top-border

Questions & Answers

top-border

What are your shipping costs?

For domestic shipments, we offer insured shipping for a flat charge of $25. Orders over $1000 are eligible for free shipping.

Generally, we ship Wednesdays through Saturdays within 48 hours of purchase, and provide confirmation and tracking information. We use privately insured, USPS Priority Mail or UPS Second Day Air, which typically arrive within three days of shipping.

Do you offer layaway?

We offer layaway on items over $500. The first down payment is 1/3 the total, with an allowance of 3 months to pay the balance. If an item is not paid off within the 3 month timeframe, we will issue a store credit for whatever payments have been made and your item will be put back out for sale. For online layaways, please contact us directly to arrange seperately (we do not charge interest!).

Do you offer a warranty?

The only items that we offer a formal warranty on are our watches priced over $100. This warranty is for one year. If your watch is not functioning properly, we will work with our watchmaker to make sure it is remedied, at no cost to you in the first year. After that, we are happy to offer repairs through our wholesale watchmaker, and will only require reimbursement for what we are charged.

All other merchandise is sold in “as-is” condition. If a piece you purchased with us incurs damage after you bring it home, we will not be held responsible, but we will work with you to repair it. We work with a jeweler, lapidary, and watchmaker on a weekly basis, as well as a costume jewelry repair specialist. If we feel that there was something wrong with the piece at the time of purchase and we did not notice and bring it to the attention of the customer, we will cover the cost of repair, on a case-by-case basis. Otherwise, we only require reimbursement for what we are charged by our wholesale jewelers.

What's your return policy?

Online purchases may be returned to the shop for any reason within 5 days of receipt. Items must be in original, unaltered condition. Returns shipped or brought back to Pippin after the 5 day period will not be accepted. To return an online purchase, either bring it to the shop, or ship it.

If return shipping, you must call (212) 505-5159 or email info@pippinvintage.com within three days of receipt for confirmation and shipping instructions. We are not responsible for the cost of return shipping. Once the return is approved, the item must be shipped within 2 days to:

Pippin
104 W 17th Street
New York, NY 10011

***DO NOT WRITE 'JEWELRY' ANYWHERE ON THE PACKAGE***

You may use whatever shipping method you prefer, as long as it is insured for the full value of the item(s) and we recieve the tracking information promptly.

In store purchases may be exchanged for store credit within 10 days of purchase when accompanied by a receipt. Fine jewelry items may be fully refunded within 5 days of purchase, accompanied by the receipt, in unaltered condition.

We reserve the right to verify that returned items have not been altered in any way before issuing a refund or store credit.

How do you date your merchandise?

Through decades in the fine jewelry industry, more than 12 years at the Chelsea Fleas dealing vintage costume jewelry, and another 13 in business at Pippin, owners Stephen and Rachel have just about seen it all! There are various factors considered when dating a piece of jewelry, including the make of the metal, findings, styles of chains, stone settings, patent numbers, hallmarks, differing styles of signatures and stamping, differing cuts of stones, types of stones used, and so on.

Steve, a GIA certified diamond grader who has worked in fine jewelry for decades, evaluates the higher-end jewels. When in doubt he reaches out to a network of knowledgeable jewelry industry colleagues. Our store also houses an extensive library of jewelry related guide books where we go to continually educate our staff and customers in the vast and fascinating world of jewels!

Where do you acquire your merchandise?

Owners Steve and Rachel live in the hills of Western Massachusetts and travel every week to various auctions sourcing their merchandise. When in the city, they meet with a couple of trusted pickers and occasionally trade with customers.

Do you sell gift certificates?

We offer gift certificates in whatever denomination you see fit. Stop by the shop or purchase one through our website. We can get one in the mail the same day!

Do you offer appraisal services?

We provide appraisals for fine jewelry purchased in our store or online, by request. Please keep in mind that we must have the item on hand to do so. We make every effort to certify our finest diamonds through GIA or EGL USA. We guarantee our pieces are indeed what we sell them as, and encourage the use of alternative appraisals as a second opinion.

Do you repair jewelry?

We only offer repairs on items purchased at our stores. Please bring in any damaged piece and we’ll take a look to see what can be done. All of our items are sold in “as is” condition. In most instances, the cost of repair will be incurred by the customer.

We are happy to provide referrals for repairs on items not purchased at Pippin. Give us a call or stop by with your piece for our advice.

Do you sell reproductions?

Never! We sell 100% original vintage and antique pieces.  

Do you rent out merchandise?

We rent merchandise for a non-refundable rate of 40% of the total retail price for up to four days. Each day late will incur an additional 10% charge. If goods are returned in a damaged state we reserve the right to charge the remaining balance for those goods.