The “K" in 14K and 18K gold refers to the karat of gold. The term "karat" (K) designates the amount of gold found in a piece of jewellery.  Pure gold is 24K and signifies 99.9 percent purity, which is the highest you can buy.  Pure gold is very soft so it is mixed with other alloys so it can be made into jewellery, providing a harder and more workable piece of metal.

10K gold is 41.67% gold
14K is 58.33% gold
18k is 75% gold.

To answer that question, it really depends on how to define ‘better quality’. Since 14k gold contains a higher percentage of alloyed metals it is more durable and resistance to wear and tear. For that reason, we recommend 14k gold for those with more of an active lifestyle. As 18k gold has a higher percentage of gold it has a higher value and is less likely to cause any skin reactions. But since it is lower in other alloyed metals it is more susceptible to being scratched or denting. Jewellery made of 18K gold has a rich yellow colour while those made of 14K have a lighter tone due to the alloys added. So, taking lifestyle, budget, skin sensitivity and what tone of gold you prefer will help you decided whether to purchase 14k or 18k gold.

The word vermeil is French and is pronounced as ‘ver-may ‘.

Depending on what metal your Dainty By Kate pieces are made of, will determine what practises you need to follow to ensure your jewellery stays shiny and beautiful.
Please follow our Care & Materials Page for an in-depth answer.

When you are not wearing your pieces, we recommend that your jewellery should be stored in your original box or velvet pouch. This should be away from direct sunlight, and somewhere with low humidity to avoid tarnishing.

Please use the microfibre polishing cloth that is gifted with ever order to clean your jewellery pieces.

For a more information please refer to our Materials & Care Info page

Technically no metal is fully waterproof as the minerals found in normal tap water can make your jewellery pieces look dull over time. The process of actually showering or washing your hands will not tarnish the jewellery itself but you need to be mindful of the products you are using. Hand soaps, shampoos, body wash etc… all contain different chemicals which over time may degrade the e-coating on your gold vermeil pieces.

Yes, all gold vermeil pieces will begin to tarnish over time, but this does not mean that your jewellery is ruined. Tarnishing is a natural process that occurs when the metal alloys, such as copper, in gold pieces react with oxygen. Unfortunately, it is necessary for both solid gold and pure silver to be mixed with alloy metals, as on their own they are too soft to be turned into jewellery pieces. But tarnishing can easily be polished off and we recommend you use the pink microfibre polishing cloth that was gifted in your order to make your pieces shiny again.

Nope! Gold vermeil jewellery and is hypo-allergenic and will ensure that your skin or jewellery will not turn green.

You definitely can, but it’s probably worth contacting the seller and asking how thick their plating of gold is. In Canada in order for a jewellery piece to be labelled as ‘gold vermeil’ it only needs to be plated with 1.0 micron of gold, which is a lot lower than other standards of 2.5 microns. Plating that is 2.5 microns will last a lot longer than 1.0 microns so double check that you are paying for good quality pieces.

Due to its thick layer of gold, gold vermeil is very durable and if taken care of properly can last for years! Please read here to learn how to take care for your gold vermeil pieces. The purity of the gold vermeil, that is 14k or 18k will also affect how long the gold plating lasts. Since 14k gold contains a higher percentage of alloyed metals it is more durable and resistance to wear and tear. For that reason, we recommend 14k gold for those with more of an active lifestyle.

Dainty By Kate complies with Australian Consumer Law and our products come with a Consumer Guarantee that ensures our products are sold without faults & are the same as described online

Dainty By Kate offers a 14-day return policy on all full-price items. The return window begins on the day your order is delivered to you. 

To lodge a return please email us at hi@daintybykate.com

Returned items must be in new, unused condition and in the original packaging.

**Due to health and safety regulations, earrings will not be accepted or refunded if returned.

All sale items purchased, including sample sale pieces, are considered final sale and are not eligible for a refund or return.

Postage will be at the buyer's expense.  We recommend using trackable postage as we are not responsible for lost packages.

If you are entitled to a refund but you would prefer to exchange the item or receive a Dainty By Kate gift card of equivalent we can also organise that for you.

For everything else, please contact us at hi@daintybykate.com. We will be happy to help!

Yes, you will need to cover the cost of return postage and this amount will not be refunded to you.  This includes any warranty claims. 

Please note: Your original shipping fee is also non-refundable and will be removed from your refundable amount. 

Please return all unused items enclosed in the velvet pouch or Dainty By Kate jewellery box to ensure they are not damaged in transit.

Please include your name and # order number inside the package so we can identify you items upon arrival. 

If you believe you have received incorrect or defective items in your order, please contact our Customer Service team via email at hello@daintybykate.com immediately with your # order number so we can solve the problem for you asap.

Refunds will be processed via the original payment method within 5-10 business days of your item being received by the Dainty By Kate Customer Service Team member. There is a $5 transaction fee that is deducted from all refund totals.

Once your item has been received and refunded, you will be notified via email. 

Alternatively, you can choose to keep store credit by letting us know in your return lodge email and there will be no transaction fee.

A store credit will be emailed to you in the form of a gift card or code (with no expiry) which you can use to repurchase another item on our website.

We have four ways for you to find your ring size, please read through our Ring Size Blog to find yours.

We have a very in-depth blog post on a Guide to Earring Sizes, please refer to it, to help you understand the differences.

We love giving customers inspiration for new piercings or ideas for what jewellery to put in what piercing, so we created an in-depth Piercing Guide.

We are so flattered that you asked!! Brand ambassadors feature a tonne of perks that include free jewellery and also commission of every order that uses your personalised discount code!
If this is something you’d be interested in please complete an application here

At Dainty By Kate we have a UCG Program that is great for girls who still want the perks of free jewellery! If you’re a content creator who creates beautiful social media content (Tik Tik Videos, Instagram Reels, Instagram Posts etc…) please click this link here.

 Faulty Items 

All Dainty By Kate jewellery is quality checked by the manufacturer, plus a member of our team. However, on a rare occasion there could be a fault in the product that may have been missed in quality control procedures. If you have received a faulty product, we will offer a replacement if the product was purchased within 6 months. To notify us of the fault, please contact us and include the below information:

Your full name and delivery addressYour order # or the order confirmation emailA brief description of the issue accompanied byphotographic evidenceof the fault

We endeavour to get back to all warranty claims within 2 working days. Once you receive an email back from us, a detail warranty process will be enclosed along with information on how to ship the item back to us.

You will be responsible for shipping the product and any expenses related to shipping. Dainty By Kate jewellery is not responsible for loss, damage, or theft of the product during transit.

Your item will be examined and if deemed appropriate, fixed or replaced for you.  

Please note that wear and tear during the course of normal use is not considered a fault. Dainty By Kate jewellery is delicate and should be handled carefully as explained in our product care card that is enclosed with your order. 

Please contact our Customer Care team here if you require any further information.

CONDITIONS AND EXCLUSIONS:

The warranty is available for all full priced jewellery purchased online from our store. The warranty does not cover sale items purchased or sample sale items.

The 6-month period starts when your package is delivered to your address.

Fine jewellery such as our gold vermeil pieces are more prone to quicker wear and tear from daily activities. Rings in particular have a shorter duration since hands are regularly subjected to considerable damaging activities such as washing your hands with soap.

We do not provide warranties on:

Loss of gems or partsNormal wear and tear, such as ring scratches, peels, or if they are bent out of shape from rough useBreakage due to rough useTarnish due to contact with chemicals such as cleaning products or soapsTheft or stolen items