FAQs

Only trade customers who register can see the full range of our products with prices.

Information regarding shipping can be found on our Delivery Information page.

Our company is strictly Business-to-Business. In order to protect our existing customers, we require potential customers to register so that we can be sure that we are dealing only with genuine trade customers. We ask for references, or some proof of trade, such as a link to a sales platform or website, to confirm business status (not for credit purposes). If you are able to direct us to a business platform or shop this can be very helpful and speed up the process. 

We understand that it is difficult to start out and gain access to wholesalers, and you may not have any trade references. If this is the case, please give us a ring to discuss your situation and we will do what we can to help. If you can send us an e-mail to outline your business plans, this is helpful. We love helping new businesses to get started and have helped many over the years on their steps to success. 

You will receive an e-mail from us confirming your registration and password, usually by the next working day. 

As we are strictly a Business-to-Business company we ask that customers spend £50 (excluding VAT) on an initial order and thereafter £50 (excluding VAT). The website will not accept orders for less than £50. This is to cover the cost of order processing and payment. For account customers there is no minimum order requirement, but usual postage charges will apply. Regular proforma customers may apply for an account.

Orders may be placed via the website, email, mail, or telephone. The items will be ‘picked,’ using electronic scanners to minimise mistakes, and the order processed by the dispatch team. 

Ordering Options
The CME website gives customers information about the availability of our products and the options for ordering with stock levels being updated every 2 to 3 hours.
1. In-stock: This indicates that the products are in stock and can be added to orders and sent immediately.
2. Partially available: This indicates that the products are in stock but that the stock is limited in number.
3. Telephone Orders: Buyers who place orders by fax, telephone or e-mail will be informed of items that are available or out of stock prior to the order being picked.

No, we never send substitute items unless specifically requested by a customer.
Customers are charged only for items in stock and available.

Pro-forma customers can choose an e-mail letting them know when the goods are in stock when ordering on the website.

Account Customers (not pro-forma) will be offered the chance to pre-order items which, once in stock, will be added to any subsequent order. They may also request a pre-order delivery of one or more items although this will incur delivery charge.

Back Orders:

We do not offer a back-order service.

To ensure that orders for all customers are processed as fairly and efficiently as possible, customers cannot add to, or alter their orders, once they have been placed and confirmed by us.

Prices are fixed to customers at the point of dispatch (see Terms and Conditions). Customers are entitled to cancel orders if the price of a previously ordered item is increased and therefore unacceptable to them.

We make every effort to keep our prices stable. However, as we deal only in precious metals, prices are subject to fluctuations in precious metal values and currency rates so there are times when we need to adjust the prices both up and down. Prices are fixed to customers at the point of delivery (see Terms and Conditions) but, otherwise, prices may go up or down. We do not add a surcharge to existing stock when prices soar, and we pass savings on to customers when prices are low.

We do not offer a sale-or-return service. Items which have manufacturing faults will, of course, be exchanged or refunded. Postage will be refunded on manufacturing faults but not on items returned for other reasons.

Please downlaod the 'Returns form'  from the 'My Account' section of the website

We will then send a pre-paid and tracked ‘Returns’ label via email which can be attached to your package.

Customers who choose to return goods by alternative carriers or services will be responsible for their own postage costs.

For International returns please see our Full Terms and Conditions

This is generally the case although we may have a significant amount of the special offer in stock. Occasionally we discount a running line. Please contact us for information if you wish to know the stock availability. Special offers that sell particularly well are occasionally re-instated as current lines

As our goods are unbranded most of our customers prefer to use their own branded packaging. However, we do have a selection of plain boxes available separately as shown in the ‘Sundries’ section of the website.

Yes, we love to collaborate with companies to develop new items for their ranges. Please be aware that for bespoke items the minimum quantity may be 50 items or more. Please contact the buying and design team tracey@cmejewellery.co.uk to discuss any project you would like to develop.

CME customers are welcome to use all the stock images on the website, with the exception of our model images. Products that can be shared can be accessed by right-clicking any image on the website and pressing the download option.

We also operate a photo share service that enables customers to access and use our lifestyle and banner shots. In order to access these images navigate to 'My Account' and press the  'Download Images' option. 

Yes, and there is the ability to hide our prices when you do so – just click on ‘My Account’ and then ‘Hide Website Prices.’ This enables you to use our website as a catalogue and show off the entire range or allow your customers to make choices. When you’re done, go back and turn them on again. You can use the website as a catalogue safe in the knowledge that your customers cannot access our site or buy from us directly. 

No, you will be chatting to one of our members of staff.

Yes, we deal only in precious metals; Sterling Silver and 9 and 18 carat gold. (Please see Hallmarking information under ‘Hallmark Guarantee.’) The UK Hallmarking Act requires all silver items over 7.78g to be hallmarked and all gold over 1.0 g. Below these weights there is no legal obligation for items to be stamped although they must still comply with the necessary standards. However, we recognise that customer confidence requires some form of proof and therefore most of our silver products will be stamped with 925, SIL or SILVER and gold with 375 or 750 respectively. (See the Metals and Materials and Hallmark Guarantee sections for a further explanation.)

Fashions for yellow and rose gold colours vary. To fulfil customer requirements for gold items at affordable prices we offer gold-on-silver items as part of our range. In addition, many items also have coatings to resist wear and/or tarnishing. Please see our Metals and Materials section which has further detail about the metals and materials used in our products. Please note that we deal only in precious metals.

Unfortunately tarnishing due to the chemical composition of silver can be a problem for silver and low carat gold items.

Sterling silver is an alloy of silver and small amounts of base metals such as copper. The chemical make-up of silver means that it can be prone to tarnishing as the copper reacts with sulphur-containing gases in the air to form a layer of the compound copper sulphide (Cu2S).

Tarnish occurs gradually when the surface of metal is exposed to air and moisture. A chemical reaction begins to take place (known as oxidation), as the metal reacts with sulphur in the air which, in turn, starts to form a dark layer all over the items in question. This process can be exacerbated by being exposed to the air, the presence of moisture, chemicals, or bodily sweat, etc.

Traders are advised to store their jewellery prior to sale in a dry place away from light or heat and to equip their workplace with impregnated silver cloths or solutions which can help if tarnishing develops.

https://www.naj.co.uk/advice/Caring-for-Jewellery

We cannot determine with absolute certainty that the Sterling silver jewellery purchased is 100% hypoallergenic. However, we reduce the risk of allergy in all products by ensuring that,

• They comply with all hallmarking regulations and are guaranteed silver or gold.
• They comply with the REACH regulations with regard to nickel content (nickel is the most likely metal to cause an allergic reaction)

Pure silver itself is hypoallergenic. However, Sterling silver is an alloy which contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% of other metals as pure silver is too soft for making jewellery. Allergy to pure silver is extremely rare but allergies may occur to other metals used to make up the remaining 7.5%. Copper is the most common metal used to make sterling silver, as copper is an exceptionally strong material. Allergies to copper are very rare.

Gold

Pure gold is hypoallergenic. However, 9ct, 14ct, 18ct and 22ct gold are alloys; a mix of gold and other metals such as copper, palladium, zinc and silver and therefore cannot be claimed as 100% hypoallergenic.

Rhodium

Rhodium is hypoallergenic as it is tarnish resistant. Rhodium-plated jewellery offers a fine layer of rhodium that can protect the user’s skin from exposure to the any allergenic metals.

We recycle all of our scrap silver. This is used to manufacture products that are made in the UK. Many of our overseas suppliers also use recycled silver. We advertise 100% recycled silver only where the supplier has certification to prove this, is a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and has been audited against the RJC Chain of Custody.

Unfortunately, there is no international standard for converting ring sizes from one country to another. The UK, generally, uses letters of the alphabet with the most popular sizes depending on the style of ring and it’s intended wearer – men usually require larger sizes than women.

We stock from as small as size J, through, in some cases, to size Z whilst trying to stock those sizes likely to be requested for that style. (Sizes L-R are those most commonly available.)

CME illustrations and product descriptions or descriptions of size, dimension, style, weight etc. are given in good faith, however, cannot be guaranteed as absolutely correct. Some ring manufacturers do not work to UK sizes, so we offer the nearest approximation available. We work with our suppliers to try to ensure consistency with the ring sizes supplied.

How can I be sure I’m sending the right ring size to my customer?

We advise all retailers to have the means to size and check their own rings. Most jewellers find a standard ring stick the best option- the size is taken from the leading edge of the ring (nearest the handle of the ring stick).

Updated 13/08/25