Sizing

How do I figure out my ring size?

We can send you a FREE adjustable ring sizer so you can find the perfect fit! Order a ring sizer here.

Do I need to know the ring size before a ring is made?

Yes! We need a ring size when an order is placed. We can resize most rings if needed. There may be a charge to resize your ring and it takes around three weeks to resize a ring.

The ring is a surprise and I don't know what size to get. What should I do?

If you don't know the ring size of the person you are getting a ring for and want to keep the ring a surprise there are a few things you can do: you can ask family or friends, you can use a ring they already wear (just make sure it is on the finger they will wear the new ring on - ring size differs from finger to finger and from left and right hands), or let us know you need help! We are pretty good at guessing someone's ring size so we can often guess from a picture of their hand!

Do you charge for extra for certain sizes?

No way! We are sizing-inclusive and make every ring size and size does not change the cost of a ring.

Shipping

Can I cancel my order?

Yes. You can cancel your order if you contact us within 24 hours of your order being placed. Once we start production on a piece, however, an order cannot be canceled.

Can I change the shipping address of my order?

Yes. Email us at studio@wrmetalarts.com with your order info and let us know what address you would like to ship your order to and we can easily update it. Please note that we cannot change a shipping address once an order has shipped.

Is my order insured through shipping?

Yes. Your order is insured through us and USPS from when it leaves the studio until it is delivered. Once the package has been delivered it is no longer covered under our insurance.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes! We ship worldwide.

When will my order ship?

Please refer to the product page of your purchase for our shipping timelines. Our catalog items ship between three and eight weeks. We are also happy to give you updates on your order if you email us at studio@wrmetalarts.com!

Do I need to sign for delivery?

Yes! We require signature through USPS when we ship your order. We have expereinced occational mail carriers neglecting to ask for signature, however, so if you anticipate your package being left unattended at all we recommend getting in touch with your local USPS office and asking them to hold your package for pickup.

Where can I check my order status?

We are happy to give you updates on your order if you email us at studio@wrmetalarts.com with your order number and any questions you might have.

My package is marked as "delivered" but I haven't received it. What should I do?

Sometimes shipping carriers mark packages as “delivered” before actually delivering the package. It is likely just around the corner and will be delivered in under 48 hours. If your package hasn't been delivered by then contact USPS to inquire about its whereabouts. Unfortunately only the package recipeint can contact USPS about a delivery.

My tracking shows that there was an attempted delivery, can you reschedule a delivery?

Unfortunately, only the package recipient can contact USPS about a delivery. You will need to schedule the delivery through the tracking link sent through Shopify when your order shipped.

I think my package is lost. What should I do?

We are not responsible for lost or stolen packages and we recommend getting in touch with USPS about your package to open an inquiry if this happens. However, we have shipped hundreds of rings, gemstones, and precious metals over the years and have never lost a package so in all likelihood it will turn up!

Custom Designs

What is the difference between a custom design and a customized design?

A custom design is a design started totally from scatch. A customized design is when you make an alteration to one of our existing designs. Check out the cusomized designs section below to learn more.

What is your process for custom rings?

We generally begin with a free 30 minute design consult over Zoom. If you are excited to move forward after that, we ask for a $300 design deposit (non-refundable, but applied toward your final balance). We will do three sketches, research stones and metals and budget options and we’ll chat back and forth until we come up with a design that you love and fits the budget. We will produce one final sketch, and a final quote. We will create a custom invoice for the balance less the design deposit once we finalize the design and give you a final quote. 

How much do custom rings cost?

It varies! Since much of the cost of custom jewelry is dependent on the complexity of design, size and width of the piece, and the type and quality of materials we can customize a design to fit budgets of $2,000-$20,000. It is helpful for us to know a ballpark budget as we approach the design process so that we can know are we designing a $1,000 ring, $3,000? $8,000? That way we can give you guidance on design elements that will fit within the budget. Our minimum for full custom designs is $2,000. We are happy to work with you to customize any of our existing designs to fit your budget if a full custom design isn't a good fit. Here are a couple tips for getting the most out of your custom ring budget:

- Several factors influence the cost of rings: type, quality and size of stones, width of band, type of metal, intricacy/complexity of band design, and design time. 

- You can save on design time by doing research ahead of time and coming prepared to make some decisive design and materials choices. 

How long does it take to produce a custom piece?

Currently it takes us about 12 weeks to complete a ring from the time we finalize the design, depending on the complexity of the design and materials. Typically, design time takes an additional 6-12 weeks--again you speed up the design process by doing research ahead of time! We can offer a rush production for $150-$500 (depending on the project and the timeline) plus expedited shipping costs. We make ourselves readily available to assist with any and all design decisions, however it is the client's ultimate responsibility to make a final decision and allow enough time for production. We will send you lots of friendly reminders!

Can I use family/heirloom stones to create a new ring?

Absolutely! We love to use family/heirloom stones in our designs. Please be aware that in order to obtain the stones from the original piece, the setting on the original piece may no longer be viable.

Can you cast a ring that I have into a new piece using the same metal?

In some cases, yes! We have made some beautiful pieces by casting together old family jewelry. We are only able to cast heirloom metal into liners for our mokume rings and other hand-cast designs like solid bands. In order to use the same metal the design must be cast (as opposed to fabricated). It may also depend on the alloy of the old metal. Many old alloys contain nickel which can make them difficult and unreliable to work with. We would be happy to discuss your project and talk about the possibilities! 

Can I trade you gold for a credit to my account?

Yes, in most cases we can offer a credit equal to the current scrap value of the gold.

Can I trade you diamonds for a credit to my account?

Sometimes! As a small business we do not always have the cash on hand to purchase diamonds for credit, however if we have a current project that we can use the stones in we would be most happy to source them from your recycled jewelry!

What is your return policy for custom rings?

We make every possible effort to ensure  that you absolutely love the ring you receive. Each of our custom rings is a design completely tailored to you---therefore we are not able to offer returns on custom rings. In order to ensure that you love your design, we have you approve design elements every step of the way. If you are there is a craftsmanship defect when your ring arrives, we will make ever effort to correct or repair it so long as we are notified within 14 days of delivery (see our returns policy for more information). 

Who retains the copyrights and rights to reproduction of custom designs?

We retain all the rights to our custom designs, which includes and is not limited to the right to reproduce the designs as custom works or for sale in our eCommerce store, without limitation, at any time.  Unless otherwise noted in a written agreement, all custom designs are considered intellectual property of W.R. Metalarts. If a client wishes to purchase the rights to their custom design, this is available at a fee. We do occasionally provide fabrication services to individuals or designers who wish to have their own designs fabricated--these services are clearly noted as fabrication services. Unless your product was noted as a fabrication service, it is considered a custom design, and W.R. Metalarts retains the rights to reproduction. 

Are you able to do work or repairs on heirloom pieces?

Sometimes! We would need to assess a piece in person to establish if we are able to work on it. Please be aware there is a certain amount of risk involved when working on pieces that we did not make. Our insurance will cover any workmanship issues on our own end but for example if we unset an heirloom stone that is chipped or cracked and it breaks or is damaged further in the unsetting process we cannot replace it. We are happy to resize and work on rings we did not make but there is always a chance that there are unforeseen issues with the piece that can cause problems in our work on it. To work on heirloom pieces they must be solid gold (we can make occasional exceptions for platinum or silver depending on the alloy) and mustbe stamped of the metal quality. Our studio fee for work on pieces we did not make is $85/hr for any work done.

Customized Designs

What is a customized design?

Customizing a design is a great option if you either love one of our current designs but want to tweak it slightly (read on to learn about ways you can change a design!), want it sooner than a completely custom design (which takes about four months to produce), or want to add a little unique flair to your W.R. Metalarts piece. 

How can I customize a ring?

There are lots of ways to customize one of our existing designs! The main customization request we encounter is swapping out gemstones. For example you can request a customization of one of our diamond solitaires to have a mossanite or white sapphire to bring down the price or you can swap a stone to be a different shape, color, size, or quality. We are happy to explore all the different options of stones with you to make sure you are getting your dream ring that fits your style and budget preferences.

You can also request that a ring be made in a different metal if it is not listed on our website! We work with: 14k and 18k yellow, rose, and white gold, 14k palladium white gold, and platinum. We do not work with silver, or copper except in our mokume gane pieces and accessories.

We can also make our rings in any width and any size! We do not believe in charging a higher price for higher sizes so whether you are a size 3 or a size 13 (we carry sizes 0 to 16 and are the only ones in the jewelry industry to do so!), your ring will be the same price. If you would like a different width than we offer on our website just message us and we can send over a custom invoice! The only thing to keep in mind is that width differences will change the price so if you are curious about the price difference we are happy to send over a quote.

We can even add engravings to rings too! Just email us a screenshot of what you would like engraved when you complete your invoice and we can add any engraving you like (we recommend keeping it short and sweet) to the inside of your ring.

The sky is the limit with customization so please always feel free to reach out no matter the request!

What is your process for customizing rings?

We generally begin with a free 30 minute design consult over Zoom where you tell us how you would like to alter one of our existing designs. If you are excited to get started we will send over an invoice for the altered design right away so we can jump into production. If we don't finalize the design during our call we ask for a $300 design deposit (non-refundable, but applied toward your final balance) so we can explore tweaking the design to be your dream ring. Once we have the final design we will create a custom invoice for the balance less the design deposit. 

How much do customized rings cost?

It varies! Some customizations lower items from their original listing price such as swapping a diamond for a goshenite stone and some customizations raise prices such as making a ring in platinum instead of 14k yellow gold. It totally depends on what you are looking for in your ring!

How long does it take to produce a customized piece?

Currently it takes us about 6-10 weeks to complete a customized ring depending on the extent we are changing a design. If we are just swapping a gemstone but leaving the design unaltered otherwise it often means a shorter timeline but other changes can take longer to produce. If you have a specific timeline in mind please let us know and we can do our best to make it work! We can offer a rush production for $150-$500 (depending on the project and the timeline) plus expedited shipping costs. We make ourselves readily available to assist with any and all design decisions, however it is the client's ultimate responsibility to make a final decision and allow enough time for production. We will send you lots of friendly reminders!

 Can I use family/heirloom stones to create a new ring?

Absolutely! We love to use family/heirloom stones in customized designs. Please be aware that in order to obtain the stones from the original piece, the setting on the original piece may no longer be viable.

Can you cast a ring that I have into a new piece using the same metal?

In some cases, yes! In order to use the same metal the design must be hand-cast (as opposed to fabricated or cast in our casting house). It may also depend on the alloy of the old metal. Many old alloys contain nickel which can make them difficult to work with. We would be happy to discuss your project in person and talk about the possibilities! 

Can I trade you gold for a credit to my account?

Yes, in most cases we can offer a credit equal to the current scrap value of the gold.

Can I trade you diamonds for a credit to my account?

Sometimes! As a small business we do not always have the cash on hand to purchase diamonds for credit, however if we have a current project that we can use the stones in we would be most happy to source them from your recycled jewelry!

What is your return policy for customized rings?

We make every possible effort to ensure that you absolutely love the ring you receive. Each of our customized rings is a design completely tailored to you---therefore we are not able to offer returns on customized rings. In order to ensure that you love your design, we have you approve design elements every step of the way. If you are there is a craftsmanship defect when your ring arrives, we will make ever effort to correct or repair it so long as we are notified within 14 days of delivery (see our returns policy for more information). 

Who retains the copyrights and rights to reproduction of customized designs?

We retain all the rights to our customized designs, which includes and is not limited to the right to reproduce the designs or for sale in our eCommerce store, without limitation, at any time. Unless otherwise noted in a written agreement, all customized designs are considered intellectual property of W.R. Metalarts.

I requested a quote for a customized design, how long is it valid for?

All of our quotes for custom and customized designs are valid for 14 days. If production is not started within that timeframe the design will need to be requoted.

Returns and Refunds

What are your exchange and return policies?

We want all of our clients to be as excited about their purchase as we are to make it. So if you are unsatisfied or something feels off please contact us immediately. 

All of our work is lovingly made to order and we do not keep any items in stock, so we make every order with the utmost care.

We accept returns on a case-by-case basis and are happy to accept most items totaling less than $750 for returns or exchanges. If you wish to return or exchange an item please contact us within 48 hours of receiving your item. Custom work is not eligible for returns. Due to the process of custom work we are not able to offer refunds for custom or customized designs. Each piece is made specifically for the wearer and is handcrafted to that end. We have numerous approvals throughout the process and always strive for transparency. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any concerns or questions

If you find that your ring is not the correct size we would be happy to resize it for you. It may be subject to a resizing fee and cannot be exchanged for another size. See below for shipping instructions.

If you do exchange an item, please ensure that the item is returned to us in new, unworn, and re-saleable condition within 7 business days from the delivery date of your order.

1) Please email studio@wrmetalarts.com for authorization on all exchanges and returns.

2) Shipping: For your protection, please pack your returns in the original box, return your order with an insured courier and retain your receipt. W.R. Metalarts is not responsible for items damaged or lost in transit. Once your exchange is processed, your new piece will be shipped back out to you. We cannot refund shipping charges on exchange items.

Mail to: W.R. Metalarts, 74 Cotton Mill HL, Studio A333, Brattleboro, VT 05301, United States.

***VERY IMPORTANT*** We highly recommend you send your item via UPS or FedEx with signature confirmation. Or USPS without signature, as UPS and FedEx come to our door and USPS goes to our secure lockbox. Please ship with insurance, our insurance will cover the items once they are in our possession. You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary. Please let us know if your exchange is time sensitive and requires express shipping.

3) For returns we will assess the item once we have it back in the studio to ensure it is in resalable condition. After we have confirmed the condition of the piece we will credit the cost of the item less the shipping cost to the card used to make the original purchase.

4) We will send you an invoice or refund for the difference in the balance of exchanged items (if applicable). 

What are your return and refund policies for custom and customized work?

Custom and customized jewelry cannot be returned or exchanged due to the nature of the work. Each of these pieces is to the specifications of one person and cannot be resold. Several other types of goods are exempt from being exchanged or returned as well. This includes engraved or otherwise personalized orders and gift cards.

For our custom projects we provide our clients with a custom commission agreement and design approval before we begin production on your unique piece. These agreements and approvals serve to outline exactly what we are making and confirm every last detail with our client to ensure we are all on the same page and everything is perfect. Once the Design Approval has been signed by the client, we are happy to accommodate any design alterations at an additional charge.

What are your resizing policies?

If your ring needs to be resized, we would be happy to resize it for you. Some rings we can resize very easily in our studio, others we may need to use a laser welder to resize (e.g. rings with many small stones). 

For rings we can resize in our studio we are happy to resize once at no charge (client is responsible for the shipping). Any additional resizing needed will incur a charge of $135. Rings that require the use of a laser will be resized for $100-200. There is a minimum charge of $150 to resize any platinum, palladium, or palladium white gold ring. Ring resizing takes 10-15 business days. Please be aware that wooden and inlay rings can not be resized. Please follow the shipping instructions above, and send us a message at studio@wrmetalarts.com to let us know its coming! If it is more convenient for you, you can take your ring to any local jeweler with good reviews. Feel free to put them in touch with us for any pertinent information on our construction process, solders used etc.

What are your policies on lost or damaged stones?

We would be happy to replace lost or damaged stones. Please be aware we are not responsible for the replacement cost of lost or damaged stones. Some additional fees may apply if we need to replace settings or otherwise reconstruct the body of the ring. We highly recommend that you insure your jewelry with a policy (such as Jeweler's Mutual) that covers this unfortunate occurrence.

What is your craftsmanship guarantee?

We stand by the craftsmanship of our work and every ring is made with our limited lifetime guarantee. We are happy to repair your ring if needed at any point in time. Repairs may be subject to fees depending on the nature of the work. We do not cover lost, or stolen items or normal wear and tear of a piece. Wearing a ring or any piece of jewelry over months, years, and decades incurs normal wear and tear, and this level of wear is assumed. As with any artistic creation, care must be taken to ensure years of enjoyment. We are happy to send over detailed care and cleaning instructions for any of our work to make your piece sparkle for a lifetime.

To keep your jewelry in great condition, we recommend:

Removing all jewelry before being exposed to chemicals of any kind (including cleaning chemicals, lotions, soaps, and makeup), before swimming, showering, or exercising, before doing outdoor work or gardening, and before heavy lifting and other strenuous activities.

Clean your jewelry regularly using warm water, gentle soap, and a soft toothbrush. 

We are also always happy to clean your pieces for you if needed!

Integrity and Transparency
W.R. Metalarts Metalsmith soldering a piece of metal on a work top in her studio.

Integrity and Transparency

To us, ethical sourcing means that every person that touched your ring was treated with dignity, and paid a fair wage.

It's no secret that the jewelry industry has a dark history of human rights, environmental, and labor abuses. We feel we have a professional duty to understand where our materials are coming from, to educate our clients about design choices that uphold these values, and to push our industry to have more integrity and transparency by voting with our dollars (and yours by extension!).

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Beyond "Conflict Free"
A Rose gold ring with olive branches which encircle marquise diamond leaves and a princess cut diamond, and Moroccan lattice-inspired setting to create an engagement ring that is both rustic and whimsical. Handcrafted by W.R. Metalarts, a US jeweler.

Beyond "Conflict Free"

We go beyond sourcing stones that are "conflict free" because we view the certification as problematic in several ways. First of all, it excludes small family mining and refining businesses that are unable to afford the certification, but who are producing excellent products by putting their money into paying their employees and ensuring safe conditions rather than paying the costly fee for certification (if you are familiar with the challenges of "organic farming" certifications in the US, this is a similar phenomenon). Second, the "conflict-free" certification only means that company has had to prove that profits have not gone to fund civil war activities in certain conflict regions---it does not ensure safe working conditions, fair wages, or safe and sustainable environmental practices. Another growing concern are the labor abuses that take place in large stone cutting factories worldwide, which conflict free certifications do not regulate.

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Ethical Sourcing

Ethical Sourcing

How we ensure our sourcing matches our values...

To mitigate these concerns, we work primarily with recycled stones and metals. We do occasionally want to source new stones and materials, so we proactively forge personal relationships with miners, stonecutters and refiners so that you can trust your new stone was made with integrity. When possible, we try to source stones mined in the United States. Did you know that Vermont has blood red and deep orange garnets? Montana has large deposits of ruby and sapphire? Maine has beautiful green and pink/peach tourmaline, amethyst, aquamarine, and morganite? To make our pieces extra special, we try to source stones from regions that have meaning to our clients! 

Custom Design FAQs
Lab Grown Stones

Lab Grown Stones

We believe that lab grown diamonds are an excellent and cost effective alternative, when we can not source a recycled stone of the desired specifications. We are careful to vet our lab-grown stone suppliers, as many of the old conflict-fueling/blood diamond creating companies have entered the lab grown market. We do not buy from companies with a history of labor abuses such as DeBeers (recently rebranded as "Lightbox").

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ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Our Commitment to Ethical & Sustainable Sourcing.

Ethical and transparent sourcing is at the core of everything we do at W.R. Metalarts! We feel we have a professional duty to understand where our materials are coming from, to educate our clients about design choices that uphold these values, and to push our industry to have more integrity and transparency by voting with our dollars (and yours by extension!).

A pair of hands holding a ring in their left hand and an instrument gripping a stone above the ring setting in their right hand

Rings for Everyone

Sizing Inclusivity

We can make our rings in ANY size at no additional cost! We want you to have the perfect ring and we offer every ring size. We make rings in size 1 to 17 (or higher if needed), and half and quarter sizes too! Unsure about your size? Order one of our ring sizers!

Order a FREE Ring Sizer

Our Fairmined Collections

We have been deepening our relationships with gemstone and precious metals suppliers that share these values and are dedicated to knowing the full story of our raw materials.

All the rings in the Gold for Good collection are made with 100% Fairmined gold. This gold is certifiably sourced from small-scale mining organizations that are actively embracing responsible business, social, and environmental practices.

Shop Collection
A blonde haired and brown haired woman each holding up their left hands. On their hands are various rings handcrafted by W.R. Metalarts from the Gold for Good collection which are made with 100% Fairminded gold. This gold is certifiably sourced.

Celebrating All Experiences and Identities

At W.R. Metalarts we understand that the wedding industry can be extremely discriminatory and patriarchal.

This is something we are hoping to change. We are always striving to make a positive social impact not only in our customer's lives, but also on the industry as a whole.

Shop The Dapper Line

WE ARE W.R. METALARTS

WE ARE W.R. METALARTS

Ethically Handcrafted With Love. Made To Tell Your Story.

The Founder & Maker

Will

Will is a metalsmith and jeweler located in Brattleboro, Vermont. He blends ancient techniques of mokume gane, lost wax carving and casting, and precious metal fabrication with his training in modern technologies such as 3-D CAD/CAM computer rendered design. Will graduated from Earlham College in 2011 with a degree in fine art metalsmithing. Will spent four years in fine art foundry management at New England Sculpture Service, in Boston, and Wegner Metalarts in Fredericksburg, Virgina. Will is an alumnus of the Mass MoCA Assets for Artists program, and the Greater Boston Arts and Business Council's Artist Toolbox.

PROJECT & MARKETING MANAGER

Jessica

Jessica has a combined degree in Environmental Studies and Humanities and is passionate about ethical sourcing and sustainability. A true extrovert she is just as excited about your project as you are! She has experience in hospitality, and a love for nature, activism, and art. She ensures that our clients have the most special, ethically-driven, ring buying experience in the world.

Metalsmith

Vanessa

Vanessa met Will in college where she was the teaching assistant in his first metals class. They became fast friends and have collaborated on many projects together over the past ten years. She has a masters in metalsmithing and is exceptionally skilled in wax-carving and casting. Bringing new life to family heirlooms is a passion of hers and she loves recasting old rings into new W.R. Metalarts pieces. She also does beautiful work in ceramics and woodworking when not creating stunning jewelry.

Metalsmith

Martin

Martin attended Earlham with Will and Vanessa and Will was actually his T.A. in their metalsmithing class together! Martin is extensively trained in Turkish coppersmithing and has participated in many prestigious craft shows over the years such as the Smithsonian show and the American Craft Council Baltimore retail show, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art show.

Studio Manager

Kristen

Kristen manages the Vermont studio, helping with photography, blog writing, social media, shipping, and managing our stone inventory. Every one of our orders is lovingly packaged by her before being sent out to you! In her free time she loves crafting, reading, hiking, and spending time with her dog, Little Bear.

Designer

George

Based out of the UK, George is the newest member of the W.R. Metalarts team. He has a passion for creativity and extensive experience in CAD and the arts. When he's not working, George loves to spend time outside gardening, exploring, and birdwatching.

  • Ethical & Sustainable

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    Low Carbon Footprint

  • White online illustration of a diamond

    Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee

  • White outline illustration of a pair of hands holding a heart

    Positive Mining Practices

  • White outline illustration of a globe

    Made in USA