How is Mere jewellery produced?

Everything at Mere Jewellery is hand fabricated by me (Emma). I use traditional silver smithing techniques and every piece I make starts as raw recycled silver (either sheet or wire) which I cut, shape, solder, file and polish to make one of a kind treasures. Even when working on similar designs, each piece is unique and made by hand with a lot of love. I do not use any computerised or mass production techniques which are frequently used within the jewellery industry, meaning that no two pieces from Mere are ever the same so you are getting a one of a kind piece to treasure forever. 

What is sea glass/sea pottery?

Sea glass or pottery are pieces of discarded glass/pottery which have been found on beaches. These pieces have often been in the ocean for 50+ years (some likely over 100+ years!) being tumbled and shaped by the waves. Every piece of sea glass or pottery used by Mere Jewellery has been collected by hand (mostly by me but some have been very kindly donated by my lovely family members who also love beach combing). Each piece is a tiny piece of history, shaped by the ocean and made into wearable treasure. 

How do I care for my new piece of jewellery?

Silver will naturally tarnish (turn dark) over time and this process can be sped up by frequent contact with water/moisture. Ideally, try to remove your silver jewellery before showering, swimming, applying creams or lotions and washing hands. However being realistic your jewellery is there to be worn and enjoyed and luckily tarnish can be easily removed by using a polishing cloth- every order from Mere Jewellery comes with a complementary polishing cloth to keep your jewellery looking beautiful and shiny for years to come! Pieces without a stone can also be gently scrubbed using a soft toothbrush with soap and water.

I would recommend removing sea glass jewellery before entering the water as although sea glass itself is water-safe (after all, it was created in the salted waves and has been tumbled by the sea for decades or longer!) sea glass jewellery is not. Due to the natural imperfections in the shape of the glass, it may be possible for water to seep into the bezel and tarnish the silver behind the glass, showing dark spots that can’t be removed.

Sea glass, stones, and sea pottery are typically hard materials, but like any gem or natural stone, they can crack or chip if knocked against a hard surface.

How is your jewellery packaged?

Every order is packaged either in a gift box tied with a recycled fabric ribbon or in a branded cotton pouch. So, it is ready to gift to a loved one, or to yourself! All of the packaging used by Mere has been made from recycled materials and is either further recyclable or biodegradable.

Every order also arrives with a complementary anti-tarnish square and a polishing cloth to help keep your jewellery beautiful and shiny.

Do you offer custom orders?

Yes! I'd love to hear your ideas, please feel free to contact me using the contact form at the bottom of this page.

If you've found a lovely piece of sea glass or sea pottery, I can also use this to make a custom piece of jewellery just for you (ring, necklace, bangle). I would just need to see a couple of photos of the piece to ensure it will be suitable before we proceed.

Do you make gold jewellery? 

Due to the current price of gold, I don't work with gold at the moment and only work in Sterling (.925) and Fine (.999) Silver however, I do plan to work with gold in the future so watch this space!

Do you ship internationally?

I am only currently shipping within the UK. I intend to expand this in the very near future- sign up to my mailing list to be the first to hear!

What is your shipping policy?

UK

All UK orders are sent via Tracked Royal Mail services and you will receive a tracking number.

Pre-made pieces will all be shipped within 3 working days of your order being received.

For made-to-order pieces please check the individual listing as these can take up to 3 weeks to ship if they require hallmarking. 

If you need your order for a certain date please email- emma@merejewellery.com and I will be happy to do whatever I can to help!

Late/Lost Delivery

We only ship with Royal Mail Tracked or Signed for. You will be provided with a tracking number once the item(s) have been posted.

Royal Mail aim to deliver within 24-48 hours, however there can be delays. Please check the tracking number regularly if you are concerned. 

It it has been 5+ working days since you received your tracking number, we recommend contacting Royal Mail directly. Use the following link for information: 

https://www.royalmail.com/help/lost-items-parcels-letters

If you have contacted Royal Mail directly, please get in touch, and we can assist in finding the missing parcel. 

emma@merejewellery.com 

If Royal Mail confirm that the item has been lost, a full refund will be issued. 

What does 'Mere' mean?

Mere is an Old English word which was used to describe bodies of water- lakes, pools, rivers, the ocean. It is still in use in parts of the UK (for example in the Lake District - Windermere, Buttermere etc.) 

Is your jewellery hallmarked? 

Mere Jewellery follows UK laws regarding hallmarking- please see the hallmarking page for more information regarding this.