Custom Shark Tooth Gold-Plating (Electroforming)

These guidelines cover all aspects of our custom electroforming, including pricing. Please read all of this information carefully as these terms will apply to all future orders. These terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Amendments to these terms and conditions will be posted to this web page. By contracting our services, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions contained herein.

Earth Relics Jewelry specializes in custom gold and nickel plating on fossil shark teeth (also known as electroforming). At this time, we only serve clients located in the United States. Each shark tooth will have a brilliant luster combined with the glow of your choice of 18kt gold or nickel. Additionally, our high-quality pieces feature a heavier layer of 18k gold, exceeding the legal minimum standard for gold-plating. 

We also offer a wide selection of ready-made shark tooth pendants on our Quantity Discount: Fossil Shark Teeth page with tiered discounts for increased savings on greater quantities.

 

Even better news: We have significantly improved our electroforming quality and production times of our products in recent months. Additionally, through the application of a clear protective coating, our pieces now boast enhanced durability and abrasion resistance to everyday wear and tear.

 

In order to maximize the beauty and lifespan of our pieces, we recommend treating your pieces like any other quality jewelry. They should not be worn when bathing or swimming and when storing, choose a cool, dry place with minimal humidity. After prolonged wear, wiping the electroformed gold with a soft cloth will help to restore the original luster. Although we use a heavier layer of gold and a protective coating to enhance durability, we cannot offer any guarantees or warranties on the lifespan of the plating.

Special Considerations when Selecting Items to be Electroformed:

Shark teeth with rough finishes, textures, pitted areas or other irregularities may not plate as smoothly as other flatter surfaces. On these items, we can often use fillers to smooth these rough areas. Due to the additional time involved in making these improvements, there may be a small additional charge per piece. When plating over these types of surfaces, we cannot guarantee the smoothness of plating. In addition, you must be willing to accept our judgment as to how the root should be restored. During the electroforming process, slight variations in color, thickness, and finish may occur.

Given the nature of the electroforming process and the solutions used, there’s always a slight risk of damage involved in plating, though such occurrences are rare. While we use a variety of products and preventative measures to minimize any damages, we cannot guarantee any pieces that are being plated. We are not responsible for any damage that may occur to any piece being plated or for replacing that piece, regardless of the cause. For this reason, please do not send any items to be plated that are sentimental or otherwise special.

Additionally, when possible, we highly recommend sending extras. These items can be put in a separate bag and labeled as extras. (Be sure to include these extras on your inventory sheet). If an item does not plate well, we can use the extras as replacements. Unused extras will then be returned when we ship the completed items.

Pricing Guide:

We have a strict minimum order amount of $50 (not including shipping and insurance). While we will process orders that total less than $50, the invoice for services will still be $50. For the best value, we encourage you to consider sending enough additional items to reach that minimum amount. If you wish to have a price quoted on some or all of the pieces before we begin prepping them, let us know in advance and we will provide a total price (minus shipping & insurance costs).

The following pricing guidelines are based on the size of the item to be plated and cover only plating the roots of the shark teeth. Some factors may result in a small additional charge per piece, depending on if the plating specifications require additional materials or labor. Some examples of these factors include:

  • Opting for more than one ring or bail attached to the item.
  • Plating the entire shark tooth's surface in gold.
  • Additional plating of an item, such as a decorative line across the face of an item or plating around the edge of a piece.
  • Items that require considerable additional smoothing due to rough finishes, textures, or pitted areas.
  • Items that are to be plated wider than ⅛ inch in width, as these items require more gold along the edges.

NOTE: All measurements are determined by the greatest width, height, or diagonal of each piece.

 

Items up to 1” in height or width

$14.50 per piece

Items 1 ⅛” - 1 ½”  in height or width

$16.50 per piece

Items 1 ⅝” - 2”  in height or width

$18.50 per piece

Items 2 ⅛” - 2 ½” in height or width

$20.50 per piece

Items greater than 2 ½” in height or width 

Contact us for pricing & if we can accommodate the item’s size

Preparing your Order:

Before sending your order, please notify us ahead of time by email that a package is on its way. Once your order arrives, we photograph all items and strongly suggest you do the same before sending out an order. If you have a particular deadline for items to be returned to you, you must let us know the exact deadline prior to shipping items. We will let you know if it is possible for us to accommodate any deadlines.

Occasionally, a plating project may take longer to complete for unexpected reasons. Do not promise a customer a delivery deadline unless you check with us to ensure that we will be able to accommodate the deadline. All estimated completion dates are approximations, not guarantees. We will not be responsible for any monetary losses a customer may incur for missed deadlines.

In your package please include:

  • Contact Information: please include your return mailing address, email address, and phone number. We respect your privacy and will never sell or give away your information to any third party. 
  • Inventory Sheet: Include the total number of each of the items you are sending, including extras, if applicable. Additionally, individual packets should have quantities written on them. If any of the items are sent in pairs, always indicate this both on the individual packet & inventory sheets. Be sure to clearly show which items go with the other.
  • Plating Instructions: for each item that is sent please include detailed instructions. Sketches or illustrations are very useful for conveying this information. A photograph of the item can also be used to sketch the desired design. These instructions should include:
    • Ring Placement: Where you would like the bail or ring attached. If you want it attached at a particular spot on the piece, you can put a small dot on it using a fine-tipped felt pen.
    • Ring Size: What size bail or ring you would like us to use. Keep in mind that after plating the ring will be slightly thicker. If a ring is not specified our standard ring size is 2.0mm and 22 gauge (inner diameter). 
    • Ring Orientation: The orientation of the ring or bail’s opening - either parallel to the face (front) of the piece or turned perpendicular so a chain can pass through it.
    • Plating Style: How you would like each item plated. For example, a gold cap at the top of the item around the ring, a gold trim around the edge, a ring at each end, or on the corners of the pendant. 
    • Choice of either 18k Gold or Nickel Plating

IMPORTANT NOTE: Currently, we are not able to plate any items that will not have a bail or ring attached to them.

Return Shipping:

All packages are shipped by USPS priority mail, with insurance and delivery confirmation. The insurance will cover only the cost we charge for the electroforming. If you wish to have the items insured to also cover the cost of the items when you bought them, you must include this information in the instructions (including the amount) when you send the package. Otherwise, that insurance will not be added and we will not be responsible for the cost of the items.

If delivery confirmation shows that a package was delivered, then we consider it delivered. After the confirmation, we will not be responsible for any loss or theft of the package. If an item is damaged or lost in shipping, the client must inform us within 30 days so we can file a claim with the USPS. Failing to do so will void any insurance claims.

Invoices:

Note: All invoices are due in full WHEN IT’S RECEIVED BY EMAIL, not when your package arrives. 

Invoices are sent through PayPal via an email. Payments can be made through Paypal, and you do not have to be a member of PayPal to make a credit card payment. If you wish to pay by other means, please contact us in advance. In order to keep orders shipped out on a timely basis, we do not offer other payment plans. No order will be shipped and no work will begin on any new order until all previously sent invoices have been paid.

When completing large orders, we may elect to send some pieces before the others are completed, and an invoice will be sent listing the items in the partial shipment. This invoice is due when it’s received.

Return Policy:

Custom-plated pieces may not be returned unless there is a significant flaw in the plating or if the item was plated incorrectly according to the written instructions. The items must be returned within 21 days of the delivery date and must be sent with delivery confirmation. If the items are lost in shipping without delivery confirmation, we will not be responsible for those items and a refund will not be given.

Once the items are received, we will inspect them and determine if this criteria is met. If it is met, we will either re-plate the item and ship it back, or, in the case that it cannot be re-plated, we will return the unrepaired item (if desired) and issue a full refund for only the cost of the plating, minus shipping.

A Note Regarding Exclusive Plating: 

We typically don’t offer exclusivity for plating items or specific designs. Unless we agree to plate any item for you exclusively ahead of time, please do not request this type of agreement later on.

Please note: In addition to our custom electroforming services, we supply online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores with our electroformed jewelry. We also offer our items directly on our retail website, as well as bulk discounts through our Quantity Discount page. While we do not duplicate designs we’ve identified as entirely unique, we reserve the right to create and offer all other types of designs and materials.

If after reviewing this information you have any questions, please email us at email@earthrelics.com or call at 832-821-9500, Eastern Time.