stone, design and budget with you. Send a link, a photo or a sketch and we'll email a detailed quote.
2. Deposit. Production begins once a deposit, a minimum of 50% and more on some items, has cleared.
3. CAD approval. You receive a CAD rendering with dimensions and specifications to approve before anything is made (there's an example on our home page). Review it carefully: once you approve it and the piece enters production, changes incur a fee, and some changes may not be possible.
4. Final approval. If you are in the New York tri-state area, you may view the finished piece in person before paying the balance. Out-of-area clients receive photos and video for approval.
5. Balance and delivery. The remaining balance is due on approval; the piece ships, or is handed over, once that payment clears. Balances over $5,000 are paid by wire.

Lead times are typically up to three weeks, depending on the piece and the time of year. Custom pieces are made to your specification and are not returnable, except for a defect in materials or workmanship.

5. Returns

• Call (646) 645-2453 within 7 days of delivery to request a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA). We'll give you the return shipping address and instructions. Unauthorized returns cannot be accepted.
• Items must come back in exactly the same condition as shipped: unworn, unaltered, with all packaging, paperwork and laboratory reports, and lab seals intact.
• Return shipping is at your expense, insured for the full purchase price, by the same method we used.
• Accepting a return is at our sole discretion. Approved returns are refunded by the original payment method, less a 10% restocking fee, once the piece has been received and inspected. No restocking fee applies if the item is defective or not as described.
• Not returnable: custom orders, pieces sized or altered after delivery, loose stones removed from their sealed packet, and items marked final sale.

Full details are on our Returns Policy page.

6. Why we do it this way

Cleared funds before release, certified stones, in-person approval and insured, signature-required shipping aren't hurdles; they are how a transaction in fine gemstones should work. They protect you from buying something that isn't what it was described to be, and they protect us from fraud, so we can keep our prices fair.

Our jewelry

• All of our diamonds are genuine, and none of our gold is plated unless otherwise noted. We test all diamonds and gold before offering them.
• Every piece is professionally cleaned. Reflections in photographs can create light or dark spots that are not present on the actual item; any real markings are noted in the item's description.
• Independent, third-party appraisals are available for $75–$350 per item and are non-refundable. Grading involves professional judgment, and opinions can vary between appraisers.

Questions

Call or text (646) 645-2453 or email marcm123@mm-fine.com.