Frequently Asked Questions…
I will try to provide as much helpful information as possible on this page. You can also read more about Evening Lake in the About page, alternatively, if you have any questions that aren’t answered here, always feel free to reach out by tapping here.
Hopefully the website is easy and enjoyable to use, please let me know if you encounter any problems. Like anything, it’s a work-in-progress.
Ordering and products
- Do you attend Artisan markets?
Yes! I attend markets in Staffordshire. You can often find me at Trenthams’s monthly markets, which is on the third Saturday of the month. I announce upcoming markets on social media and on the Home page. I love attending markets. You can try rings on and pick up any piece of jewellery to take a closer look.
2. Can I ask questions about a piece of jewellery?
Yes, I welcome all questions and I want you to make an informed choice. I will do my best to take various photos and I take care when writing my descriptions to ensure all relevant information is available to you but please click on the Contact page if you’d like more information and remember to check out Evening Lake’s Instagram page where you will find videos of the jewellery.
3. Do you create custom pieces of jewellery?
I will consider custom pieces, however, I generally will only accept custom pieces that are similar to my work. I can stamp words and names to designs (before any stones are set).
Custom pieces can be a lengthy process to complete due to work-load, sourcing materials and hallmarking. A custom piece of jewellery is likely to take around 6-12 weeks (if I need to source the gems and materials).
If we agree on a custom piece I will create a listing for it in the shop, payment will be required before the production of your piece of jewellery begins.
Rings in your size:
I upload work-in-progress photos of rings and other jewellery on the Home page, if you see a ring that you like please contact me to have one made in your size. It will take 1-2 weeks to create your ring (depending on work-load) then approximately 1-2 weeks for hallmarking. A non-refundable deposit of 20% will be required for a custom-size ring. I will endeavour to create your ring as quickly as possible and keep you updated.
4. Is Evening Lake an eco-friendly brand?
Absolutely yes. All of my packaging is eco-friendly including the foam insert inside the jewellery boxes and the plastic envelope. I take care in finding ways to be as eco-friendly as possible. I use eco-friendly tape/stickers and an embosser on recycled card for earrings. Please recycle all unwanted packaging and pass on Evening Lake’s business card to a friend or relative who might enjoy our jewellery, this, of course, also benefits my small business. The 925 silver I use is recycled silver.
I believe that jewellery should be for life, it should stand the test of time and it should be taken care of and repaired if necessary. What’s great about silver in regards to being eco-friendly is that it’s valued so it doesn’t typically end up in landfill and it can be melted down to create something else.
5. Does Evening Lake source gems/cabochons ethically?
To the best of my knowledge, yes. I take care to source gems for Evening Lake jewellery ethically. It’s important to me that Evening Lake is a conscious brand. I care about the environment, animals, mental health and equality.
6. Hallmark?
I hallmark all of the pieces, as required by UK law with KMC (my initials) and the other necessary marks. I sometimes like to add any additional marks such as the jubilee mark which make the jewellery even more special. A few pieces are an exception because of their design (and weight) but they bare the 925 stamp on the components that I didn’t make myself, such as the scrolls on stud earrings.
If you’d like to ensure that your jewellery is officially stamped with hallmarks you can contact me.
Social Media
7. Does Evening Lake have social media accounts?
Yes, Evening Lake has an Instagram account where I share the process of my work and I upload videos so that you can see the beauty of each piece of jewellery. Please click of the link @evening_lake_ and always be vigilant of fake accounts.
For a 15% discount off your next order please share your Evening Lake jewellery and tag evening_lake_ on Instagram.
Target Audience
8. Who is Evening Lake’s target audience?
Evening Lake’s target audience is men, women, non-binary people, trans, gay, heterosexual, cisgender people of all ages, ethnicities and sizes. Whoever you are, I’m glad you’re here! It’s hard to pinpoint a target audience when you believe so thoroughly in inclusivity. The only way to describe my target audience is through traits/interests that I imagine my customer might have or feelings they might feel. Evening Lake customers won’t feel the need to conform, your style is yours to keep. You might be thoughtful; a bit of a dreamer. You might like to stand out and stand up. You will probably love nature and space. You will probably care about mental health. Like me, you will probably notice the details, the little things that make something special. You will probably (hopefully) care about slow-made artisan creations and seek out companies who care about the planet.
How to care for Evening Lake jewellery
9. How do I take care of my jewellery?
Like with all jewellery, please treat it with care. The general rule is to remove all jewellery before showering/bathing, washing up, swimming etc. Many of my designs have patina on them, a liquid that darkens the silver to bring out their detail. Though some pieces have been treated with a wax, the patina may not last forever. Keeping your jewellery away from water, oils, perfumes can prolong the patina. A lot of the gems I choose such as Amethyst will be fine in water, though I don’t recommend long-term immersion but some gems such as Labradorite should be kept away from water.
Copper tarnishes very quickly. You can purchase polish and store jewellery with copper (and silver) in your Evening Lake gift bag.
The chain on your necklaces will be delicate simply because chain is delicate. I often choose thicker chains for my designs but even so, please be careful with them and try not to get them caught in zips! If your chain unfortunately breaks please contact me and I can restore your necklace (cost is dependant on the repair).
Returns/Cancellations
10. Can I return my order?
Please shop with consideration and always ensure that you have read the description of the item and ensure you ask any questions you might have before purchasing. As a humble metalsmith, I really value your custom and will typically use the money from your purchase to source more materials quite quickly (I’m always eager to make new designs).
If there are any issues with your purchase please contact me as soon as possible. I offer refunds in compliance with the UK law. Please notify me of any issues within 14 days of receiving your jewellery and it return it within 30 days. Unfortunately I’m unable to cover your shipping cost if there isn’t a defect with the item.
Please consider that Evening Lake is a very small business and refunds can be difficult, money received from your order will usually go towards buying more supplies.
Evening Lake offers its customers the Waste Less Scheme, whereby you can return unwanted items for store credit. Contact me for more information.
11. Can I cancel my order?
Please ensure you have read all information before placing an order and feel free to reach out to ask questions. You can also see videos and reels of most of the jewellery on Evening Lake’s Instagram page. Once you’ve placed an order it’s likely that I will post your item out to you within 2 working days. Please contact me as soon as possible to cancel your order, if it’s already on its way I regretfully won’t be able to accept the cancellation.
I can’t accept cancellations/returns on custom made jewellery.
Shipping
All items are shipped 24 tracked and should usually arrive in 1-2 working days from the day that you receive your dispatch email. If you have placed a custom made order you can find the production timescale in your order listing.
