| What do you mean by Gospel Jewelry or Gospel Beads? top |
| When we make an item with Gospel Beads, we use sets of colors: black, red, white, [blue], green and gold. These are like a wordless book. Each bead has special meaning and when combined they tell the Gospel message of God's love and our hope. Black represents every person's sinful condition. We all have fallen into this category. Red tells of God's great love for us in that He sent His son, Jesus who shed his own blood to pay the penalty for our sins. When we repent and accept this gift of grace, we become pure and as white as snow before God. This forgiven state is shown by the white (or crystal clear) beads. The obedience of baptism is represented by blue. [Not all of our Gospel items contain the blue.] The blessings on this earth come from growth in our spiritual walk with the Lord, depicted by the green beads. Finally, the gold beads tell of our hope in Christ ... now and forever. When we die we will live again - in the presence of God, free from sin, sorrow, quarrels, misunderstandings, hurt feelings, pain, sickness and death. If you would like to know how to find this peace and promise of happiness for yourself, please visit our links or send us an email and we will provide you with Scripture verses and other materials to aid you in making your decision to accept Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord - the CEO of your life. |
| What does ΙΧΘΥΣ mean? top |
| ΙΧΘΥΣ are the first letters of the Greek words Jesus Christ God's Son Savior. These letters were used by the early Christians, along with the fish symbol, to identify themselves as followers of Jesus, especially during times of persecution. |
| Is there a way that you can be contacted besides the email link? top |
| Yes! You may call us any day [except Sunday] from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time at 775-588-7522 with any questions or concerns you might have or to place an order over the phone. You can also write to us at PO Box 2762, Stateline (Lake Tahoe), Nevada 89449-2762. |
| Do you guarantee satisfaction? top |
| We certainly do guarantee your satisfaction with any item you purchase. If your purchase does not meet your expectations, you may return it for a full refund (including shipping charges) within the first 15 days. If there is any structural problem with the piece under normal wear and care conditions during the first 30 days, you may return it for a full refund of everything you paid, including shipping. All we ask is that you email or call us for authorization prior to returning the merchandise. This guarantee does not apply when an item has been altered or abused. |
| What is your refund policy? top |
| Our greatest concern is that our customers are 100% satisfied with their purchases. If an item does not meet your expectations, you may return it within the first 15 days for a full refund, including shipping. We do ask that you email or call us for authorization prior to returning merchandise. All pieces are carefully hand wrought in such a way that they will hold up under normal wear and care for generations! Lord's Treasures shoiuld be treated with the same care as all fine jewelry and collectibles. They should not be worn when swimming or participating in athletic activities, when showering or bathing or in bed. Our guarantee does not apply when an item has been altered or abused. If there is a structural problem with the piece under normal wear and care conditions during the first 30 days, you may return it for a full refund, including shipping. Again, we ask that you email or call us (775-588-7522) stating the nature of the problem and obtaining authorization prior to returning the merchandise. Our goal is that you will be completely satisfied with your purchase, and that you will return to us for purchases in the future. |
| Why does it appear that some of your newer pieces are priced higher than the older ones? top |
| Depending on our cost of materials when we reorder (gemstones, beads, crystals, wires, etc.) prices may need to be changed. The gold and silver markets are very volitile at this time, with prices increasing almost daily. Because of this, some of our newer items, and customizations, may be priced higher than similar items made when our wire costs were not so high. |
| Can I remove something that I've placed in my shopping cart? top |
| Definitely! You will be able to remove any item(s) or add more items any time up until you click on the final 'Purchase' button. |
| Do you accept credit cards? top |
| Yes, we accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover. |
| Just how secure is your website? top |
| Your purchase is processed through a secure Payment Gateway. When you use a credit card to make a purchase at lordstreasures.com, we use Secure Socket Layering (SSL) to encrypt your personal credit information, including your card number, before it travels over the Internet. SSL technology is the industry standard for secure online transactions. Our website is compliant with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard, through Elavon. Making a credit card purchase online at lordstreasures.com is just as safe as making a credit card purchase over the telephone or in person. If you would prefer to use the phone, just call 1-775-588-7522 and we will gladly take your order. |
| Do you sell or rent our names or email addresses? top |
| Absolutely NOT!!! Any information you provide to us during the purchasing process remains strictly confidential. We will not give out your email address or other personal information to any other party. |
| Why do you want my email address when I place an order? top |
| We use your email address to send you a confirmation of your order. If you do not enter your email address, you will not receive this confirmation. Your order will still be processed and sent to you. |
| What is meant by wire gauge? top |
| The gauge is the thickness of the wire. In reference to wire gauge size numbers, the higher the gauge number, the thinner the wire. |
| Where do you get your ideas for your jump ring bracelets? top |
| My early jump ring bracelets were based on designs found in 'The Wire Artist Jeweller' magazine. [See wirejeweler.com on our Links page.] Some designs are based on patterns found in 'Chains by Becky' - also available on the wirejeweler.com website. At times I thought I had developed a new pattern, like my Queen's Link©, only to find out that it was actually centuries old. Then there are those times when I just start playing with jump rings and a pattern develops, seemingly all by itself, as was the case with my Diamond Jubilee© pattern. So far I have found it nowhere else, but it could turn up in an Egyptian tomb someday! |
| What is the difference between gold plated and gold filled wire? top |
| Gold-plated wire is made by an electro-chemical process. A wire of a conductive material (copper or silver) is placed in a liquid solution containing a chemical salt that includes gold. When a current is applied between the wire to be plated and another electrode, the gold in the salt is deposited onto the wire. In General, because of the method employed in the plating process, the actual gold plated onto the wire is very thin. A surface scratch will pierce the gold-plating and show the base wire underneath. For this reason, gold-plated wire does not stand up to wear and tear and is not appropriate for rings or bracelets.
The manufacturing process for making gold-filled wire is a mechanical process and not a chemical process. In making gold-filled wire, a thin wire of gold alloy is physically squeezed around a larger wire of gold colored metal. Since gold is easily bendable, this can be done easily and with precision. The end result is a wire with the outside of gold alloy and a central core of gold-tone metal. The gold-filled wire that we use is 14/20 gold-filled. This means that the gold content is 14kt gold alloy and the thickness is 1/20th or 5%. In this case, the outer 5% of the wire is 14kt gold alloy and the center of the wire is a gold-tone metal. Fortunately, you can't see the center. Because the outer 5% of gold-filled wire is real gold alloy, this wire will stand up to wear and tear and will actually be stronger that solid gold. Because it is stronger than 'pure gold', gold-filled wire is what we use for making bracelets and other jewelry items giving them the ability to withstand wear and tear. |
| What is Argentium Sterling? top |
| This is a new, patented alloy of silver and includes 92.5% silver just like normal sterling silver, but replaces some of the copper in sterling silver with germanium to provide tarnish resistance. This combination resists tarnish. Argentium Sterling Silver will tarnish, but it tarnishes at a much slower rate than normal sterling silver and the resulting tarnish is light yellow in color and washes off with just soap and water. No chemicals are needed to clean Argentium Sterling wire. Argentium Sterling is more expensive than normal Sterling Silver. |
| What is NuGold? top |
| NuGold is the trade name used by our wire manufacturer for bronze. It has a mellow cast, very similar to gold. NuGold - bronze - is an alloy of copper and tin (90% copper + 10% tin). Bronze has the look and richness of gold without the high cost. |
| What is Harvest Gold? top |
| Harvest Gold is copper wire which has been coated with a rich gold enamel and a tarnish resistant finish. |
| Do you use metals other than those shown on your wires page? top |
| Occasionally we use other metals such as brass (75% copper + 25% zinc) or pewter (92% tin + 8 % antimony) or nickel silver. |
| What is the difference between fire polished crystals and other crystals? top |
| First of all, they are machine faceted but then polished by fire rather than machine. The results sometimes have irregularities which make them unique. Perhaps the most significant difference, however, is that the Czech fire polished crystals do not contain any lead. Our machine polished (Celestial) crystals contain 14% lead. |
| Are freshwater pearls real pearls? top |
| Most definitely. Freshwater pearls are grown in fresh, rather than salt, water. They have interesting and irregular shapes. Our white and rose colored freshwater pearls are natural. Others have been dyed and add a unique touch of color to our pieces. |
| What are Luna pearls? top |
| Luna pearls are glass beads with a textured faux pearl coating. |
| What is Malaysia Jade? top |
| Malaysia Jade gemstones are translucent quartz gemstones, well-polished and permanently dyed. They are commonly mistaken for fine quality jade. When we use Malaysia Jade, we identify it as such. We also use fine natural jade in some of our pieces. |
| Are Dolomite Marble colors natural? top |
| Dolomite marble beads are a very fine grade of mountain marble that has been permanently dyed and highly polished. |
| What are Silver Flash beads? top |
| Well-cut and polished round glass beads which are spun with random lines and dabs of sparkling silver metallic accent. These beads are true colors with a silver metallic coating. Each bead is uniquely beautiful with no two beads exactly the same. The variations make these beads extra special. |
| What are Desert Sun beads? top |
| These are clear glass beads that are coated in gold plating, then fired. They are then coated with color and refired, shrinking the color coating away from the plating, forming the 'fissures'. Each Desert Sun bead is unique, some with more fissures than others. The second firing may result in varied shades of the same color. |
| How true are the colors on your website? top |
| Colors may appear differently in different browsers. Lighting during photography can also effect the accuracy of the colors. Many of our seed beads are merely shades of the same basic color. These subtle differences are hard to capture for a website. If you would like a sample of colored wire or seed beads prior to ordering, just email us and we will gladly send samples to you to help in your decision making. |
| Will the piece I buy look exactly like the photo? top |
| With one of a kind pieces, the answer is yes. You will receive that exact item. Where customizations are offered, the finished pieces are the same style and very similar in appearance but, since each item is individually hand worked, no two pieces are ever exactly the same. This uniqueness is part of what makes each piece so valuable. |
| What do you mean by individually hand wrought? top |
| All Lord's Treasures jewelry items are made by hand, one at a time, by the artist, Carolyn Fiene. The dictionary defines 'wrought' as: fashioned, formed, beaten into shape by tools. Carolyn doesn't actually beat the materials but she does use an extensive variety of tools to form the finished pieces. |
| Do you use solder? top |
| No, we do not use solder in our wire art. The individual wires are worked and interconnected in such a way that they hold the stones and beads without a need for solder. In fact, the back of the piece is usually as attractive as the front! This is a key feature of our wire art products. Also working without solder allows us to utilize color coated wires in many of our items. We hand cut and press fit our links. You may sometimes notice a hint of the core metal where colored links are closed. This does not detract from the beauty of the finished product. Instead this adds an extra little twinkle not found in machine produced, soldered, items. Our link bracelets and necklaces must NOT be stretched or tugged as this may cause links to open. They must be treated with the same care as all fine jewelry. |
| Can you take a special stone that I have and turn it in to a pendant? top |
| Yes. However, each piece Carolyn Fiene makes is unique since each is individually hand wrought. You can indicate the style you would like (ie. broad bail, flowing, tight curls, etc.), but the final piece will be determined by the stone and wires themselves. Carolyn always starts with an idea, but the finished product evolves on its own based on the stone and types of wires used. |
| Is there some place where we can see the pieces in person? top |
| Yes! If you are ever in the Lake Tahoe area, give Carolyn Fiene a call and she will be happy to set an appointment to view her works in person. (775-588-7522) |
| Are Lord's Treasures items sold in any stores? top |
| The Lord's Treasures collection is only available online or at our showroom (map and directions) in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. |
| Is it possible to see more photos of a piece? I'd like to see different angles. top |
| Yes. With the wonders of digital photography we can take more photos of the piece you are interested in and email them to you. Just tell us what angles you want to see. Of course, we will need your email address. |
| How do I figure out what size ring to buy? top |
| We have a template on the 'Sizes & Conversions' page. We offer rings in whole and half sizes. When in doubt, or if your ring doesn't fit exactly over one of the template sizes, order 1/2 size larger. Remember, customized rings will have the same basic design but probably will not look exactly like the photo since each is individually hand made. |
| How do I know what size bracelet to order? top |
| Link bracelets should be ordered 1/2 inch larger than your wrist measurement. This sizing allows the bracelet to drape slightly over the hand. We offer sizes in 1/2 inch increments from 5.5 inches through 9 inches for Link and Wire Knit bracelets. Color in Frame© and Bangle bracelets should be ordered approximately 1/4 inch larger than the wrist and for these we offer sizes 5.5, 6.25, 7, 7.75 and 8.5 inches. Our bracelet length designations are based on inside circumference rather than straight line measurements.
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| Where do you get your color coated copper rings/links? top |
| Carolyn makes the links/rings herself. She winds the color coated copper wire around the various sized dowels. She then uses a jeweler's saw to cut the rings. Carolyn uses this same method to hand form all the rings/links that she uses. |
| What colors and gauges of wire do you use for your wire trees? top |
| Our wire trees are generally sculpted from 24 gauge wire. We use black, brown, green, copper, bronze and tinned copper. The stone (or driftwood) out of which the tree will 'grow' is the determining factor in the color of wire(s) used. |
| Are your wire trees flexible? top |
| Yes, the wires are still flexible. The limbs can be rearranged. We don't recommend excessive manipulation, however, because this hardens the wire. If wire becomes too hard from being bent too often the wire could break. |
| Will the rocks from the tree sculptures scratch my furniture? top |
| No, the rocks should not scratch your furniture. Each tree sculpture has been lined on the bottom with felt to protect your furniture. |
| What about tarnish? top |
| Our tarnish resistant copper and copper core sterling wires have been coated to prevent tarnish. Wires in their natural state will tarnish and care should be taken to preserve the original luster of all wire items. Storing items in plastic bags helps to retard tarnish. Should your pieces tarnish, use a commercial tarnish remover appropriate for the type of wire and gemstones used. Our new Argentium Sterling should be cleaned using just soap and water. All of our products should be treated with the same care as any fine jewelry. They should not be worn when participating in athletic activities, swimming, bathing or in bed. With proper care Lord's Treasures jewelry will last many years, becoming heirlooms for future generations. |
| How sturdy are the wire knit necklaces and bracelets? top |
| The wire knit pieces are actually quite sturdy in spite of their open weave. After the pieces are knit they are pulled through a draw plate to harden and set the wires. Of course, the knit pieces should be treated with the same care as all fine jewelry. We advise that you do not intentionally squeeze the pieces to see how strong they are because excessive force would crush the wires. |
| Why do some items say 'Grand'? top |
| We use the word 'Grand' to indicate (mostly for our own benefit) the use of 18 gauge wires. |
| Do you make anything for men? top |
| Oh, yes ... several of our bracelets were fashioned with men in mind. Our Tahoe Round, Columbus (especially the Jumbo Columbo), Turkish Round, and the French Rope are all suitable for men. Depending on the beads, many of our Bold Beaded Byzantine bracelets are man friendly. The larger of our Freeform Braid bangle bracelets are appropriate for males who might like the bangle look. Our new Foxtail bracelet, especially the Grand Foxtail, is ideal for men. Besides bracelets, our crosses are excellent items for men, as well as our leather necklaces and several of our ring styles. Our exclusive Leather Key Pockets©, found under Other Treasures, are also an excellent choice for men. |
| Do you gift wrap? top |
| All jewelry items are placed in silver foil gift boxes before being packaged for shipment. A purple bow is included. However, our wire trees and the larger wire suncatchers are too large for the boxes. They are carefully packed but are not ready for gift giving until you add your own special touch. |
| What's the difference between BERTA HUMMEL and M. I. Hummel items? top |
| In the early years of the 1900’s, a little girl was growing up in a Bavarian farming village. Her name was Berta Hummel. From her earliest days, Berta displayed a remarkable artistic talent, delighting her schoolmates with quick, appealing sketches and winning admiration within her small community.
Berta captured the joy of rural life and especially loved to draw children. Her artwork reflects her spirited personality and the endearing innocence of youth. From 1927 to 1931, Berta Hummel studied at the State School of Applied Arts in Munich, Germany. She entered the Franciscan Convent of Siessen in 1931, and in 1932 she accepted the name Maria Innocentia.
Franz Goebel, fourth-generation head of W. Goebel, became aware of her in 1934, and sought permission from her and the convent to translate her sketches into three-dimensional form. The first M. I. Hummel figurines debuted at the Leipzig Fair in 1935.
Sister M. I. Hummel passed on November 6, 1946 of chronic tuberculosis at the young age of 37. Her youthful, loving spirit lives on in the Berta Hummel and M. I. Hummel figurines and gift items.
Both Berta Hummels and M. I. Hummels are produced by Goebel and are approved by the Convent of Siessen in Salgau, Germany.
They are both based on the artistic vision of Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel. While M. I. Hummels are close interpretations of Hummel artwork, Goebel artisans transform newly created designs into Berta Hummels. These new designs are inspired by Berta Hummel’s images of children. Under the watchful eyes of the Hummel family, the Master sculptors and painters of Goebel have based their creations on new drawings, carefully rendered to reflect Berta’s artistic spirits.
M. I. Hummels are made at the Goebel Porzellanfabrik in Rodental, Germany, and bear the Goebel backstamp (trademark) and the signature of Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel. The HUM number is incised on the bottom. A removable label is affixed to the base stating the title of the figurine.
The Berta Hummels are handcrafted in the Far East (primarily Thailand) and bear a ‘BH’ number designation. When space allows, the title of the piece is printed on the bottom along with the ‘Goebel’ copyright. ‘BERTA HUMMEL’ in all caps is printed on the base of most pieces. The Berta Hummel line includes gift items such as water globes and music boxes as well as traditional figurines. The affordable Berta Hummel giftware is targeted to price-conscious consumers for all gift-giving occasions.
We hope this has helped you to understand the similarities and differences. If you have specific questions, please send us an email and we will attempt to answer based on our years of experience and research.
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| What are Awareness Colors and where can I find what the colors mean? top |
| Various organizations and groups have adopted specific colors for their causes. Over time specific colors have become recognized as representing awareness of these causes. These are what we call Awareness Colors. Our list of basic Awareness Colors can be found on our Gems & Beads page. You can find this page by clicking on 'Info & FAQ' on the main menu. We have awareness colors in wire as well as an extensive selection of gems and beads. Click on 'Awareness Items' on the main menu to view our current Awareness items. Or, with our customization capability, you can design your own jewelry using your favorite wires and/or beads. Each item will be individually hand worked to your specifications. |
