What size wire will fit your beads?
How do I contact The Curious Gem?
How much do you charge for delivery/shipping?
What is your refund/exchange policy?
Do you sell wholesale?
Are you VAT registered?
Do you have more stock available for a particular gemstone?
Do you have a printed catalogue?
How much will my beads cost in my own currency?
Are your Thai Hill Tribe silver beads fair trade?
How do I redeem a gift voucher?
How do I pay for an order?
What size wire will fit your beads?
Drill holes may vary in size from bead to bead. As a general rule of
thumb a 26 (0.4mm) or 28 (0.3mm) gauge wire will fit the majority of our beads
- additionally some beads will be able to take a 24 (0.5mm) gauge wire (we sell all three sizes in cut lengths). To avoid the risk of breakage it is always better to use a wire that will comfortably pass through a drill hole, rather than forcing through a larger gauge wire.
How do I contact The Curious Gem?
If you would like to ask a question or comment on your experience using The Curious Gem please contact us using one of the methods below:
By post: The Curious Gem, 4 Charles Street, Dunfermline, KY11
4ST, United Kingdom.
By email: Click here
to email us
By telephone: call us on (+44) 07734 226436 (Monday-Friday
9am-5pm)
How much do you charge for delivery/shipping?
Detailed information on the various shipping options we offer can be found on
our delivery page.
What is your refund/exchange policy?
We are happy to provide a refund or exchange for goods within 7 days
of receipt if you are unhappy with your purchase (minus any postage and packing
charges and any customs/import duties incurred). Goods must be received in the
same condition as shipped, unused and strung as sold. We cannot replace individual
beads from full, part or mini-strands. For more information about our beads
click here.
We are unable to offer returns/exchanges for the following items, unless faulty:
- pierced ear findings (for reasons of hygiene).
- any item that is cut to order, such as wire or chain.
We do not charge customers a re-stocking fee for returns unlike some online sellers (the practice is unlawful in the UK and we are very much against sellers charging such a fee).
Please contact us first before returning any item. Goods must be packaged carefully
to prevent damage in transit and a copy of your invoice should be included.
We recommend you use an insured delivery service, for your own protection, as
we cannot accept responsibility for goods lost in transit.
Do you sell wholesale?
We want to give customers the best possible prices no matter how big or small an order is. All the prices on the website are the very best we can offer and no further discounts can be given.
Are you VAT registered?
Yes. Our registration number is GB 982 2805 02. All our prices are inclusive of VAT.
Do you have more stock available for a particular gemstone?
We tend to list each strand of gemstones individually as the price for the majority of our beads is calculated by carat weight. If you require more than one strand for a particular gemstone then please do get in touch as it is highly likely that we have more in stock.
Do you have a printed catalogue?
No, at present we only offer an online catalogue. Our product range is very
dynamic with many ‘one-off’ items thus any printed catalogue would
be out of date as soon as it were printed.
How much will my beads cost in my own currency?
All prices are displayed in British Pounds Sterling (£). If your primary
currency is not British Pounds your credit/debit card provider or Paypal will
automatically convert the total cost of your order into your primary currency
using an exchange rate as set by that provider. See here for a useful currency
converter.
Are your Thai Hill Tribe silver beads fair
trade?
Yes, our Karen hill tribe silver is fair trade, in the sense that
the products are made by Karen hill artisans who themselves supply and sell
direct to suppliers (rather than be actively employed by a supplier). This means
they can work in their own homes and maintain maximum profitability for themselves.
How do I redeem a gift voucher?
Shop as usual on the website and then proceed to checkout. During checkout you will be asked to enter the unique code for the voucher you wish to redeem. After entering the code your order will be automatically updated with credit to the value of the voucher. If there is any balance to pay you can use your credit/debit card or Paypal in the usual way. No credit shall be given if the value of the voucher is not used in full. For full terms and conditions please click here.
How do I pay for an order?
The payment process for your order is quick, easy and secure. Once you have finished shopping proceed to the checkout. If you have not already created an account you will be prompted to do so, otherwise, you should sign in to your account. Once you have confirmed the details of your order you will be passed to a secure payment site.
Credit and debit card purchases are processed, on behalf of The Curious Gem, by RBS WorldPay (part of the Royal Bank of Scotland) using their secure payment site. The following cards are accepted:
- Visa
- Visa Debit
- Visa Electron
- Mastercard
- Maestro
- Solo
- JCB
You may also choose to pay by Paypal in which case you will be redirected to the Paypal secure website. We do not accept Paypal eCheques.
Once you have paid for your order you will be automatically re-directed back to The Curious Gem website. You will immediately receive an email confirming your purchase, followed by another email once your order has been dispatched.
If you would prefer to pay for your order by cheque (UK customers only) please
contact us giving us the details of your order. Cheques should be made payable to "The Curious Gem" and your order will be dispatched once your cheque has cleared (usually 5 working days).
We are also able to take credit/debit card payment for orders over the telephone - again, please
contact us.
