HotRoxCustomJewelry

Rustic Fine Jewelry for Men and Women

Chicago, Illinois On Etsy since 2010

3,793 Sales | 5 out of 5 stars

HotRoxCustomJewelry

Rustic Fine Jewelry for Men and Women

Chicago, Illinois | 3,793 Sales

5 out of 5 stars

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3793 Sales
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Robin

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Robin

Announcement    Video on HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR RING SIZE - in our ABOUT Section!
More ring designs - http://www.rusticformen.etsy.com

Announcement

Last updated on Feb 21, 2020

Video on HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR RING SIZE - in our ABOUT Section!
More ring designs - http://www.rusticformen.etsy.com

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Average item review
5 out of 5 stars
(842)
See reviews that mention:
quality 88 shipping 146 customer service 135

About HotRoxCustomJewelry

Sales 3,793
On Etsy since 2010
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LOVES Jewelry LOVES Dogs

It's been 15 years since I took my first metalsmithing class. I was addicted from the start and converted an old room in my basement into a "studio". What started out as a hobby turned into a career about 5 years ago.

I opened up shop on Etsy in 2010 and it took awhile for me to hit my stride. After a bit of a success with one design, interest grew and I finally had a somewhat steady stream of orders. As sales grew, Janet joined me so I could spend more time in the studio. Now, I couldn't run the business without her.

I believe in giving back. From the beginning, I've made a monthly donation to local dog rescue organization, Our House of Hope K-9 Rescue in Libertyville, Illinois. The woman who runs this is a saint - I only wish that I could do more for her and the dogs she rescues. 100% of what Hot Rox donates goes to paying the medical expenses for the dogs in their care, often enabling them to rescue additional dogs that require a vet's attention. To date, we've raised over $22,000.

My process? Frequently, I look at a stone and immediately envision what I want to do with it. Sometimes I sketch and labor over the details - other times, I wing it. I'm an artist - it depends upon my mood.

I tend to be inspired by what I would like- natural gems, rose cut diamonds, raw diamonds, saturated tourmaline and big coin pearls - bezel set into precious metal. I'm also a fan of funky studs, big hoops and LONNNNGGGG necklaces.

Much of my work combines different metals and incorporates oxidation or black rhodium plating. I think the contrast between colored gold and black is dramatic. Unfortunately, this finish tends to wear off on rings that are worn daily. While I am happy to re- finish your ring any time, free of charge, it is easy to oxidize silver at home. I'm happy to present a video where I show exactly how to do this!

Shop members

  • Robin Largo

    Owner, Maker, Designer, GIA Graduate Gemologist

    I'm an artist, silversmith and gemologist who loves making jewelry in my home studio. Using the highest quality materials I create OOAK jewelry in a rustic, artisan style. Mixed metals, unusual diamonds and colorful gemstones are central to my work.

  • Janet Adolphson

    Social Media Marketing, Customer Service

    I am an animal lover and jewelry fanatic, and handle all of the marketing, customer service, and social media exposure for Hot Rox Custom Jewelry.

Shop policies

Last updated on October 30, 2018
Thank you for viewing my handmade jewelry and taking the time to read these policies.

Cornerstone to my business is my monthly donation to Our House of Hope K-9 Rescue in Gurnee, Illinois. Since 2011, Etsy sales have generated over $20,000! I urge you to check out their website if you are thinking about enriching your life with a dog.

IN STOCK
Much of my work is in inventory and ready to ship. Please allow 1-2 business days for me to pack it up and get it into the mail.

CUSTOM
I take custom orders and am happy to give you a rough estimate if you convo me with your request. Please bear in mind that time spent on research, convos, design, photographs etc. play a part in the overall cost. Other factors are:

-SHIPPING and OTHER COSTS of procuring materials
-TIME spent on estimates, design, sketch and photography, locating materials.

WEDDING BANDS
Wedding bands are considered a CUSTOM order. I make each band after you place your order. I do not have an inventory of different sizes for my designs so I cannot easily make exchanges or refunds. Take care in specifying your ring size as I cannot issue a refund for rings ordered in the wrong size.

I am happy to provide photos for any custom design so you can approve the work before it ships. Please convo me if you want to see a photo OR tell me in the Notes to Seller box during checkout.

Hot Rox Custom Jewelry and Hot Rox Rustic for Men are dedicated to providing you with eco-friendly and ethically sourced metal and gemstones. We purchase all metal from Hoover & Strong and Stuller. Both companies are leaders in the jewelry industry and provide 100% recycled metals of the highest quality, made in USA. All Stuller diamonds and colored gemstones are ethically mined and comply with the Kimberley process. Other individual suppliers are vetted to ensure that their goods meet the same standards.

Accepted payment methods

Accepts Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits
  • Money Order
  • Check
Returns and exchanges
I gladly accept returns, exchanges, and cancellations
Contact me within: 3 days of delivery
Ship items back within: 14 days of delivery
Request a cancellation within: 2 days of purchase
The following items can't be returned or exchanged
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
  • Custom or personalized orders
  • Perishable products (like food or flowers)
  • Digital downloads
  • Intimate items (for health/hygiene reasons)
  • Items on sale
Questions about your order?
Please if you have any problems with your order.
Returns and exchange details
IN STOCK ITEMS
Your satisfaction is of the utmost importance to me. If you do not love your purchase, contact me within 3 days of receiving it, mail it back to me and I will refund your money, less shipping charges. Please ship the item(s) back to me within 10 days of receiving it in the original box.

Mail returned items to:
Robin Largo
318 N 2nd St.
Libertyville, IL 60048

CUSTOM ORDERS / WEDDING BANDS
Custom orders are orders where you have specified your ring size. We make your ring in the size you asked for, in addition to making any modifications to the design that were requested. While we can't simply refund or exchange your piece, we are happy to help you with any issues, for instance, those with size or appearance. Please convo us immediately so we can help you.

Your ring was made for you after you placed your order. I try my best to re-create your ring so it resembles the one in the listing photograph. If you are not satisfied with the appearance of your ring, please contact us immediately. Your satisfaction is our priority and we will do what we can, within reason, to make changes to your piece.

Once you order a custom ring, you have 48 hours in which to cancel your order for a full refund. After that time, we will keep 15% of the total price, plus the cost of any gemstones that we had to order specifically for your ring.
Payment
TAX - Sales tax is charged if you are an Illinois resident.

LAYAWAY - Convo me if you would like to pay for an item installments. I require 30% down and the balance paid within 90 days. Should you change your mind, I keep the 30% down payment.
Shipping
***Hot Rox Custom Jewelry is not responsible for delays or problems that occur once your package is in the hands of the United States Post Office. We cannot control circumstances like weather, carrier error, customs delays etc. ***

IN STOCK - jewelry that is in stock will ship within 1 to 2 business days.

CUSTOM - please allow 3 to 5 weeks production time for custom order.

RUSH - If I can accommodate a RUSH order, a fee of $40 to $75 will apply. Please convo me before ordering to see if I can complete your order in the timeframe needed.

SHIPPING WITHIN USA - I use the United State Post Office (USPS) and ship First Class with tracking to the USA. Delivery time is 2-4 days in the Continental US.

PRIORITY and PRIORITY EXPRESS are available for additional fees of $5 and $20 respectively. You can upgrade your shipping during the checkout process.

When your package ships, you will be providing with a tracking number via Etsy convo. If your package is delayed, lost or stolen, please contact the USPS using your tracking number for identification. USPS.com has guidelines for all situations on their website. We are happy to provide you with a receipt if needed but we do not have the manpower to investigate situations of lost, delayed or stolen packages.

You can purchase up to $300 insurance during checkout. Convo us at the time you place your order if you want more insurance. For high priced orders over $500, we will go ahead and fully insure it at no cost to you.

INTERNATIONAL - Currently, we ship to USA, UK, Australia, and Canada. As of August 10, 2016, we no longer ship to any other countries because of issues with customs delays and lost packages.

We use USPS PRIORITY INTERNATIONAL* which takes 6-10 business days and does NOT have tracking. Instead, you will be provided with a Customs number. Use this number to track your package.

If the tracking on your package states that the status is “Delivered” and you have not received it, it is likely at your local post office. Please call them before contacting us. Likely, they are holding your package until VAT is paid. We are not responsible for paying any duty, taxes, VAT or fees.

This link has some useful information about import taxes and VAT - http://www.dutycalculator.com/dc/145728/bags-footwear-watches-accessories/watches-jewellery/jewellery-of-gold/import-duty-rate-for-importing-jewelry-from-italy-to-united-kingdom-is-4/

When an international package is slow in arriving, it is usually delayed in Customs. Unfortunately, we do not have any way to locate your package or predict how long it will be in customs. We suggest you use the Internet to locate the telephone numbers of your local post and/or customs office and follow up with them using your customs number for identification.

We do offer shipping with UPS and FedEx. For a quote, contact us with your address and timeframe. Usually, these carriers charge $80-$100 for a guaranteed 2 day delivery to most countries outside the US.
Additional policies and FAQs
OXIDIZED & RHODIUM PLATED RINGS

--OXIDATION - If you are worried about the oxidation wearing off, we do not recommend purchasing an oxidized ring. The oxidation WILL WEAR OFF and there is no way to predict the rate at which the oxidation will wear off. I have seen it wear off in as little as a week on some people, and on others it can last seven or eight months. It all depends on body chemistry and lifestyle, and is not a defect of the ring.

Soaps and detergents will take off oxidation. Taking the ring off during hand washing, swimming, showers and sleep will help preserve the oxidation.

Every person has different body chemistry and will react to silver (and whatever alloys are in sterling silver) differently.

I coat each ring with a lacquer to help preserve the oxidized color but the oxidation will still wear off, especially if worn daily.

Oxidized Color - I do my best to recreate the oxidation color shown in my photographs. If you receive a ring and are unhappy with the oxidation color, please contact me immediately so we can discuss re-oxidation. In most cases, I do this free of charge and immediately.

Please understand that the surface of most styles is hammered, brushed and treated with droplets of gold - so, it is not flat and the oxidation colors will vary with the undulating surface.

Oxidize at Home - You can oxidize at home with liver of sulphur. Drop a bean sized portion in about 1 cup of hot (but not boiling) water. Then dip your ring (make sure it is clean and dry). You can hold it and watch it turn from golden brown to reddish blue to teal to gray. The texture in the rings allow for different areas to oxidize at different rates resulting in a pleasing color palette.

Antiquing or blackening liquids can be painted on your piece if you want the piece to be dark gray/black. Most of these solutions will darken both silver and gold. Please refer to the instructions or the manufacturer with questions.

I am happy to re-oxidize and re-lacquer your ring at any time - free of charge. Just convo me to let me know that you will be mailing me your ring for re-finishing.

--BLACK RHODIUM PLATED RINGS - Rhodium plating is similar to oxidization in the finished appearance by making the sterling silver a dark charcoal color, however rhodium plating is far more durable and longer lasting. As it is a plating, it will wear over time - the wear time is unique to each individual.

** Please note, although I use thick rhodium layer... as any plating it will
fade over time. You can always send me the ring for renewing the black
plating, for only the shipping costs (about $10)

DETERMINING YOUR RING SIZE-- I measure ring size by using where the center of the ring shank rests on the sizing mandrel. This is the standard sizing method used by bench jewelers. For bands that are 9-10mm wide, recommend ordering them 1/4 to 3/4 size larger than your normal ring size. When in doubt, go to a jewelry store and try on a 9-10mm band in your size and 1/2 size larger to see what I mean and to gauge the comfort and correctness of your size.

I do not re-size rings. Many jewelers will resize sterling silver rings and you can have your local independent jeweler re-size a ring that doesn't fit. Be sure to tell him or her that the ring has been oxidized as they will have to re-size and re-finish the entire ring.

--EUROPEAN SIZE CONVERSION - Please convert your ring size to US. There are many charts available online to do this. Examples are below.
http://www.onlineconversion.com/ring_size.htm
http://www.ringsizes.co/

More information

Last updated on Sep 21, 2018
Frequently asked questions
When will my order ship?

IN STOCK items ship in 1 to 2 business days. We convo customers after each order and your delivery time will be confirmed in this communication.

Please allow 4 to 5 weeks for CUSTOM pieces - although actual production is less for most orders.

Production time of 1 to 2 weeks is considered RUSH and if we can accommodate this quick turnaround for you, a fee of $50 to $75 will apply. Please convo us before ordering to confirm that we can meet your deadline.

How do I determine my ring size?

Visit your local jeweler and have your finger sized. Then, then try on several rings in the width you are considering to confirm the fit. Wider rings (7mm - 11mm) fit more snugly than narrow bands.

We have plastic ring sizers than can be purchased from our shop. The sizers are only 2-3mm wide so you may have to add 1/2 size if you are purchasing a wider ring.

Under no circumstances do we recommend using online paper measurements as they do not provide accurate measurements.

I live in the Chicago area, can we meet in person to look at your work?

We do not have a retail store where we can meet customers. Our business is run from a small studio and for insurance purposes we cannot allow customers in the workspace. Selling online allows us to keep prices low and customer service high. When necessary, we discuss projects over the phone but time constraints prohibit us from meeting with customers in person.

Do you engrave rings?

We do offer free engraving on some styles. However, our engraving equipment is limited to one font, in capital letters and the uneven surface of our designs make it difficult for spacing of letter to be “perfect”. If you prefer a cleaner, more professional look, the ring can be easily engraved by a commercial jeweler or at a mall kiosk where they use more sophisticated (often laser) equipment and more fonts and characters are available.

I ordered the wrong size, can I exchange the ring or get a refund?

CUSTOM rings cannot be returned or refunded.

IN STOCK rings may be returned for full refund (less shipping charges) if the ring is sent back to us within 10 days, unworn, in the original packaging. We ask that you contact us within 3 days of deliver to notify us that you will returning an IN STOCK item.

Do you resize rings? Generally, no. We can re-size SOME rings, and this is done on a case-by-case basis. Because re-sizing is a labor intensive process, we do charge a fee, which is determined by the type of ring and the materials and time required.

My ring doesn’t look like the listing photograph, what can I do?

Contact us immediately if you are not happy with the appearance of your ring. We will modify the piece to suit your needs.

Will the oxidized finish wear off? How long does it take?

If you are worried about the oxidation wearing off, we do not recommend purchasing an oxidized piece, especially a ring that will be worn on a daily basis. The oxidation WILL WEAR OFF and we cannot predict the rate at which it will do so. Soaps and detergents will take off oxidation. Taking oxidized jewelry off during hand washing, swimming, showers and sleep will help preserve the oxidized color. Every person has different body chemistry and will react to silver (and whatever alloys are in sterling silver) differently. 

Our oxidized designs have a coating of industrial lacquer to protect the oxidized color. Still, oxidized rings can begin to wear in as quickly as a few days for some people.

What is black rhodium? Will it wear off?

Black rhodium is a metal and we plate some of our designs with it to achieve a solid, dark gray, almost black, color. It is more durable than oxidation but it will still wear off over time, especially in rings worn daily.

Can you use my stone to make a piece of jewelry?

We do not work with customer’s gemstones or other materials for a number of reasons including liability for materials in transit as well as replacement for stones damaged during setting.

Can you melt down my piece to make me a ring?

No. Your piece likely has solder and other alloys that need to be refined before the metal is suitable for fabrication. This is a process best suited to a professional metal refinery and is not a service that we can offer.