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Frequently Asked Questions
If something isn't covered here, email us at contact@falienne.com - we're genuinely happy to help.
Every Falienne piece is built on a 316L surgical-grade stainless steel base - the same grade used in medical implants. It's chosen specifically because it resists corrosion, moisture, and daily wear without degrading.
The finish is either 18K PVD gold or silver tone. PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) bonds the colour to the metal at a molecular level, which is why it holds up considerably longer than standard gold plating.
Because silver tarnishes, gold-plated brass fades, and most people don't want to take their jewellery off every time they wash their hands.
316L stainless steel is corrosion-resistant, hypoallergenic, and genuinely holds up to water, sweat, and daily wear. It doesn't need the maintenance that sterling silver requires, and it won't let you down the way brass-based pieces do. It's not the most romantic answer - but it's the right one.
Standard gold plating electrodeposits a thin layer of gold over a base metal. It looks good initially, but wears off - sometimes within months depending on the base metal underneath and how often you wear it.
PVD works differently. Metal is vaporised in a vacuum chamber and bonds to the surface at a molecular level. The result is harder and denser than plating, which is why it doesn't chip or peel in the same way - and why we can back the colour with a 2-year guarantee.
316L stainless steel has an extremely low nickel release rate - well within UK and EU safety limits. It's the same material used in surgical implants, and it's widely considered the safest base metal for people with metal sensitivities.
The vast majority of customers with sensitive skin wear Falienne without any reaction. If you have a severe diagnosed nickel allergy, it's worth checking with your GP first - but for general metal sensitivity, 316L is the right choice.
Some pieces use genuine freshwater pearls, others use high-quality shell pearls - and each product description specifies which. Where shell pearls are used, it's a deliberate design choice for consistency of size, shape, and lustre, not a compromise on quality.
Most pieces use cubic zirconia - lab-created stones chosen for their clarity and durability. A handful of designs feature other semi-precious stones where the aesthetic calls for it. The product description always specifies exactly what's in the piece.
Yes. Every Falienne piece is designed for exactly this. The PVD coating on 316L stainless steel handles shower water, soap, and shampoo without issue under normal daily use.
What's worth avoiding is product buildup - shampoo and conditioner that lingers on the metal rather than rinsing straight off. A quick rinse with clean water before you step out takes three seconds and genuinely extends the life of any piece.
Sea swimming is fine - just rinse with fresh water afterwards and dry before storing. Salt water is actually less aggressive than chlorinated pool water.
Pool swimming is generally fine too. If you swim laps daily in heavily chlorinated water, rinsing after is a good habit - but this applies to any jewellery, not just ours.
No. Skin discolouration happens when copper in base metals reacts with your skin's natural acids. 316L stainless steel contains no copper, so this reaction simply won't occur.
If you've had green skin from jewellery before, the cause was almost certainly brass underneath the finish - which is extremely common, even in pieces that look silver or gold on the surface.
Harsh chemicals are the main thing to watch - bleach, cleaning sprays, and perfume sprayed directly onto the metal. Apply perfume first, let it dry, then put your jewellery on. That one habit makes a meaningful difference to any plated finish.
Beyond that, storing pieces loose in a drawer where they knock against each other isn't ideal. The pouch your Falienne piece arrives in is worth using.
A soft damp cloth is all you need day-to-day. For a deeper clean, warm water and a small amount of mild soap works well - rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth before storing.
Avoid abrasive cloths, toothpaste, or silver cleaning products. None of those are necessary for PVD-coated stainless steel, and some will damage the finish.
With normal daily wear and reasonable care, the PVD finish should hold its colour for at least 2-3 years - which is exactly why we back it with a 2-year guarantee.
The things that accelerate wear on any finish: direct contact with perfume and hairspray before it dries, sleeping in jewellery every night, and storing pieces where they scratch against each other. None of these are deal-breakers, but being aware of them helps.
UK shipping is free on all orders over £40. A standard shipping fee applies at checkout for orders below that threshold.
Orders are processed within 1-2 business days and dispatched with fully tracked delivery. From dispatch, you should expect your order within 3-7 business days.
During busy periods - seasonal sales, bank holidays - couriers occasionally run a little behind. You'll always have tracking so you can follow your order directly.
We currently ship within the UK. International shipping is something we're working towards - sign up to the mailing list and you'll hear about it first when that changes.
Yes. Every order is sent with fully tracked delivery. Tracking details come through by email as soon as your order has been dispatched.
If your tracking shows it's been dispatched but hasn't arrived within the expected window, email us at contact@falienne.com with your order number and we'll look into it straight away. Courier delays do happen occasionally, and we'll always do what we can to resolve them quickly.
You can return unworn items in their original packaging within 30 days of delivery for a full refund or exchange.
The exception is earrings - for hygiene reasons, we can only accept returns on earrings if they're unworn and in their original condition. If they've been worn, we're unable to accept a return unless there's a fault with the piece.
Email us at contact@falienne.com with your order number and we'll guide you through the process. We aim to respond within one business day.
Please get in touch and we'll make it right. Email contact@falienne.com with your order number and a photo of the issue. We'll arrange a replacement or refund - whichever works better for you.
Colour fading, tarnishing, and quality faults under normal daily wear - for two years from purchase. If a piece loses its colour or develops a structural fault under normal use, we'll replace it.
The guarantee doesn't cover accidental damage or wear caused by prolonged contact with harsh chemicals. But if you've been wearing a piece normally and something goes wrong with the colour or quality, that's exactly what it's there for. Email us at contact@falienne.com.
No pricing is included on the packing slip inside the box. Your order is gift-ready as soon as it arrives. The receipt is sent to your email address only.
Longevity is the most honest form of sustainability we know. A piece that lasts three years and gets worn every day is considerably better for the environment than three cheaper pieces discarded after six months.
316L stainless steel is fully recyclable, and we're actively working on introducing recyclable packaging across our orders.
316L surgical-grade stainless steel is widely considered hypoallergenic and is the safest base metal option for people with metal allergies or sensitivities. The vast majority of customers with sensitive skin wear Falienne without any reaction.
If you have a known severe nickel allergy, it's worth checking with your GP - but for general metal sensitivity, 316L is the right choice.
Every piece in the Falienne collection is given a human name - from the Swedish-inspired Clara to the Turkish-inspired Ayla. Each name is a quiet nod to the spirit of the person who inspired it.
It's our way of connecting a piece to something more than just the metal it's made from.
Online only at the moment, which keeps things direct and means we can offer better value. If that changes, we'll announce it through the journal and mailing list first.
The size guide is on each ring product page - it covers both diameter and circumference measurements so you can measure at home with a strip of paper or a piece of string.
If you're between sizes, we'd generally recommend going up. And if you're unsure, email us at contact@falienne.com - we're happy to help.