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Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome, here you can find answers to many of questions about our jewelry and services. We have included common knowledge and answers to many emails we have received.
Shipping & Returns
When will my order ship?
In-stock, ready-to-ship items can be sent within a day or two of when your order is placed. Custom and personalized orders may require a longer wait time, from several days to 2 - 6 weeks. If you have a specific time frame that you need to meet, please call us at 888.724.8222 and speak with one of our customer representatives.
How much is shipping?
FedEx shipping within the United States starts from $59.95. International shipping starts from $129
Do you ship outside of the US?
Yes, we ship all over the world. The shipping cost for international orders starts from $129, depending on your location. Please note that Joseph Schubach Jewelers does not collect duties, import taxes, import fees or other international shipping fees and that they will be billed to you separately by the shipping company. Please contact your local authority for specific information.
What is your return policy?
We have a 30-day, no-questions-asked return policy. See our Return Policy for details and instructions.
Do you charge a restocking fee on returns?
No, there is never a restocking fee for a returned item. See our Peace of Mind Guarantee for additional information.
Do you offer a warranty?
Joseph Schubach Jewelers offers a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects so you can enjoy your jewelry with complete peace of mind. Click for details.
Do I pay sales tax?
If you live outside the state of Arizona, you will pay no sales tax.
About Us
What are your hours?
We are available via phone, live chat or in person in our showroom Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time and also on some Saturdays for limited hours. You can shop and buy online 24 hours a day. In person meetings are by appointment as we are a small shop. Contact us to make an appointment.
Where are you located?
Joseph Schubach Jewelers is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, where we run both our customer service center and a by-appointment jewelry showroom. Our address is:
7150 E Camelback Rd.
Suite 250
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Where are your items made?
Many items are manufactured by us right here in Scottsdale, while others are made by other fine jewelry companies in the US. Most items are made in the United States.
Can you create custom jewelry?
Absolutely! Because we manufacture the majority of our items, we are able to make changes and alterations to the items we offer - or even custom-design your jewelry from the ground up. If you have a design in mind, we'll work with you to create the piece of your dreams. Please see our custom jewelry information for additional information or call 888.724.8222 to place a custom order.
I need an item repaired or serviced. Can you help me with this?
Absolutely! Call our customer service team and we'll give you a return authorization number. Please do not send any items for service or repair without a return authorization number.
Diamonds, Moissanite and other Gemstones
What is moissanite?
Moissanite is the best diamond alternative available. It is the next hardest gemstone to diamond and wears excellently. It refracts light very much like a diamond and does not fog or turn cloudy with wear. It is actually more brilliant than diamond, tests positive on a diamond tester and costs one-tenth the price. See our Moissanite education page for more information.
How does moissanite compare to Cubic Zirconia?
Moissanite compares more with diamond than with Cubic Zirconia. Moissanite does not cloud with wear because it refracts light similarly to diamond. Substances like dirt, lotion and oil will not cloud your moissanite like they do CZ. Moissanite will also not scratch, scuff or chip like CZ because it nearly as hard as a diamond. Most importantly, because of the durable nature of moissanite, it retains its value. You can trade your moissanite in at any time and get full credit toward a larger or more expensive gemstone. See our Trade Up Program for details.
What is a lab-grown diamond?
Lab grown diamonds are diamonds through and through, chemically and optically identical to diamonds found in nature. see our Laboratory-grown diamond page for additional information.
What is a clarity-enhanced diamond?
A clarity enhanced diamond is a natural diamond mined from the earth that has been enhanced to reduce the appearance of flaws or inclusions, making it appear to be a higher quality diamond. Clarity-enhanced diamonds typically cost one-third less than a non-enhanced diamond of the same quality. See our Clarity-Enhanced Diamond Education page for more information.
How do diamonds become clarity-enhanced?
A clarity-enhanced diamond is a natural diamond that has been repaired, like fixing a ding in your car windshield. A clarity-enhanced diamond will have an inclusion, or fracture, that reaches the surface of the diamond. A glass-like substance is injected into the fracture. The result is a lower-priced diamond that appears like a high-priced one! Clarity enhancement is very common in gemstones such as emerald and sapphire and has been used for centuries. See our Clarity-Enhanced Diamond Information page for more detail.
Can any of my friends tell that I have a clarity-enhanced diamond?
It takes a trained professional with a microscope to determine whether or not a diamond has been enhanced. For disclosure purposes, all clarity-enhanced diamonds have a slight flash of color added to the mixture that fills the inclusion. In some instances, this little flash of color may be noticeable if you know what you are looking for and happen to hold it in the right light. However, it would be nearly impossible for your friends to tell that you have an enhanced diamond.
What colors, clarities and shapes are clarity-enhanced diamonds available in?
Because clarity-enhanced diamonds are natural diamonds, they are available in all of the same colors and shapes as any natural, non-enhanced diamond. They are even available in fancy colors. Clarity-enhanced diamonds are available in very slightly included (VS), slightly included (SI) and included (I) clarities. See our Clarity-Enhanced Diamonds page for additional information.
Gold, Platinum and other Metals
What is platinum?
Platinum is a rare, pure, durable and hypoallergenic metal that has been used in jewelry production for centuries.
How does platinum wear?
Because platinum is more durable than gold, it wears much better and lasts longer. Jewelry wears most noticeably in prongs and on the underside of a ring shank. While it is very common to repair prongs and shanks of gold rings, a platinum ring will rarely need prong or shank repairs. Even an antique platinum ring may be easily refurbished to look like new.
Is platinum jewelry dull when compared with white gold?
Platinum does not oxidize or require rhodium plating like white gold does. Therefore, platinum jewelry will retain its white color at all times. However, platinum does require some maintenance to preserve its luster and shine. Even though it is very durable, platinum will need to be professionally cleaned and polished from time to time. To help keep your platinum jewelry looking bright and shiny between professional cleanings, try our durable Jewelry Cleaning Cloth.
Why is platinum so much more expensive than white gold?
Platinum costs nearly twice the price of gold per ounce. It is also about 60 percent heavier than white gold, meaning it takes more weight in platinum to make a ring. Platinum is a much purer metal than gold, so there is a higher percentage of metal in a platinum ring than in a white gold ring. At a higher price per ounce, a purer metal and a heavier weight, platinum settings cost exponentially more than comparable white gold settings.
What is the difference between 10-karat, 14-karat and 18-karat gold?
Pure gold is 24-karat gold and has a deep, rich yellow-orange color. Because it is too soft for most jewelry, it is mixed with other metals, called alloys, to make it harder.
- 10-karat gold contains 10 parts pure gold and 14 parts alloy
- 14-karat gold is 14 parts pure gold and 10 parts alloy
- 18-karat gold is 18 parts pure gold and 6 parts alloy
Because 18-karat gold contains more gold than 10- or 14-karat, it is more expensive.
Does platinum contain alloys?
Yes, but not nearly as much as gold. Platinum is 95 percent platinum and 5 percent alloy. The precious metals iridium and ruthenium are the most common alloys used in platinum.
What is white gold?
White gold is a mixture of pure gold and white alloys, which give it its strength and its white color. White gold is rated using the same karat system as yellow gold. For information, read our section on 10-karat, 14-karat and 18-karat gold.
How does white gold jewelry wear over time?
Like all jewelry, white gold will require servicing and maintenance from time to time to keep it looking bright and shiny. Most white gold jewelry is rhodium-plated and this plating will wear off over time, lessening the shine of your setting. This can happen over the course of several months or even years depending upon how the jewelry is worn. Joseph Schubach Jewelers, or any other reputable jeweler, can clean, polish and re-plate your white gold jewelry to make it look like new.
What is rhodium plating? Why is white gold rhodium-plated?
Rhodium is a white metal from the platinum family that is actually more rare and more expensive than platinum. Because white gold is made from pure yellow gold mixed with white alloys, it never reaches the full white color of platinum. Therefore, most white gold jewelry is plated with rhodium to give it the pure, white color of platinum.
What is palladium?
Palladium is a member of the platinum family and is therefore very white in color. Palladium is also 95-percent pure and hypoallergenic. However, it is much lighter than platinum. Because it is a platinum-family metal with high purity, it does not require rhodium plating to make it white in color. Currently, palladium cost is very high and we do not recommend palladium for jewelry.
