FAQ — Materials, Sizing, Shipping & Returns

Everything we get asked most often, answered directly. If your question isn't here, email contact@monrich.co.uk.

Materials

What are Monrich pieces made of?

Every Monrich piece is built on a base of 316L stainless steel, the same medical-grade alloy used in surgical instruments. Gold-tone pieces carry an 18K gold PVD coating applied at a thickness of 1 to 2 microns. Silver-tone pieces are polished 316L stainless steel with no coating, which is why they cannot tarnish at all.

Is Monrich jewellery solid gold?

No. Monrich uses 18K gold PVD plating over a 316L stainless steel core. We state this plainly because it matters: PVD-coated steel outlasts thin electroplated brass by years, holds its colour far better, and costs a fraction of solid gold. We do not sell solid gold and we do not describe our pieces as such.

What is PVD and why does it matter?

PVD stands for Physical Vapour Deposition. The gold is bonded to the steel in a vacuum chamber at high temperature, which fuses the coating to the metal rather than simply laying it on the surface. Standard electroplating measures around 0.5 microns and wears through quickly. Our 1 to 2 micron PVD layer is several times thicker and molecularly bonded, so it resists scratching, sweat and daily wear.

Will it turn my skin green or black?

No. Green or black marks come from copper and nickel reacting with skin. 316L stainless steel contains neither in free form, and the PVD layer sits between your skin and the base metal.

Is it safe for sensitive skin?

Yes. 316L is hypoallergenic and is the grade used for surgical implants and piercing jewellery. If you react to costume jewellery, cheap plated brass or nickel alloys, 316L is typically the material that solves it.

Is it waterproof?

316L stainless steel does not rust and is unaffected by water. You can wear it in the rain, wash your hands and shower with it. We still recommend removing pieces before swimming pools and the sea, because prolonged chlorine and salt exposure dulls any finish over time.

Sizing

What bracelet sizes do you offer?

Bracelets are available in 16cm, 18cm and 20cm. As a rough guide, 16cm suits a slim wrist, 18cm fits most men, and 20cm suits a larger wrist or a deliberately loose fit.

How do I measure my wrist?

Wrap a strip of paper or a tape measure around your wrist just below the wrist bone, mark where it meets, then measure the length flat. Add roughly 1.5cm to 2cm for a comfortable fit.

How does ring sizing work?

Rings are listed in UK letter sizes with the US number alongside, for example "Q UK (US 8)". If you already know one system you can read straight across. If you know neither, measure the internal diameter of a ring you already wear and compare it against our size guide.

What chain length should I choose?

Chains come in 40cm (16in), 45cm (18in) and 50cm (20in). A 40cm chain sits at the base of the neck, 45cm sits just below the collarbone, and 50cm sits on the upper chest and works well layered under or over a t-shirt.

Care

How do I keep my piece looking new?

Wipe it with a soft dry cloth after wearing. Skin oils and sweat are the main cause of dulling, and a ten-second wipe removes them. Store pieces in the pouch or box they arrived in rather than loose in a drawer, where they scratch against each other.

What should I avoid?

Keep perfume, aftershave, hairspray, chlorine and household cleaning products off the metal. Spray fragrance first and put your jewellery on afterwards. Direct contact with harsh chemicals is what shortens the life of a PVD coating.

How long does the gold coating last?

With normal wear and reasonable care, a 1 to 2 micron PVD coating holds its finish for years rather than months. Lifespan depends on how you wear it: a ring worn daily on a working hand will show wear sooner than a chain worn under a shirt.

Can I shower or exercise in it?

Showering is fine. For training, the metal itself is unaffected by sweat, but we would remove rings before lifting, since the pressure of a bar against a ring band is what deforms metal.

Orders and delivery

Which countries do you ship to?

We ship across the United Kingdom, the European Union and the Nordics, and internationally to the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. We operate local storefronts at monrich.co.uk, monrich.fr, monrich.it, monrich.de and monrich.es, each priced in local currency.

Will I have to pay customs or import duty?

Orders inside the UK carry no import charges. EU and international orders may be subject to customs charges or import duties levied by the destination country. These are set and collected by that country's customs authority, not by us. Full detail is in our shipping policy.

How do I track my order?

You receive a tracking link by email as soon as your order ships. If it hasn't arrived, check your spam folder first, then email contact@monrich.co.uk with your order number and we will look it up.

Can I change or cancel an order?

Email us as soon as possible with your order number. If the order has not yet left the warehouse we can amend or cancel it. Once it has shipped, it falls under our returns process instead.

Returns

What is your returns policy?

You have 30 days from delivery to return any unworn item for a full refund. The piece must be unworn, in its original condition, with its original packaging. This sits on top of your statutory rights: UK customers are covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and EU customers keep the 14-day right of withdrawal and the legal guarantee of conformity.

Can I return a personalised item?

Custom-engraved pieces are made to order and are not eligible for return unless they arrive faulty or do not match the engraving you specified. If you spot a mistake in what you submitted, contact us within 24 hours of ordering and we can usually correct it before production starts.

My item arrived faulty. What now?

Email contact@monrich.co.uk with your order number and photos. You are entitled to a full refund, a free replacement or a free repair, and that right applies for six months under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

How do I start a return?

Email us with your order number and the reason for the return. We confirm the return and send instructions. Full terms are in our refund policy.

About Monrich

Who operates Monrich?

Monrich is operated by MONRICH LIMITED, a company incorporated in England and Wales, company number 17243557, registered at 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX. You can reach us at contact@monrich.co.uk.

Is Monrich jewellery made in the UK?

Monrich is a UK company and our pieces are designed to our specification, but manufacturing is carried out by our production partners overseas. We do not claim UK manufacture.