Care + FAQs

I'm so excited! When will my order arrive?

I usually fulfill orders within 3-5 days, unless the shop is on vacation. Once your order is filled, you'll receive an email with tracking information. Most orders arrive in a week or less, though shipping times slow down around holidays.

If the shop is on vacation, you'll see an announcement in the purple bar at the very top of the website. You're still welcome to place your order, but please know that I won't fulfill your items until I'm back in the office.

How do I care for my earrings?

Polymer clay is resilient and will survive normal wear and tear. It has some flexibility, but I don’t recommend putting your creations to the test. If you happen to bend your Poncerella piece by accident, leave it alone for a few minutes and it should return to its previous shape.

I recommend removing your jewelry before showering or swimming, and please take care not to drop your pieces. If necessary, clean gently with a damp cloth using water only. Store in a cool place, away from sunlight.

What is your return policy?

Due to the handmade nature of Poncerella pieces, I do not accept returns or exchanges unless the product is defective when you receive it. If you find that the pieces you ordered are defective, please contact me at poncerellamade@gmail.com as soon as possible so that I can evaluate the issue and correct it. If you delay reaching out, I may run out of stock available to replace your item.

As a reminder, if you know that your ears react to certain metals, I am happy to swap in a suitable alternative if you let me know in advance. For example, it's easy for me to swap a sterling silver ear hook for a 14k gold filled ear hook. It's more difficult, but not impossible, for me to swap different posts onto stud earrings. The earlier you let me know, the better the chances are that I can adjust my elements of finished pieces so that your pieces be as comfortable as possible. Please know that I also track sensitivities and try to adjust what I make in the future so that every piece will make my customers comfortable and happy.

What materials do you use to make your jewelry?

Polymer clay: The majority of Poncerella pieces are made using polymer clay, a plastic substance that’s malleable and hardens once baked. Polymer clay maintains its vibrant colors over time, though please note that the colors may vary depending on your screen settings. I use a professional grade polymer clay for a long-lasting product that bakes to a hard but flexible finish. Your pieces will not be brittle, as they might with lower quality polymer clay products.

Titanium findings: Titanium is a lightweight metal known for its biocompatibility, meaning for most people, titanium does not irritate skin or cause an allergic reaction (there’s a reason why knee replacements are often titanium!). Titanium will oxidize over time, which gives it a duller luster, more like platinum than sterling silver, for example.

Stainless Steel: Often used in starter earrings for first time piercings, stainless steel is hypoallergenic for most people and resists corrosion and tarnish. It has a shinier finish than, say, titanium.

14k Gold filled: Outside of fine jewelry, most 14k gold jewelry is either plated or gold filled, meaning that a metal core (in this case, brass) gets coated with a layer of gold. I use gold filled because the layer is thicker than gold plated (5% of the finding’s weight, rather than a microscopic layer of 14k gold). The result is a metal that is hypoallergenic and will durable long-term, while still allowing me to price my pieces affordably.

Sterling Silver: Known for its shininess, sterling silver is typically hypoallergenic for most people. It is highly durable, but exposure to humidity and heat may tarnish the metal over time. If desired, you can use a polishing cloth and/or a small amount of silver polish to restore its sheen.

Argentium Silver: This metal is very similar to sterling silver – it’s shiny and highly durable and hypoallergenic for most people. It has a slightly higher content of silver than sterling, but still may tarnish over time, especially with exposure to humidity and heat. If desired, you can use a polishing cloth and/or a small amount of silver polish to restore its sheen.

Colorful jump rings: I sometimes use fun painted jump rings for an extra pop of color on these earrings. They’re made of an iron alloy, but since they aren’t in contact with the ear, they shouldn’t cause an issue with sensitive ears. If you’re concerned, please reach out and I can swap in a metal of your choosing.

Why did you use ______ metal?

First of all -- if you have a specific allergy or sensitivity, please get in touch! I will do my best to swap in a finding that will keep your ears/body happy. Some designs allow for swaps more easily than others, so I appreciate your understanding in this matter.

When designing my pieces, I prioritize using metals that are hypoallergenic for most people but still cost effective. As a small business, I don't have access to the finest metals, nor would I want to rely on those since it would affect the cost of my creations!

My silver has tarnished, what do I do now?

You can wipe it with a soft polishing cloth or even hit it with a tiny amount of silver polish. I'm talking miniscule -- you don't want the silver polish to get on the polymer clay!