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Frequently asked questions

Sustainability

 

Where is Little by Little jewellery manufactured?

The intricate jewellery is created by a well-established jewellery producer in Lima, Peru. The production house has been running for 32 years and now employs 350 people. From its inception its aim was always to bring opportunity and employment. It does this by giving jobs to people with no prior technical experience, training them in the art of jewellery. Having spent time at the production house we love the skills, community, space and creativity that exists there.

Who makes and puts together the jewellery?

There are several individuals putting together the different elements of our jewellery. Everything is made from scratch. The team are skilled jewellers who make and manufacture the jewellery. It is led by Sandra Romero and Piero Reinoso.

Do you use any recycled materials/metals?

At Little by Little we are always trying to adhere and go beyond with the metals and materials that we use to create our jewellery. These decisions are informed by Annabel’s MA research into the ethics around the jewellery supply chain at Sir John Cass Jewellery School, and her subsequent work as a sustainability consultant and B Corp expert.That is why we use our producer in Peru. We use 80% recycled metals in our jewellery. The remaining 20% is sourced from local Peruvian silver mines, we can verify that the virgin metal used is supplied by companies with environmental certification that meet with the strict Labour standards and human rights. However, as a company we are always wanting to do more and go further in enabling and supporting local miners and communities, whilst reducing our environmental impact.

How has Little by Little helped Luminary so far?

Our main aim in establishing Little by Little Jewellery was to empower the marginalised and make a difference in a sustainable manner. That is why we partnered with Luminary Bakery who have an innovative response to a need they saw for women who have had a social and economic disadvantage. They are a social enterprise designed to offer opportunities for women to build a future for themselves. They provide a safe and professional environment where women can grow holistically – encouraging ambition, restoration and second chances. They use baking as a tool to take women on a journey to employability and entrepreneurship, equipping them with transferrable skills for the working world. We offer courses, work experience and paid employment within our bakery, aiming to break cycles of poverty, violence & disadvantage once and for all.

With each piece of Little by Little jewellery sold, we donate £3.00 to Luminary which covers the cost of materials needed, for one woman, for one day at the bakery.

What are your core values when it comes to ethics and sustainability?

Right from when we began working in jewellery design we knew that we wanted our practice to benefit every person in the supply chain. Our key values are the championing of transparent, responsible, (both socially and environmentally) and revealing supply chains, that make a positive impact.

What is ethical jewellery?

Ethical jewellery lies in the area of relationship. When you refer to ethical jewellery it is about having a transparent, fair and enabling chain of custody. Actually knowing the people who make and create your jewellery and wanting them to benefit from the process. We would love creative communities to be enabled. From the person who mined the material to those that make it. They all matter. We feel that in the UK we often forget about the people, the environment, the places where things are made and the impact they can have.

How do you ensure your products are ethically made?

As a business we choose to tell people our story and identify the individuals who make our jewellery. We do this through social media and our website. We are always setting ourselves challenges for ways in which we can be more transparent and responsible. We liaise with 3 key individuals regularly: Piero, Mayra and Sandra. They develop and create our designs for us in Lima, Peru. Annabel has also visited the factory in Peru.

We are working towards a B Corp certification which is a third party certification that specifically recognises and uses business as a force for good.

What are the benefits of buying ethical jewellery?

Ethical jewellery creates memories and should be cherished, it should be a truly special thing to own and we think you should be able to answer these three questions when you’ve bought a piece of ethical jewellery rather than something you’ve bought on the high street:

  1. Where was it made & whose hands created it?
  2. Where did the materials come from within the design?
  3. Is it a piece that you will treasure?

 

The product

 

What is your jewellery made of?

All our jewellery is made from sterling silver. If it is a gold collection, then the jewellery has a Gold Plate applied over the top of the silver.

Does the silver contain nickel?

Our jewellery does not contain Nickel.

Do you customise pieces?

Due to the fact that we make our jewellery in Peru, we are limited in the way we can customise the jewellery. But if you are wanting necklaces/bracelets shortened or lengthened, we are able to do this, albeit with an additional cost. This also applies to rings. However, do please get in touch, we will help if we are able to!

Do you make wedding bands?

If you are interested in wedding rings, we can do this as a bespoke service.

When should I remove my jewellery?

If you have purchased a Gold Plated item from one of our collections, then we recommend that you remove your jewellery when showering, swimming, during exercise or when doing heavy duty things. As Gold Plate is a surface finish and so when it comes into contact with water, perfume, other surfaces or objects it can scratch and wear away the surface.

For enamel pieces it is really important that this is not worn in the shower, as the water can affect the finish and cause it to peel off.

How should I clean my jewellery?

It is best to clean your silver jewellery with a soft silver polish cloth. For gold plated items it is best to use a gold polish cloth.

 

Shipping

 

How fast are orders processed?

The orders are almost always despatched 1st class the next working day. This will take a further 1–2 working days to arrive at a UK address. We do offer a next day delivery service.

However due to Covid-19 we are posting once a week on a Thursday or Friday, to limit infection.

How long does shipping take?

UK £5 2 working days
UK £8 Next working day delivery
UK £11 Next day Saturday delivery
USA £12.75 5–7 working days
Europe £10.55 3–4 working days
Rest of World £12.50 5–7 working days


We use Royal Mail First Class Signed For Delivery and will provide you with a tracking number. We endeavour to dispatch the product, subject to stock on the next working day.

For next day delivery, the order must be placed before 3pm.

Am I able to change my order once it has been placed?

Please e-mail us at info@littlebylittlejewellery.com and we will do our absolute best to accommodate you.

Can I return my order?

In the unlikely event that you are unhappy with your LbL purchase, you can return the items to us within 14 days of receipt of order and we will be happy to exchange or refund providing the goods are returned in perfect condition in their original packaging. We will not accept returns for any pieces that have been worn or Earrings for hygiene reasons.

What happens if there is an item missing from my order?

Please e-mail us at info@littlebylittlejewellery.com and we will make amends immediately!

Can I return earrings?

For hygiene reasons we are unable to offer exchanges or refunds on earrings.

My jewellery is faulty, what should I do?

To return an item as faulty, you must contact us within 7 days of receipt. Faulty items will only be accepted if the goods are delivered to the customer damaged, or if there is a subsequent manufacturing fault within a period of 6 months after delivery.

Do you offer gift wrapping and personalised gift notes?

Yes! We would love to do this for you - please e-mail us at info@littlebylittlejewellery.com and we will happily write a handwritten note for you. Please note, all of our jewellery is delivered in a beautiful box with a gift bag too.

What payment methods do you accept?

We take the following payment methods:

  • Amex
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
  • Maestro
  • Mastercard
  • Visa
  • PayPal
  • Shop Pay

Do you offer discounts on multiple item purchases?

We would happily talk to you about this, just get in touch on info@littlebylittlejewellery.com