FAQ

My jewelry objects are conceptual pieces, that start out as an idea in my sketchbook and go through many phases of design and modeling in various materials to flesh out the idea. The final jewelry piece is made using the ancient technique of lost wax casting, with the wax pieces entirely sculpted and carved by hand. I do not use any digital 3D design or 3D printing techniques, because I believe in the magic created in the collaborative process between my brain and my hands. I’m passionately detail-oriented and each of my hand-fabricated pieces undergoes extreme scrutiny to ensure the finished jewelry is flawless.

My pieces will never be mass-produced. Each one is fully handcrafted with love by me, in my atelier in Berlin, Germany, and in very limited editions. No more than 15 pieces are made for each design. You will find the size of the edition of each piece on its respective shop page.

Each piece comes within the signature Joanna Bacas Matriarchal Utopia fairy tale book jewelry box, which you can use for storage. The fairy tale box is packed in a larger box for shipping, to ensure you receive everything in pristine condition.

I endeavor to create my jewelry as resilient as possible, but, as with all jewelry, stones sometimes fall out or delicate mechanisms can break. If this happens, please contact hello@joannabacas.com, and I will work with you to address the situation. 

Since all jewelry is made to order, please allow for 2-3 weeks for processing and manufacturing. On custom orders and bespoke items, crafting times may vary. Don’t hesitate to get in touch at hello@joannabacas.com for more information.

My Charms do not come with a chain unless otherwise indicated on the product page.

Send us an email at hello@joannabacas.com and we’ll get back to you right away.

My jewelry is currently only sold through my website www.joannabacas.com

When you purchase a jewelry piece, you will receive with it a hand-signed Certificate Of Authenticity, with the number, stating the number of the edition of your piece.

Each jewelry piece is specially handcrafted to order for its buyer, therefore special terms and conditions apply.

Once you have placed an order, you may cancel it within 24 hours at no cost or consequence. 

After that initial 24-hour period, production will have started and cancellation will result in only a 75% refund of the total Object price, to compensate for the working time spent processing the order. Orders may only be canceled until the 10^th day after the order has been placed. After that, cancellations are only possible in exchange for store credit for the full item price, and only before the item has been shipped out.

We cannot accept returns and exchanges on orders shipped outside the EU. 

All bespoke and custom-made pieces are excluded from returns and exchanges. If a custom-made item doesn’t fit you perfectly, we are happy to do up to 2 revisions to adjust it to a perfect fit at no extra cost. After that, revision charges may apply. Earrings are also excluded from returns and exchanges for reasons of hygiene. 

Rings, necklaces, charms, and pendants may be exchanged up to 10 days after delivery, or returned for store credit – provided they are returned in a new and unused condition, including all packaging and materials contained in the original shipment. We do not offer monetary refunds. We will not accept for return or exchange any merchandise that shows signs of wear, use, or alteration. All items eligible for return or exchange will be reviewed and may be sent back to the customer if these requirements are not met. 

Please contact hello@joannabacas.com in order to return or exchange an item. You will receive a unique code which you will need to include in the return shipment. Returns and exchanges without a code will not be accepted. 

Return and exchange shipping charges are the responsibility of the customer. Please make sure to notify us of the return and forward us the tracking information. Also please make sure the return shipment is properly insured.  

Oh no! Contact hello@joannabacas.com with a photo and your order number.

We ship internationally via DHL-insured shipping for domestic and international deliveries. Depending on your location, packages will arrive 10-50 days after shipping. Shipping cost is included in the price. The customer is responsible for any import taxes and duties on international deliveries. After an order has been delivered to the correct shipping address, we cannot be held responsible for lost or stolen packages.

Please email us with your order details, and we’ll update you on what’s happening. For orders that incur unusual delays, we will likely contact you first.

The Matriarchal Utopia welcomes all bodies! My body chain pieces are highly adjustable and customizable and will fit most bodies sized XS to XL. If you are unsure if something will fit you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your measurements at hello@joannabacas.com and I will be happy to ensure a fit for your body, at no extra cost.

Rings are available in the store in one size. Please check the dimensions listed and compare the jewelry that you own to ensure that you are ordering an item that will fit you. I will be happy to customize a ring to a smaller or larger fit  (given the design allows for size adjustments) at no extra cost. Just email hello@joannabacas.com.

If you order the wrong size by mistake, depending on the ring we may be able to resize it for you for an additional fee of $60.00 plus shipping. Please note that some of my rings have elements that make resizing difficult or impossible. Therefore, before ordering rings, please be certain of your size. Do not hesitate to contact us with questions!

I strongly advise removing your jewelry when taking baths or showers, and when sleeping.

Gold does not tarnish and is easy to care for. Silver will naturally tarnish when exposed to air and sunlight. The metal will gradually oxidize and turn black, but its shine can quickly be brought back with a polishing cloth. You will always receive a polishing cloth with your order. Wearing your silver jewelry often will also protect it from tarnishing since the oils of your skin create a natural protective coating from oxidation. For home cleaning, I recommend using the included polishing cloth, or a soft toothbrush with eco-friendly dishwasher liquid.  Be aware that certain gemstones can be very sensitive to liquids, especially cleaning agents. Avoid using abrasive materials, chemical cleaning agents, vinegar, toothpaste, lemon juice, and baking soda. 

My gold-plated jewelry has a thin layer of gold on solid silver. This gold layer can rub off with constant contact with your skin or continual exposure to water, sweat, lotions, and perfumes. Give your gold-plated pieces a long life by keeping it dry, taking them off when you exercise, taking baths or showers, and when sleeping.

All material and products on Joann Bacas’ Site may not be copied by any third parties. All of the content at www.joannabacas.com including, for example, all of the page images, illustrations, graphics, and text are subject to copyright and/or other intellectual property rights held by Joanna Bacas. Unless otherwise indicated, the material on this website is copyrighted. No text or images may be used for any purpose other than personal use unless explicit authorization is given.