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FAQ's

What are your opening times?

London Workshop and Showroom
 

We are delighted to announce that our Hatton Garden flagship store and workshop will re-open on Monday 12th April.

All the necessary measures to protect and safeguard all employees and visitors to our workshop in line with government guidance are in place. We will be operating by appointment only with revised trading hours to ensure we can maintain social distancing.

We look forward to welcoming you to the workshop soon.
Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm
available via zoom, live chat, social media or
TEL: +44 (0) 20 7405 5188

 

Book an appointment

 

How long does it take to make my signet ring?

Bespoke hand engraved signet rings are made to order especially for you and depending on the time of year our waiting list can fluctuate. As a guide, the solid gold and platinum signet rings usually take 8-10 weeks to create. Stone set signet rings take up to 10 weeks to create.

Maybe you have left it too late to create a bespoke ring in time for a special event, in this case The Rebus Gift Box is the ideal solution. You can find these in the Shop section of the website. If there is urgency for your order please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate.

Do you undertake special commissions?

Our Special Commissions service exists to help you design and create something really special. Maybe you require a style or size signet ring that is not shown, or recreate a signet ring a family member or friend had. These are all services, from initial sketches through to the finished item, our experienced craftsmen can undertake for you. Please contact us for that special one off piece of jewellery.

Please call us or send an enquiry to make an appointment or if you would like further details.
LONDON
+44 (0) 20 7405 5188 

Contact Form

International ring size conversion table

For our international customers, please use our International ring size conversion chart to determine the standard British size that corresponds to your international ring size.

Measuring your finger

The easiest way is to use our enquiry form to request a free plastic finger size gauge which will post out to you in our welcome pack.  Measuring your finger is not an exact science as the size of your fingers change during the course of the day and is affected by temperature.

Do not measure your fingers when you are cold or overly hot. Fingers swell with the heat and contract when they are cold. Best time of day to measure your fingers is in the afternoon when they are at their largest.

How do I place an order?

Online // In store // By phone. The easiest method is using the e-commerce section on this website, which also allows you to use your own PayPal account at our check out stage. Alternatively, if we have given you a quote for a special order (e.g. you have sent us your own artwork for engraving), we can take payment either over the phone or email you an e-invoice that you can easily pay securely online. To order online begin with selecting your crest or monogram from our huge database, go to the 'Crests and Monograms' page where you can easily search by just typing in your name or initials. Once you have selected your crest or monogram this will automatically be added to your basket. Next decision to make is the signet ring or jewellery you like, then the face size that suits your hand best, your finger size and finally decide if you would like to have a personal message engraved inside the shank of your ring, all the prices are worked out automatically for you. Place your jewellery items into your basket proceed to checkout and fill in your invoice information as prompted. Once your order is received we will always call or email you before work commences to confirm we have all the correct information. This is a bespoke service, we are making the signet ring especially for you and it will take approx. four to six weeks.

Skype - We are happy to pre-arrange a Skype call, which is a good option where there is an international time difference.

Contact Form

If you are not comfortable using e-commerce, please call or email us & we can take your order over the phone. Or please pay us a visit, we would love to meet you.
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7405 5188

London Workshop
67-69 Leather Lane, Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 7TJ
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7405 5188
We are delighted to announce that our Hatton Garden flagship store and workshop will re-open on Monday 12th April. 
All the necessary measures to protect and safeguard all employees and visitors to our workshop in line with government guidance are in place. We will be operating by appointment only with revised trading hours to ensure we can maintain social distancing.

Contact our team via zoom, live chat or social media:
Tue-Sat 10am-5pm
Book an appointment


Dedicated USA Customer Service

Tel: +44 (0) 7753 449326
rachel@rebussignetrings.co.uk

Why should I register for the Members Area?

Once registered you will be able to track the progress of your order, view order history, finger sizes and what type of signet rings you purchased.

 

What happens if my signet ring is the wrong finger size?

If the finished signet ring needs a slight size adjustment, within three sizes up or down, we will do this free of charge, if returned to us within 28 days of purchase. In the majority of cases you can expect this work to be completed within 1-3 days. Please contact us before returning your jewellery for advice. International and UK customers are responsible for any carriage costs incurred in returning your jewellery. International customs duties and sales taxes are non-refundable for shipments outside the UK.

Resizing Exclusions:

Solid metal rings can be resized up to three sizes either way of its original size. After your first free resize (if returned within 28 days), any further resizes will be charged at £50.00 or $65.00

Resizing stone-set rings is not always possible, we always recommend coming in for a fitting before we set the stone into your ring. Please contact our sales team for further information.

How can I choose the currency I pay in?

You are able to pay on the website in two currencies - British Pounds Sterling, and American Dollars. To change the currency the product prices are shown in and you pay for your order in,

select the drop down arrow located on the top right navigation of the site. This drop down allows you change your currency.

What information will I receive when I place my order?

Once you have placed your online order you will receive a confirmation email with a summary of your purchase(s).

Once your order has been completed, we will notify you and provide tracking information. If there are likely to be any delays with your order we will contact you.

What are the nearest train stations to your workshop and showroom?

Our workshop at 67-69 Leather Lane, London, EC1N 7TJ, is located a few minutes’ walk away from Farringdon Station which is served by London Underground (Circle line, Hammersmith & City line, Metropolitan line) and National Rail.

The workshop is also very close to Chancery Lane (Central line). Alternatively you are allowed to park free of charge outside the workshop on Saturdays from 13:30 onwards.

Payment methods & transaction security & Privacy

You can pay using the e-commerce section on this website, or by using your own PayPal account. We accept the following payment methods: Maestro (Switch), Visa, MasterCard, Solo, Electron, Connect and American Express. Alternatively, if we are quoting for special orders, we can email you an e-invoice that you can easily pay securely online. We can also take your payment over the phone and you can pay for all or part of your order using the Rebus gift vouchers. To make a balance transfer to our account (BACS) please contact us. Transactions are processed in either British Pounds Sterling on our UK website or in American Dollars on our US website.

To securely receive your payments over the internet, the highest level of card data security is used. All transaction information passed through Rebus’ checkout automatically uses an encryption key length of 128-bit to 256-bit extended validation SSL (secure socket layer) encryption certificates supplied by GlobalSign. This is the highest level commercially available. You can be completely assured that your card details cannot be examined, used or modified by any third parties attempting to gain access to sensitive information. Please note that using email is not encrypted and is not a secure means for transmitting credit/debit card information or any personal information you wish to keep private and secure.

Do you deliver overseas?

Yes we do, to Europe, USA and Canada, Australia and New Zealand and rest of the world.

 

Delivery

FREE UK Delivery Rebus offers FREE insured delivery to UK. Delivery within mainland UK is carried by Royal Mail ‘Special Delivery’ service.

FREE International Delivery Rebus offers FREE insured delivery to rest of the world which is carried by FedEx or DHL Express.

Speed

UK – Next day delivery before 1pm

Europe, USA and Canada – 2 – 4 working days

Rest of the World – Up to 7 working days

All parcels will need to be signed for, so please use a delivery address where you (or the recipient) will be present at the time of delivery (usually a home or work address) or where someone can sign on your behalf. Any signature from that delivery address will be accepted as valid by Rebus. Rebus does not take responsibility for releasing goods to an unauthorised signatory at the delivery address.

If for any reason, a customer’s goods are misappropriated, Rebus will obtain a proof of delivery from Royal Mail or DHL Express in order to assist the customer to resolve the issue. In the event that no one is available to sign for a Special Delivery or Recorded item a card will be left providing you with the option to have the item redelivered at a later date, or to collect your parcel from your local collection depot. We will use our reasonable endeavours to deliver the goods or services within the times indicated. However, where delivery times and dates are given, they are for general guidance only and we will not be held liable for late delivery of goods caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

Unfortunately, we cannot deliver to a PO BOX address or secure home delivery boxes at this time.

All delivery times mentioned are subject to stock availability. We are not able to refund or replace items that have been lost by Royal Mail until 20 days have passed since the date of despatch, or 30 days in the case of overseas delivery.

In the unlikely event that your goods are lost in transit or arrive damaged, please notify us at email address info@rebussignetrings.co.uk or via our telephone number +44 (0)207 405 5188.

Introduction to Gold

Whether a Rebus signet ring is bought intended for you, or as a gift, gold expresses love, permanence, individuality and style more eloquently than words could ever do. Gold has been one of mankind's most revered substances since the beginning of time. The legends and myths surrounding gold are legendary and for many ancient civilizations, only the most powerful were permitted to bathe in gold's stunning rays. Today though, the glamour and beauty of gold, while remaining as desirable as ever, are far more democratic.

Pure gold is very soft which makes it unsuitable for most jewellery. To make it stronger, it is mixed with other metals, such as silver, copper, zinc and palladium. This is called alloying. The gold you see in jewellery is actually gold alloy. While yellow gold is still probably the most popular colour of gold, by mixing gold with other alloys, we can create white gold and rose gold.

The carat (ct) tells you how many parts of gold and how many parts of other metal are in the gold alloy. Don't confuse this with the carat weight of diamonds and gemstones. In the United States carat is spelt karat (kt).

One carat is one part of 24, or 41.66 parts of a thousand. 9ct gold is 375 parts gold per thousand parts. 14ct gold is 585 parts per thousand. 18ct gold is 750 parts per thousand. 24 carat gold is pure gold.

24 carat (fineness 999) or 99.9% gold
22 carat (fineness 916) or 91.6% gold
18 carat (fineness 750) or 75% gold
14 carat (fineness 585) or 58.5% gold
9 carat (fineness 375) or 37.5% gold

Customs, Duties and Taxes

UK - Orders are inclusive of VAT.

USA - Orders are exclusive of UK sales tax (VAT). US Import Duties are included in the cost of your order and will be shipped duty paid. 

Rest of the World - Orders to all countries outside these territories are exclusive of UK sales tax (VAT) which is currently 20%. This will be removed from your order at checkout. They may be subject to local import duties and taxes.

Please be aware that international customs, duties and sales taxes levied in the country of destination are the responsibility of the customer not Rebus Signet Rings.

All shipped packages are marked as small packet and the goods are accurately described, with costs, on the customs declaration document.

Three Shades of Gold

Yellow gold

The natural colour of gold is by far the most popular shade used in jewellery making. Yellow gold is usually alloyed with copper and silver to strengthen it and give the jewellery longevity. The shade of the gold depends on its gold content and 18 carat gold generally has a richer yellow colour than 9 carat.

White gold

White gold is simply yellow gold mixed with different alloys to give it its colour. Usually created by adding palladium, silver and copper, the colour is not white like platinum but more of a light grey steel colour. These days, jewellers often plate white gold with rhodium (a member of the platinum family) to enhance its colour. We can do this for you, but we’ll ask you first, as rhodium plating wears off and needs re-plating.

Rose gold

Also known as red gold and pink gold, this shade became popular in Russia at the beginning of the nineteenth century and is often referred to as Russian gold. Made by adding copper to yellow gold, we usually use a pink, blush-like tint for our rose gold signet rings. The higher the copper content, the stronger the red in the colour and the shade can vary from carat to carat. 9 carat is usually much pinker than the 18 carat gold.

What is a Hallmark?

Hallmarks, Your Guarantee.

Our customers can rest assured that all of our products come with a guarantee of the precious metal content through the 700-year-old practice of third party independent hallmarking.

The 1973 Hallmarking Act makes it unlawful to describe an item over a certain weight as gold, silver, platinum or palladium without an independently applied Hallmark.

• All Silver articles weighing more than 7.78 grams must be hallmarked.
• All Gold articles weighing more than 1 gram must be hallmarked.
• All Platinum articles weighing more than 0.5 grams must be hallmarked.
• All Palladium articles weighing more than 1 gram must be hallmarked.

Articles below these exemption weights may be described as Gold, Silver, Palladium or Platinum without the need for a hallmark.

At Rebus we value the UK's hallmarking heritage; we do not view it as an inconvenient legal necessity but a service that should be celebrated. This is why we prefer to have each hand punched hallmark stamped into the head of your signet ring as large display marks. Not only do hallmarks serve as consumer protection but each hallmark carries significance because of the information each represents. Future generations will be able to discover which UK city your signet ring was hallmarked, who created it, what it is made from and the year it was created.

We use the London Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office which has been responsible for testing the quality of precious metals since 1327. In fact the word hallmarking itself refers to the Goldsmiths' Hall where, from the 15th century, London craftsmen brought their work to the hall for assaying and marking.

A hallmark consists of a series of marks applied to articles of the precious metals platinum, gold, palladium and silver ● Means that the article has been independently tested ● Guarantees that it conforms to all legal standards of purity (fineness).

A Rebus signet ring will carry the following punch marks: Sponsor's (manufacturer's name) mark, in our case RS which refers to Rebus Signet Rings Ltd • Metal and fineness (purity) mark • The London Assay Office mark (a leopards head) • Date mark / letter • Traditional fineness mark.

Download an explanation of each hallmark symbol.

Precious metals are rarely used in their purest form but are usually alloyed with other metals. It isn't possible to detect an article's precious metal content by sight or touch. Therefore, it is a legal requirement to hallmark articles containing precious metals if they are described as such.

Advice on which gold to opt for

Preference for a certain carat gold is often based on cultural factors. In the UK, 9ct and 18ct are most commonly sold, while in America, 14ct is more popular. In India, 22ct gold is preferred. 24ct represents pure gold and tends to be used for exchange and investment as it is too soft to use in jewellery.

You say they all look the same but if you look closer you will notice that 9ct gold is actually quite pale in comparison to 18ct, and 22ct is a lot richer in colour. Typically in the UK we use 9ct, 18ct and 22ct gold. However at Rebus we feel that 14ct gold is a good compromise between 9ct & 18ct gold for signet rings.

We are often asked about how hard the gold is and if it will last. 9ct, having the lowest gold content is the toughest of the three; the higher the gold content the softer the metal becomes. We would recommend 9ct gold, if you are very active and your hands take a lot of wear and tear. 18ct gold makes beautiful looking signet rings, rich in colour and that improves with age as it takes on its own patina. 14ct gold has become a popular choice for a signet ring; over half of it is pure gold (585 parts per thousand) and it is still very durable. The majority of the signet rings we make are in 18ct gold. A Rebus signet ring either in 9ct, 14ct or 18ct gold will last a lifetime!

Ethics

Rebus is a member of the British Jewellers Association. The British Jewellers Association Code of Ethics requires every member to abide by the following rules:

1. To maintain the highest level of personal integrity, honesty and business ethics.
2. To comply with all UK Government laws and regulations relating to the jewellery, watch and related industries.
3. To abide by the Articles of Association and objectives of the British Jewellers’ Association and this Code of Ethics.
4. To provide a standard of product and service of the highest possible quality commensurate with price.
5. To establish clearly the guarantee or service policy regarding all merchandise and to fulfil that policy.

6. To provide knowledgeable and competent expertise and clearly indicate the true quality of products offered for sale.
7. To adhere to sound business practices and thus ensure continuing service to customers and suppliers alike.
8. To refrain from all forms of design copyright and trademark infringement.
9. To refrain from trading in conflict diamonds.

The NJA is a member of two key international organisations, both of whom are advancing the causes of corporate social responsibility and ethical trading standards.

What is 'dirty gold

Dirty gold is a reference made to gold that is mined where there is no or little consideration given to environmental and/or social aspects of production.

The gold mining industry takes its sustainable development activities very seriously and there are many strict regulations and guidelines for mining of gold. Most mining companies have robust environmental, social and ethical standards and report on these through their annual reports.

It is important to realise that the term Dirty Gold refers to what is called primary source production – ie: straight form the ground. The UK uses very little primary sourced gold in jewellery production with over 80% of gold content having being sourced from recycled (otherwise known as secondary) sources i.e. jewellery scrap or dishoarded investment bars.

Do I need to make an appointment to visit your workshop or showroom?

London. You are welcome to visit the rebus workshop at 67-69 Leather Lane, Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 7TJ. You’ll be able to try on our full range of rings, talk to the craftsmen who’ll be working on your order and have your finger size measured.

Book an Appointment

 

London Workshop
67-69 Leather Lane, Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 7TJ
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7405 5188
We are delighted to announce that our Hatton Garden flagship store and workshop will re-open on Monday 12th April. 
All the necessary measures to protect and safeguard all employees and visitors to our workshop in line with government guidance are in place. We will be operating by appointment only with revised trading hours to ensure we can maintain social distancing.
We look forward to welcoming you to the workshop soon.
Contact our team via zoom, live chat or social media:
Tue-Sat 10am-5pm

Can I supply my own artwork for you to engrave?

YES YOU CAN, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A CREST OR MONOGRAM ENGRAVED. YOUR SIGNET RING IS A BLANK CANVAS READY FOR YOU TO PERSONALISE WITH WHATEVER YOU WISH. REBUS USES TRADITIONAL HAND ENGRAVING TECHNIQUES SO WE CAN DO ALMOST ANYTHING. WE WOULD NEED TO SEE THE ARTWORK FIRST TO CONFIRM THE COST. IF YOU CAN CONTACT US USING OUR ENQUIRY FORM ON THE 'CONTACT' PAGE GIVING A BRIEF OUTLINE OF YOUR REQUIREMENTS, THEN ONE OF THE REBUS TEAM WILL BE BACK IN TOUCH TO ADVISE THE BEST WAY TO PROCEED. THE SUPPLIED ARTWORK DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT OR TO SCALE. WE CAN WORK FROM OLD DRAWINGS, PHOTOS, LETTER HEADED PAPER, WAX IMPRESSIONS FROM PREVIOUS ENGRAVED RINGS OR EVEN JUST A DESCRIPTION.

WHY NOT CONSIDER HAVING YOUR OWN PERSONAL DESIGN OR SYMBOL COMMISSIONED. WE WORK WITH DESIGNERS AND SPECIALIST HERALDIC ARTISTS TO CREATE BESPOKE ARTWORK SUITABLE FOR ENGRAVING. THE COMMISSION BEGINS WITH A DISCUSSION THAT CAN BE A FACE TO FACE MEETING IN THE WORKSHOP, OR A CONVERSATION VIA TELEPHONE, EMAIL OR OVER SKYPE WITH THE SALES TEAM. FROM THIS INITIAL MEETING WE WILL LOOK AT ANY VISUAL REFERENCE POINTS YOU HAVE COLLECTED, COVER DESIGN IDEAS, PRODUCTION ADVICE AND CREATE A BRIEF TO WORK FROM TO BEGIN THE DESIGN PROCESS. COST TO COMMISSION AN ARTWORK STARTS AT £100.00, THE FIRST REVISION IS FREE OF CHARGE AND ANY REVISIONS THEREAFTER ARE £25 EACH

What is a crest?

The crest sits on top of the coat of arms often above the symbol of a helmet. This reflects its medieval origins as a means of identification during combat when an emblem would be attached to the top, or crest, of the combatant's helmet. If they are not accompanied by a coat of arms, crests are usually shown on top of a twisted band (a wreath), coronet or cap (called a chapeau) reflecting their historic origin. Traditionally, only crests were engraved onto signet rings in the United Kingdom as the full coat of arms was reserved for larger and more ceremonial items.

Unlike a coat of arms, the crest can remain the same across generations and different branches of one family. Sometimes a family's crest is a play on the surname or an emblem of its occupation or trade. A ducal coronet may be added to the crest of a Bishop while a mural coronet can signify a military distinction and a naval coronet a naval one. However it is not unusual for branches of one family to develop different crests to distinguish themselves.

Our family name does not show up in your crest database?

We have around 30000 family names in our database but it is not exhaustive. If your email us with your name we can have a further look at our reference books at our workshop. Or we can draw up an artwork for you.

Failing that we can introduce you to one of the Heralds at the College of Arms, where they can conduct a thorough family search.

What is a coat of arms?

A coat of arms is the entire heraldic device including the mantling, a helmet, a crest, a motto and, in the case of peers and clan chiefs, a coronet and supporters. They are displayed on a shield and together they identify the owner who has been granted the right to bear arms.

A son will inherit his father's arms and quarter them with his mothers and so on making some coats of arms very complicated.

Why are seal engraved signet rings engraved in reverse?

Traditionally, the heraldic design is hand engraved in reverse into the ring, so that the wax impression shows an accurate 3D representation of your artwork. It was this wax impression or ‘seal’ that was used on documents and envelopes.

If you do not want your crest or monogram seal engraved in reverse just let us know and we can engrave it the correct way round in the ring for show.