FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Sizing

What size should I order?
All Gritstone bracelets come in 15 cm, 16 cm, 17 cm, and 18 cm. To find your size, wrap a soft tape measure snugly around the narrowest part of your wrist and add 0.5 cm. No tape measure? Use a strip of paper or string — mark where it overlaps, measure flat with a ruler, add 0.5 cm. Still unsure? Our Size Guide has a full chart by height and weight.

Can I get a custom size?
Custom sizing isn't a standard option, but get in touch before you order and we'll do our best.

Stones and Materials

Are the stones and pearls real?
Yes — always. Every Gritstone piece uses natural gemstones and genuine freshwater baroque pearls. No synthetic substitutes, no glass filler, no dyed resin. Because they're natural, each stone varies slightly in colour, tone, and surface texture. That's not a defect; it means your piece is genuinely one of a kind.

Will the colour look exactly like the photos?
Our photos show a representative example of each stone type. Your piece may differ slightly in shade, depth, or surface markings — this is normal and expected with natural materials. We consider it part of the value.

What materials do you use?
Our bracelets are built around natural gemstones (amethyst, citrine, smoky quartz, tiger's eye, lapis lazuli, sodalite, prehnite, and others), genuine freshwater baroque pearls, and S925 sterling silver clasps and connectors. We don't use base-metal plating, synthetic stones, or glass substitutes.

Do you make any healing or wellness claims about your stones?
No. We don't claim our stones cure, heal, or treat anything. What we do believe is that wearing something real — chosen with intention — carries its own quiet meaning. That's enough for us.

Orders, Shipping and Tracking

What are my shipping options?
We offer two shipping methods at checkout:

• Standard Shipping — $6.99, free on orders over $75. Delivery takes 7–15 business days for the US, Canada, UK and most of Europe; 10–20 business days for most other destinations (see our Shipping Policy for the full list by country).
• Express Shipping — $19.99. Delivered in 3–7 business days.

Orders are processed within 1–3 business days before shipping. Your estimated delivery date is shown at checkout before you pay, and you'll receive a tracking link by email once your order ships — you can also check your order anytime on our Track Your Order page.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we ship worldwide. International orders may be subject to local customs duties or import taxes on delivery. These charges are set by your country's customs authority and are the buyer's responsibility — they are not collected by Gritstone.

What if my order is delayed or hasn't arrived?
If your tracking hasn't updated in more than 5 business days, or your parcel is significantly past the expected window, get in touch with your order number and we'll look into it.

Can I change or cancel my order?
Email us within 6 hours of placing your order and we'll cancel it for a full refund, no questions asked, as long as it hasn't already been sent to production. After that window, changes aren't always possible — get in touch as soon as you can and we'll see what we can do. If the order has already shipped, you can return it within 30 days of delivery. Customers in the European Union also have the right to cancel within 14 days of delivery under EU consumer protection law — see our Return & Refund Policy for details.

Payment

What payment methods do you accept?
We accept PayPal and all major credit and debit cards — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. All transactions are processed securely at checkout.

Returns and Exchanges

What is your return policy?
We accept returns on unworn items in original packaging within 30 days of delivery. Email contact@shopgritstone.com with your order number first — we'll confirm eligibility and send you the correct return address and instructions. Please don't ship anything back before contacting us. Return shipping for change-of-mind returns is the buyer's responsibility; refunds go to your original payment method within 5–7 business days of us receiving the item.

Can I exchange for a different size?
Yes, within 30 days of delivery, subject to stock. There's no exchange fee, and we cover the cost of shipping the new size to you. Sending the original piece back to us is the buyer's responsibility, the same as a standard return, since this is a sizing choice rather than an error on our part. As soon as your tracking shows the original piece on its way back, we'll dispatch the new size — you won't wait for the full round trip.

What if my item arrives damaged or incorrect?
Contact us within 14 days of delivery with your order number, a clear photo of the item showing the issue, and a clear photo of the original shipping packaging. We'll send a free replacement or issue a full refund — no need to ship the item back.

My bracelet has worn or broken after use — is that covered?
Manufacturing defects are covered for 12 months from delivery — this doesn't include ordinary wear, such as an elastic cord naturally loosening over time (easily replaced with a standard elastic cord from most jewelry supply or craft retailers). If something goes wrong that isn't ordinary wear — a bead comes loose, a clasp or logo tag fails, or a knot on a hand-strung piece separates — send us a photo within 12 months of delivery. As hand-strung pieces aren't something we can repair remotely, we'll make it right with either a free replacement or a discount code toward a future order.

Jewelry Care

How do I care for my Gritstone bracelet?

• Water — Remove before swimming, showering, or washing up. Prolonged water exposure can dull stone surfaces and weaken stringing over time.
• Chemicals — Perfume, sunscreen, hand sanitiser, and cleaning products can affect natural stone surfaces and silver hardware. Apply these before putting on your bracelet.
• Exercise — Remove before workouts, especially anything involving weights, rough surfaces, or impact.
• Cleaning — Wipe with a soft, dry cloth after wear. For light dirt, use a slightly damp cloth and dry immediately.
• Storage — Store in the pouch provided, separately from other jewellery, to avoid surface scratching.

Will the S925 silver tarnish?
Sterling silver can develop a light patina over time when exposed to air, moisture, or skin oils — this is natural and not a defect. A gentle buff with a dry silver polishing cloth will restore the shine. Regular wear actually helps keep silver bright.

Can I clean natural stones with water?
Most gemstones can be wiped with a slightly damp cloth — just dry them immediately and don't soak them. Pearls are more delicate: wipe only with a soft dry cloth and never submerge them. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners for all natural stones and pearls.

My stone looks different after a few weeks of wearing — is that normal?
Yes. Natural stones can deepen slightly in colour or develop a surface sheen with regular wear — this is patina, not damage. It's one of the things that makes natural materials genuinely different from synthetic alternatives.

Gifting

Do orders come gift-ready?
Yes. All Gritstone orders are packaged to be gift-ready at no extra cost. If you'd like to include a personal note, add it in the order notes at checkout and we'll include it with your package.

I'm not sure what size to order as a gift.
17 cm fits most wrists comfortably and is our most common size. If it doesn't fit, the recipient can email us within 30 days of delivery for a free size exchange — there's no exchange fee and we cover shipping the new size out; sending the original piece back follows our standard return shipping terms.

Do you have gift cards?
Not yet — but if you'd like to gift a specific value, get in touch and we'll work something out.

Still have a question? Contact us — we typically reply within 1–2 business days.