Get answers to some of our more commonly asked questions by clicking on the links below. If your question isn’t answered here drop us a line and we can fill you in!
What are your shipping rates?
Olive B Designs will ship to most places. The shipping costs are calculated automatically at checkout according to the region being shipped to, weight of items, and the speed with which the customer would like to receive the goods. Customers may view these rates before final purchase.
Olive B Designs is happy to accept returns of unworn items with original tags and packaging. The cost and logistics for returning items are the responsibility of the customer. Please see return policy for further details.
Any additional Customs Fees or duties are the responsibility of the buyer.
Shipping Delivery Times
Priority Shipping: Noon / next business day in Canada and the US, and International 2-3 business days.
Express Post: BC next day, Canada 2 days, US 2 – 3 days, and International 4 – 7 days.
Regular Parcel: Vancouver 2 days, BC 5 days, Canada 9 days, US 5-8 days, and International 6-10 days.
What is your return policy?
We accept returns on items that have not been worn and still have the original tags on them. If you are unsure of a size or style and are still deciding whether or not to keep it, please leave the tags on. The cost and logistics of the return shipment will be the responsibility of the customer. Olive B will cover the the cost of the original shipment and the shipment of repaired items.
How do I care for my jewellery?
When not being worn, always keep your jewelry away from light and air to prevent oxidation. The best way to do this is to keep them inside mini Ziploc bags inside your jewelry box. Never let your jewellery come into contact with cosmetics, body lotions, perfumes, or swimming pools. Turquoise and pearls are especially sensitive and please use extra precaution in caring for and storing these items.
Do I need to pay tax on my purchase?
We charge GST for Canadian addresses and PST + GST for BC addresses. US and international addresses pay no tax. See my shipping page for more information.
Where does the name Olive B come from?
In keeping with the company’s vision of supporting women entrepreneurs in the developing world, 10% of the proceeds from each sale are dedicated to helping women with much needed but little accessible capital to start up and grow their business ventures. By providing this funding, we hope to extend “the olive branch” to other female entrepreneurs around world.
What is the difference between gold-fill, gold-plated and gold vermeil?
Gold-filled is also called rolled-gold but these items are not actually filled with gold. They are made of a base metal (usually brass or copper) covered by sheets of gold in a mechanical bonding process. Effectively a thick coat of gold: the gold content is 5% or 1/20 of the total weight. We use gold-filled items for many of our top-of-the line jewelry. Gold-fill is typically made with 14k gold, it is hard wearing. With reasonable care it will not peel or flake, and should last as long as solid 14k gold jewelry. It is safe for most people with sensitive skin.
Gold Vermeil is sterling silver that has been gold-plated. Most of our vermeil is plated with 22K-24K gold. This is a good combination for those with allergy to normal, plated jewelry items. The difference between vermeil, and gold-filled, is in the thickness of the gold and the base metal used. In vermeil, the base is sterling silver.
Gold plated items are typically made with base metal such as steel or brass that is dipped into a bath of electroplating solution, with a lump of solid gold. When an electric current is applied, a thin layer of gold is deposited on the metal. Since the plating is quite thin, the plate (and hence the color) on findings can wear off. We typically avoid using gold-plated findings and if we do, it will be clearly specified.