FAQ

YES. Acrylic is the usual abbreviation for polymethyl methacrylate, and Plexiglas® is one of the many brand names of this plastic. Over time this brand name has become generic as 'plexiglass'. It is also referred to as Perspex, PMMA and LUCITE.

All acrylic products are made using premium quality brands from North America, Europe and Japan, and are for the most part scratch-resistant. ACRYLIC CARE: With frequent wear, over time your piece may become slightly dull due to very fine scratches on the surface. You can clean your piece with a slightly damp cloth, then polish it gently with a soft polishing cloth used to polish glass. Acrylics with frosted or engraved surfaces do not require polishing. MIRRORED ACRYLIC: Mirrored acrylics are prone to scratches so please handle with care. DO NOT used any chemicals or cleaning solutions on the foil side (grey in appearance). The foil side is what gives the mirror its reflective appearance and can be easily damaged. If this area is scratched or damaged, it CANNOT be polished. If the mirrored side is scratched, it can be gently polished with a soft polishing cloth used to polish glass, but be sure to avoid the foil side.

Accidents do happen and some pieces may break if dropped on a hard surface. Handle your jewelry the same way you would handle glassware. Acrylic sheet can be glued back together using Epoxy glue. This is a two-part glue, which requires equal mixing of the two. USE SPARINGLY: a little goes along way. Excess glue can be wiped away with methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) on a Q-tip. Please read the manufacturers' instructions before attempting to repair your piece. Epoxy curing time (the time it takes to dry) may vary depending on the brand. Some pieces may be easier to repair than others. PLEASE DO NOT USE SUPER GLUE! as this will damage the acrylic. If in doubt, do not hesitate to contact Natasha at info@afrodeco.com

All jewelry and products are handmade by Natasha Lisa in her Montreal studio. Giclee archival prints are mostly printed in Montreal but in some cases in London.

No matter where you live, a custom portrait can be shipped to you or to someone else anywhere in the world. Please note that all custom printing is carried out by a third party who do not currently offer gift wrapping or greeting cards. If you would like to arrange your own printing of the artwork, you can choose to receive a digital file version. For customers in the UK, all artwork is printed in London. For the rest of the world, all artwork is printed and distributed from Montreal.

Some of the designs posted on social media may be custom jewelry or commissions that are not available to buy online. Some jewelry pieces are limited stock and some items are one-off pieces.

Pure silver is referred to as .999 pure. Sterling Silver or 925 silver is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. The copper adds hardness. Sterling (925) silver is the highest standard for the jewelry industry.

Gold vermeil is 24k gold electroplated onto pure silver (999) or sterling silver (925). The latter is more hypoallergenic due to the sterling silver layer. All gold vermeil jewelry sold by Afro Deco is electroplated by the artist with a thick layer of 24k gold. The metal is then sealed to prevent tarnishing. You can wear gold vermeil jewellery daily, but if worn in wet conditions it will end up turning silver over time, because the gold will wear, exposing the sterling silver inner core. If and when this happens, items can be re-plated.

Gold filled is a layer of 14k or 18k gold bonded to sterling silver or to a base metal such as brass. This material is used to make the gold LUCITE FULANI earring hooks. All gold filled jewelry sold by Afro Deco can be worn daily and is waterproof.

A micron is one millionth of a meter and refers to the thickness of the gold electroplating applied to the surface of the jewelry. Afro Deco uses the maximum recommended thickness of 3 microns on all electroplated items. Cheaper department store brands use 0.175 to 0.5 microns.

To prevent tarnishing and fading please following the guidelines below: Keep your jewelry in its box when not wearing it Avoid contact with creams and perfumes Keep out of direct sunlight: don't leave jewelry by the window Try not to get your jewelry wet: don't leave jewelry in the bathroom or wear it in the shower Do not use cleaning solutions on your plated jewelry

For reasons of hygiene and safety, pierced earrings are non-returnable, unless they are faulty or you received the wrong order. If you wish to return your earrings, please contact us at info@afrodeco.com.