Welcome to Leeds Fine Jewelry Frequently Asked Questions Site! 

Do you want to shop for a new piece of jewelry, repair broken jewelry, restore heirloom jewelry, transform old jewelry into something fresh, or custom design an entirely new piece of jewelry?  Leeds can take care of all of your jewelry needs. Below are our most frequently asked questions, browse to find answers to your questions and as always, feel free to reach out to us via email at john@jleedsjewelry.com or call our shop at 859.624.4200.  

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GENERAL INFORMATION

What products and services do you offer?

Leeds Fine Jewelry offers expert jewelry repair and has been acclaimed as the best jewelry repair service in central Kentucky.  Artisan jeweler, John Leeds, is skilled in lapidary services, gold smithing, silver smithing, jewelry design, jewelry repair, and jewelry restoration.  

Why should I trust Leeds with my treasured jewelry?

John Leeds, a jeweler, has been in business for over 30 years. He obtained a jewelry making certification in Florence, Italy and a bachelor’s degree in art at Eastern Kentucky University. 

What types of precious gemstone jewelry do you have available in your shop and online?

John Leeds uses precious and semi-precious gemstones from all over the world, all over the United States, as well as locally-sourced Kentucky Agate.  There are only 4 precious gemstones used in Leeds' masterpieces. Precious gemstones are rarer, more expensive, and harder than semi-precious gemstones.  Ruby jewelry, emerald, jewelry, diamond jewelry, and sapphire jewelry can be found in Leeds vast jewelry inventory.  

What types of semi-precious gemstone jewelry do you have available in your shop and online?

John Leeds also uses semi-precious gemstones from all over the world, U.S., and locally-sourced Kentucky Agate.  In our shop and online you will find an incredible collection of Kentucky Agate rings, Kentucky Agate bracelets, Kentucky Agate pendants, Kentucky Agate earrings, Kentucky Agate belt buckles, Kentucky Agate raw and polished specimen.  Other agates include Mexican Coyamito Agate, Turkish Agate, Brazilian Agate, Moroccan Agate, turritella fossil agate, and many more.   

Does Leeds Fine Jewelry & Repair buy scrap silver and gold?

Yes, Leeds has the reputation of providing fair and honest pricing to our customers.  Gold and silver prices fluctuate daily, and John will first determine the purity then make a fair offer.  Leeds buys used, unwanted or broken gold jewelry / scrap, gold and silver coins, sterling silver jewelry, sterling silver flatware/serving ware, and sterling silver hollows.  

How do I know if my scrap silver or gold is genuine gold or silver? 

Genuine gold or silver will have purity hallmark information stamped inside or on the back of each piece.  Look for stampings that say 10K, 14K, 18K, etc. on gold pieces. Gold is much too soft to wear in pure form, therefore other metals have to be combined to make gold durable.   For silver look for the stampings that say .925 which indicates how pure the silver is. In this case .925 means the piece is 92.5% silver. Fine silver is 99% pure. There are other older markings that indicate silver purity such as lion, anchor, letters, etc.  Bring your pieces in for verification. 

How do I find my ring size?

There are a few ways to determine your ring size.  You can go online to find a printable ring sizer.   Another method is to wrap a narrow strip of paper or a string around your desired finger and mark the edge where the ends meet.  Using the millimeter side of a ruler, measure the length, then divide the length by 3.14 to get the diameter of your ring.  Now, use a ring size chart of your choice online to find your ring size.  Leeds has several sizing tools available to determine your ring size when you visit our shop.  

 What is the difference between carat, karat, and carrot?

Karat is the unit used to measure the purity of gold.
Carat is used to measure the weight of diamonds and gemstones.
Carrot is the orange-colored vegetable favored by rabbits and toddlers.

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CUSTOM DESIGNS

 Can you customize design and handcraft a piece of jewelry?

John Leeds carefully handcrafts all jewelry on his website and in his shop. Occasionally, John will source special items from specialists in specific mediums.  John procures raw metals and gemstones and transforms them into gorgeous one-of-a-kind pieces that are sure to become heirlooms. 

Do you do custom work?

Yes! John can use your old jewelry, scrap gold, and precious gemstones as well as the high quality gemstones available in his gemstone vault to create a truly unique design made just for you. 

How long does it take to make my custom design?

This timeline varies.  Most of the time, it will take 4-6 weeks depending on the complexity of the design and availability of materials.  

Can I provide my own diamonds or gemstones?

John welcomes your heirloom gemstones from old family jewelry.  He will first inspect your diamonds or gemstones to make sure they are stable enough to withstand the work that needs to be done.  

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DIAMOND EDUCATION

Are your diamonds ethically-sourced? 

Our diamonds are sourced from reputable and respected suppliers/producers who share our values which do not support conflict.

What are the 4 Cs of Diamond Quality?

 
What is the difference between a lab grown diamond and a natural diamond?

Leeds offers both natural and lab grown diamonds. Lab grown diamonds contain the same exact chemical composition, crystal structure, optical and physical properties of a natural diamond. The ONLY difference is that lab grown is exactly that, it is grown in a lab in a matter of months or years, and the natural diamond is formed deep inside the earth over the course of millions of years.  A couple more advantages to selecting a lab grown diamond is the price and comfort in knowing that your diamond is ethically sourced.  At the same time, there is no destruction of natural land features due to mining.

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 ONLINE SHOPPING

If my shipping address is different from my billing is that okay?

Leeds requires that you sign for your jewelry.  If you will not be home when delivery is expected, we can ship to a work location or a trusted family or friend. 

What is your return policy?

Your satisfaction is our number one priority. If you have any issues with your order, please contact John Leeds at 859.624.4200 first.  If the store is closed, please email john at john@jleedsjewelry.com.  Please allow a 24-36 hours for a response.

Do you offer financing?

Leeds has a great lay-away program that allows you to pay 20% down, & the rest within 1 Year. If the price goes up, we will honor the price that you paid for. The lay-away program is easy & simple way to save your favorite item and pay for it within 1 Year. If you shop online, our card processor is Shopify and they provide various payment plans

How do you ship my merchandise?

We ship via the United States Postal Service (USPS) and all of our packages are signature required & insured. We place security tape generously on the box, so you will be able to know if the package has been tampered with.  If a seal is broken, do not accept. Please call our store at 859.624.4200 as soon as possible.

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JEWELRY REPAIR & RESTORATION

What types of repairs can you offer? 

John Leeds is central Kentucky's favorite jeweler for expert jewelry repair.  John can resize rings both new and well-loved.  He is proficient in the following: bracelet repair, pendant repair, chain repair, necklace repair, ring repair, prong repair, prong tightening, gemstone replacement, gold jewelry repair, silver jewelry repair, diamond stud repair, diamond replacement, diamond ring repair, wedding ring repair, engagement ring repair, jewelry cleaning, gold jewelry cleaning, silver jewelry cleaning, chain replacement, gemstone replacement, necklace chain resizing, and jewelry polishing.  

Can you restore family heirlooms or estate jewelry?

Leeds has all the modern cleaning equipment and the latest in safe jewelry cleaning and polishing products.  We can restring pearls, transform heirloom jewelry into new sparkling jewelry, and restore your gold, silver, or platinum jewelry.  

How long does it take to make a repair and how will I know when it is ready?

It really depends on the piece and the nature of the required work.  John will give you a time and cost estimate upon drop off.  He will then text you when it is ready to pick up.  Leeds is open Tuesday-Friday 10-5 and most Saturdays 10-2.  

 

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 GEMSTONE EDUCATION

What is the difference between precious gemstones and semi-precious gemstones? 

In reality there is no scientific evidence that distinguishes the two. Over history, the two have been identified based on rarity.   There are always exceptions to the rule.  Below are general differences. 

Precious Gemstones are the rarest and most sought after of all gemstones.  Leeds has Diamond gemstone jewelry,  Emerald gemstone jewelry, Sapphire gemstone jewelry, and Ruby gemstone jewelry.  Precious stones are harder and resist scratching better than a semi-precious stone.  

Semi-Precious Gemstones are rare but not as rare as natural Diamonds, Emeralds, Sapphires, and Rubies.   Included in the semi-precious category and available in Leeds shop or online are Agates, Amethyst, Alexandrite, Lapis, Peridot, Turquoise, Pearls, Opal, Moonstone, Jasper, Garnet, Tanzanite, Tourmaline,  Shattuckite, Azurite,  Chrysocolla, Citrine, Onyx, and many agatized fossils!  Agatized fossil jewelry includes Turritella, Dinosaur Bone, Palm Tree, and many more.  

What gemstones do you have available in your artisan jewelry? 

Leeds has more gemstone and agatized fossil collections available than any other jewelry store in our region.  His most popular gemstone is Kentucky Agate, of course!  John procures other favorite gemstones from all over the world and United States.   He handcrafts jewelry using the following precious gemstones: Diamonds, Emeralds, Rubies, Sapphires; and the following semi-precious gemstones: Agates, Amethyst, Alexandrite, Lapis, Peridot, Turquoise, Pearls, Opal, Moonstone, Jasper, Garnet, Tanzanite, Tourmaline,  Shattuckite, Azurite,  Chrysocolla, Citrine, Onyx, and many agatized fossils!  Agatized fossil jewelry includes Turritella, Dinosaur Bone, Palm Tree, and many more.  

What makes Kentucky Agate so expensive? 

 Kentucky Agate is so expensive because of its rarity.  It is located mainly is old river and creek beds in the knobs area of Kentucky.  It has bold banding in the colors: red, black, gold, grey, blue, orange, pink, and white.   John is a master jeweler especially when it comes to Kentucky Agate.  

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