FAQ

Ordering is simple. Just click on the item you are interested in, add it to your cart and select your method of payment. All shipping is FREE, and gift wrapping is available for a small additional charge.

I accept credit cards and Paypal. Paypal is the most secure and the preferred method of payment. I will ship using USPS Priority Flat Rate Shipping, after packing your purchase carefully to protect from damage. Shipping will occur within 1-2 days of receipt of payment or you will receive an email indicating that it will take a little longer.

I strive to create jewelry you will enjoy wearing for many occasions to come. If you do not find exactly what you want please let me know. I would be honored to work with you on a personal, custom design. The measurements I give in my descriptions are approximate and actual measurements may vary by a small amount. Suggestions for determining the best size for you are provided in the product description when possible. I try my best to represent the item in real terms but I can make errors and cannot be held responsible. If you have questions regarding size, fit or color please contact me.

Custom orders are awesome and very welcome but will be a final sale. I view custom orders as an opportunity to further express my creativity. You can select an item on my website, either an available one or one that has been sold, and ask for another version of that, or ask for your unique item. All custom orders are non returnable and non refundable

If you are unhappy with your order for any reason please contact me within 3 days of receiving your package. I will do my best to resolve the problem quickly. Refunds and exchanges are considered on a case-by-case basis. Postage charges are non-refundable and the customer must pay for the return postage cost.

Sophisticated Designs, Jewelry by Kathy Mattes highly values your privacy. We strive to collect as little personal data as possible to fulfill your order and to apply best practices in compliance with EU regulations when handling your personal information. The Privacy Policy below outlines how and when we collect, use, and share information when you purchase an item from Sophisticated Designs, Jewelry by Kathy Mattes, contact us, or otherwise use our services through Etsy.com or its related sites and services. A: What data is collected By placing a purchase, you agree that Etsy provides us with the following information: your name, email address, postal address, order details (such as item you choose and specific details regarding that item), as well as payment information (such as value of your order, taxes paid and payment method). You may choose to provide us further information such as gift recipient’s name and postal address or further personal data for example item size, religious, health and family information. B: Why data is collected All information is collected to fulfill our contractual obligations (such as sending your item, providing customer service), to settle disputes among the seller and buyer and/or legal dispute among ourselves or with another party, to comply with legal regulations for operating business (such as providing data to tax authorities, other government bodies and courts), to comply with Etsy Seller Policy and Terms of Use, as well as for the purpose of other legitimate interests (such as improving our products and services). Should you wish your data to be used for marketing purposes such as receiving news and sales announcement from our business or related third party you must express your explicit consent for example by subscribing to our email list, following us on social media, or otherwise express your agreement that your data may be used or transferred to another party for marketing purposes. C: Sharing your information In order to fulfill your purchase, we may be required to share pieces of your personal data to other trusted parties. These may include but are not limited to Etsy, email providers, postal or courier service providers, subcontractors, accountants, national tax agencies, and other parties. We share with our providers only the information necessary for them to fulfill their services. As a business we may also need to collect, use, retain, and share your information whenever required or we in good faith to be necessary to respond to legal process or to government requests; enforce our agreements, terms and policies; prevent, investigate, and address fraud and other illegal activity, security, or technical issues; or protect the rights, property, and safety of our customers, or others. Some of your information may be shared with parties residing outside the European Union such as Etsy or Google and EU GDPR regulations may not apply to them. To ensure the privacy of your data we rely on EU agreements with third countries and international organizations such as EU-US Privacy Shield. D: Retaining your personal information We strive to keep any personal data we collect for as short as possible to fulfill your order and comply with the legal obligations for running a business. Most data will be deleted as soon as your item has safely arrived to your address and the maximum required period for returns and refunds has expired. This generally means that we will keep all personal data relevant to your order for up to six months after you have received your purchase. Pieces of your information such as your name and payment details (including value and method of payment) may be kept for accounting, tax revision purposes, legal disputes and others in accordance with applicable laws for up to 10 years. All data is stored offline whenever possible and secure servers are used whenever online storage is needed. We rely on service providers to guarantee the security of data and diligently research those providers before we trust them with your information. E: Your rights At any point in time you may inquire what personal data is on file for you, and request that data be altered or deleted. We will gladly oblige your request unless certain information is required to fulfill our legal obligations. You may object to what information we collect, the legal basis for collection, how we retain your information and how we share it with others. You may address your concerns to us or you may seek assistance from EU or national data protection agencies should you consider your data unlawfully stored. F: Contact information Should you have any questions regarding what personal data we collect and how we handle it please contact Kathy Mattes at Sophisticated Designs, Jewelry by Kathy Mattes via Etsy conversation, email to kamattes@sbcglobal.net or by mail to Kathy Mattes, Sophisticated Designs, Jewelry by Kathy Mattes, 2780 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94115.

I often purchase handmade lampwork, polymer clay pieces and findings to use in my work. I will give credit to those artists unless I no longer have that information. Please see my blog post on this topic: https://www.kathymattes.com/post/the-artisans-and-designers-i-purchase-from.

If you're not sure how long a bracelet you should purchase, you can use these guidelines: ​ Measure your actual wrist size just below your wrist bone, using a flexible tape or a string. Based on the fit you prefer, add this much: ​ Snug fit: 1/4 - 1/2 inch Comfort fit: 3/4 - 1 inch Loose fit: 1 1/4 inch

Long necklaces are popular right now. Consider Opera or Rope length. Here is a chart that will help: