Terms of Use

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Terms of Use

Last Updated: December 2025

Agreement to Terms

Welcome to The Jewelry Detective: Identification & Restoration. These Terms of Use constitute a legally binding agreement made between you, whether personally or on behalf of an entity, and The Jewelry Detective, concerning your access to and use of our website as well as any other media form, media channel, mobile website, or mobile application related, linked, or otherwise connected thereto. By accessing the site and utilizing our services, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by all of these Terms of Use. If you do not agree with all of these terms, then you are expressly prohibited from using the site and our services, and you must discontinue use immediately.

Nature of Services

The Jewelry Detective provides identification, research, and restoration services for jewelry and gemstones. It is important to understand the distinction between identification and appraisal. Unless explicitly stated in a formal Appraisal Report, our identification services constitute a professional opinion regarding the materials, age, and origin of an item based on gemological testing and historical research. These identifications are not guarantees of value or monetary worth for insurance purposes unless a specific Appraisal Agreement has been signed. Furthermore, our restoration services involve the repair and rehabilitation of vintage, antique, and damaged items. While we employ the highest standards of craftsmanship, the nature of restoring aged materials involves inherent risks which are detailed in the Liability section below.

Intellectual Property Rights

Unless otherwise indicated, the website and its entire contents, features, and functionality (including but not limited to all information, software, text, displays, images, video, and audio, and the design, selection, and arrangement thereof) are owned by The Jewelry Detective. You are granted a limited license to access and use the site for your personal, non-commercial use. You must not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, republish, download, store, or transmit any of the material on our site without our prior written consent.

User Representations and Item Intake

By submitting an item to us for identification or restoration, you represent and warrant that you are the legal owner of the item or have the express legal authority to act on behalf of the owner. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information about the item history and condition during the intake process. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason at any time. We strictly require that all items sent to our studio must be preceded by an approved Case Number. Any packages received without a Case Number or prior authorization may be refused and returned to the sender at the sender's expense.

Shipping and Insurance

You are responsible for the safe shipping of your items to our studio. The Jewelry Detective is not liable for any loss or damage that occurs while the item is in transit to us. We strongly recommend that you use a shipping method that offers tracking, signature confirmation, and adequate insurance coverage for the value of your item. Our liability for your item begins only when the package has been physically received and signed for by our staff. Once the item is in our possession, it is insured under our jeweler’s block policy. When we return the item to you, we will utilize insured shipping with signature requirements. You are responsible for ensuring that the return address provided is secure and correct.

Limitation of Liability and Restoration Risks

Jewelry restoration, particularly involving vintage and antique pieces, carries inherent risks. Metal fatigue, previous poor repairs, treated gemstones, and hidden internal fractures can result in unexpected damage during the restoration process. By authorizing us to proceed with work on your item, you acknowledge these risks. The Jewelry Detective shall not be held liable for damage attributable to pre-existing conditions of the jewelry, such as stone breakage due to internal inclusions, enamel loss due to age, or metal failure due to porosity. In the unlikely event of damage caused by our negligence, our liability shall be limited to the cost of repair or replacement of the specific damaged component, not to exceed the total value of the item as determined by a fair market assessment. We are not liable for any sentimental or consequential damages.

Estimates and Payments

All quotes provided via email or the website are preliminary estimates based on the photographs and descriptions you provide. We reserve the right to revise these estimates once we have physically inspected the item. If the scope of work changes upon inspection, we will contact you for approval before proceeding. Payment is due in full upon completion of the work and prior to the return shipping of the item. If payment is not received within thirty days of the completion notice, we reserve the right to charge storage fees.

Unclaimed Property

If an item remains in our possession for more than six months without payment or communication from the client, despite our repeated attempts to contact you via the email address and phone number on file, the item will be considered abandoned. The Jewelry Detective reserves the right to dispose of abandoned property in accordance with applicable state liens and unclaimed property laws to recover the cost of labor, materials, and storage.

Governing Law

These Terms of Use and your use of the site are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state in which our business is registered, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any legal action of whatever nature brought by either you or us shall be commenced or prosecuted in the state and federal courts located in said jurisdiction, and you hereby consent to valid jurisdiction and venue in such courts.

Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to make changes or modifications to these Terms of Use at any time and for any reason. We will alert you about any changes by updating the "Last Updated" date of these Terms of Use, and you waive any right to receive specific notice of each such change. It is your responsibility to periodically review these Terms of Use to stay informed of updates.