FAQs

Calendar Orders

Does the calendar come with the frame?
No, the calendar and the frame are sold separately.

When does the new calendar come out?
The calendar usually comes out midsummer.

When does the old calendar go on sale?
It will go on sale when the new calendar comes out.

Do you offer expedited shipping?
The website does not offer expedited shipping, however, if you call our 1-800-206-2166 number, they can help you with expedited shipping.

Online Orders

How do I purchase something that I saw in the store?
Make a call to the location you saw it in. An employee there can help you identify, pay and ship the item to you. There are some items that are one of a kind or not easily fulfilled through the studio that we can only have in store. 

How do I know my order went through?
You will get an email confirming that your web order was received and being processed.

How long does it take for shipping?

We order most of our products to be drop shipped from the artist. Most of our artists try to get items out within a 2-3 week timeframe. Some of the pieces might have to be made, which can delay an order. If there is something you need for a particular date, please let us know as soon as you can. We will do our best to make that happen for you.

Product Care

How do I clean my oxidized sterling silver jewelry items?
In order to clean oxidized sterling silver without removing the oxidization we recommend using warm water with hand soap.  Do not use hot water as it can remove the oxidization.  Then gently dry with a hand towel.

How do I clean matte finished sterling silver?
We have two ways we recommend.  For a quick shine, spray some windex into a ziplock bag, then put the jewelry into said bag and shake.  This will bring it back to its original luminous quality. 

 

Product Information

What does oxidized sterling silver really mean?
All sterling silver will oxidize over time.  It will especially tarnish if it is not worn very often or exposed to salty air.  Oxidized sterling silver in jewelry is an intentional oxidization administered by the artist called a patina.  It is a chemical process most commonly using liver of sulfur.  In the process, the artist can control the level of darkness in their pieces.  Most artists use this technique to bring out texture and the handmade nature of their work.

What is sterling silver exactly?
Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% another metal, most commonly copper.  Mixing in the other metal strengthens the sterling silver.  Rarely silver can be mixed with nickel which can make it non-hypoallergenic, but most sterling silver is mixed with copper.

What metals are hypoallergenic?
Gold, platinum,  titanium, stainless steel, fine silver, copper and sterling silver  are all metals that are safe for people allergic to metal.  The most common allergies are nickel and zinc (in its alloy form).  Some metals can be mixed with these which most likely causes the allergic reaction, which is why some can be allergic to sterling silver if it is mixed with nickel.  However, sterling silver is most commonly mixed with copper.

What is the difference between 14k yellow gold and 18k yellow gold?
14k gold is 58.3% gold and 18k gold is 75% gold.  24K gold is pure gold and is too soft to use in jewelry.  14K and 18k gold are mixed with other metals to make them stronger.  14K gold is stronger than 18k gold.  

How do the spinning globes work?
The globe rotates peacefully and silently using only the energy from light and the force of the Earth’s magnetic field. The globe has an inner globe that rotates and is contained within an outer shell, which does not rotate, made of clear acrylic. The thin space between the inner globe and outer shell is filled with a safe, perfectly clear fluid that buoyantly supports the inner globe. The graphic features on the surface of the inner globe are magnified and appear to be on the surface of the outer shell giving the optical illusion that the outer shell is actually moving.



A carefully designed, and highly efficient drive mechanism within the inner globe drives the rotation. Energy for the drive is provided by very advanced solar cells within the inner globe, illuminated by light passing through the graphic. The drive includes a magnetic element that reacts with the Earth’ s magnetic field, much as a common compass does, to provide torque to drive the globe. All of these elements work together to create a beautiful and magical object perfect for any room.

Note: If the globe is placed on a magnetizable metal such as iron, the globe will not spin.

My internet browser says your security certificate is invalid. Is your site secure?

We take security very seriously. Our website uses a TLSv1.1 security certificate. If your browser says the security certificate is invalid, it's likely that your browser needs to be updated.

For any further issues, please contact info@abacusgallery.com.

We are always happy to take your order over the phone at 800-206-2166, as well.