Frequently asked questions

+ What is recycled gold?

The mining of new gold and silver is very damaging, both to nature and to the workers involved. That’s why we work with conflict-free, recycled silver and gold.

Our wedding & engagement rings are made out of 100% recycled silver or gold, sourced from old jewellery or from a metal refinery specialised in recycling precious metals in Belgium, which is certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC); the leading standard authority in the global jewellery industry.

More information about our recycled metals

+ Which kind of silver and gold is used?

De Vree uses 'sterling silver', made out of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. The copper is added to strengthen the metal, as pure silver is too soft to be used for jewellery pieces. It’s the most commonly used silver alloy in the jewellery industry and completely nickel free.

Our golden jewellery is crafted in 14K and 18K gold, the 2 most commonly used alloys. The number refers to the amount of gold. Pure gold (24K) cannot be used for jewellery, as it is too soft.

• 14K gold means the alloy consists out of 58.5% of pure gold.
• 18K gold means the alloy consists out of 75% of pure gold.

+ What is the difference between gold & gold-plated silver?

Gold jewellery means the entire piece is made out of solid gold. At De Vree, we work with 14K and 18K recycled gold. Gold-plated silver means the piece is made out of solid silver and coated with a layer of 18k gold. Depending on the wear & tear, it’s possible the gold layer will fade in time. If this happens, we offer a gold-plating service to restore the piece back to its former glory.

Please note: this service is only possible with jewellery made entirely of metal. Jewellery in combination with glass cannot be gold-plated again. Wear and tear of the gold layer is especially applicable to rings and bracelets. These were therefore provided with a thicker gold layer (5 microns).

+ Can I try on various designs?

You are welcome to visit our studio and look at the pieces, without any buying commitment, after making an appointment

We work on appointment only to provide a personal, one-on-one experience for you to discover & try on our collections, discuss all options for our engagement & wedding rings or to create the personal jewellery piece you’ve been dreaming of. Enjoy a cup of coffee and discover our studio, where each design is handcrafted and made to measure.

+ Where is your studio located?

To provide a personal experience, we decided to open up a studio, not a regular shop. Our studio and atelier is located in a 19th century building, in the heart of Antwerp, in the midst of ‘De gouden straatjes’.

+ When should I make an appointment for a wedding or engagement ring?

In an ideal scenario, you should make an appointment about 3 months before the ‘big day’. Of course you can make an earlier appointment to get a better overview of all possibilities.

+ Can our rings be engraved?

Our [engagement][2] or [wedding rings][2], can be engraved with your name(s), a date or a special message of your choice. This is always included in the price.

+ What is the average price of an engagement ring?

Our prices (in gold) start from around €440 (without diamonds or gemstones) and go up depending the design, gold, ring width, choice of lab diamond(s)/gemstone(s), etc.

+ What is the average price of a wedding ring?

Our prices (in gold) start from around €440 per ring (without diamonds or gemstones) and go up depending the design, 14 vs 18 carat gold, ring width, choice of lab diamond(s)/gemstone(s), etc.

+ Can I contact you for custom designs?

You certainly can. If you are looking for a custom design for yourself or a loved one or you are looking for an engagement ring or wedding rings, you can contact us and we'll make it happen.

+ What are lab grown diamonds & gemstones?

Lab grown diamonds and gemstones are created in a manmade environment, replicating their natural creation process. They are made in a lab, instead of mined, but have the exact same physical, optical and chemical composition as their natural equivalents. We made a page specifically dedicated to our diamonds & gemstones, which you can take a look at here.

+ Do you exclusively work with lab grown diamonds?

We exclusively work with lab grown diamonds because of ethical & sustainable reasons, except if you have natural diamonds in your possession (e.g. from family jewellery). Then we would of course be happy to give it a new life.

+ How do I best care for & store my jewellery?

Silver and gold jewellery is best kept in a dry, clean & safe place. Avoid storing it in e.g. your bathroom. You can keep De Vree jewellery in the box it came in. We advise you not to swim, exercise or shower wiith your jewellery to keep it in the best shape as possible. In general, it’s also best to keep your jewellery away from cosmetics and perfumes.

+ How do I best clean my jewellery?

If you bought one or more of our designs and, after wearing it a couple of months or years, it needs to be cleaned, you can always swing by our studio, after making an appointment where we will clean it free of charge.

If you want to clean the jewellery yourself at home:

• Silver jewellery can oxidise over time (black tarnish). You can clean them with a soft cleaning cloth, available in our online store

• Gold-plated jewellery does not need to be cleaned, but wear and tear over time can cause the gold-plated layer to fade. When this happens, we offer a gold-plating service to restore the jewellery to its former glory.

• Solid gold jewellery can be cleaned it by soaking it in warm water and a dash of mild detergent for 15 minutes, rinsing it with water and drying it with a soft cloth.