FAQs

For how long have we been in business?

  • We’ve been in business as a ring store for 9 years but we have since 2016 changed to be an exclusively fraternity ring store and it has been a fulfilling and growing experience since then.

Are our rings made of real gold?

  • Yes! However, they are not solid gold for the simple reason of keeping the rings at an accessible price for everyone. Our fraternity rings are plated with 18k yellow gold and they look amazing.

What is gold plating?

  • Gold plating is a process where a thin layer of gold is bonded onto a base metal. Plating is quite common in the jewelry world, with gold and rhodium being two popular types. Gold plating is commonly used for costume jewelry or to mimic more expensive pieces. It is almost impossible to tell apart expensive pieces of gold jewelry from inexpensive gold plated imitations. Gold plating can be done on most metals, such as nickel, brass, stainless steel, silver and copper. Modern industrial metals such as tungsten and titanium are also frequently gold plated. Of these, silver and copper are the most commonly used.

How Much Gold Does 18-Karat Jewelry Contain?

  • Gold karat is a measure of how much of the precious metal is contained in a piece made with it. If a jewelry item is 18 karats, this simply means that out of a total of 24 parts, 18 parts of the piece are gold, and 6 parts are made up of other metals. Expressed in percentage terms, 18 karats is equal to 75% gold content (18 divided by 24). The other 25% usually consists of metals such as zinc, copper, nickel, etc. The additional metals in 18K gold serve to make the alloy harder and more durable than pure gold (24K), which is too soft for jewelry.

Why Buy 18k Gold? 

  • 18K gold is a good choice if you want a piece of jewelry that is reasonably pure but is not overly soft. This alloy, along with 14K gold, is a good compromise between durability and purity. Of course, 14K gold is harder and more durable. However, if you are very sensitive to nickel, even some 14K pieces may give you a rash, whereas 18K gold is much less likely to cause an allergic reaction. It is not a good idea to choose 18K gold for pieces that you will wear every day, especially rings or bracelets, which are more likely to get hit or scratched. In such cases, 14K or 10K gold may be a better choice as it will not bend, break or scratch as easily.

What’s the difference between white and yellow gold?

  • There are a lot of similarities between white and yellow gold — both work well with nearly any cut, clarity, and carat of diamond. The main difference between white and yellow is simply the metal mixture that’s used to make them. Some of the most common metals used to mix with gold are copper, silver, nickel, palladium, and zinc. Depending on what metals are used and the percentage that they’re present will result in these two common colors. White gold has more nickel and zinc, while yellow gold contains more copper. However, it’s the karat number that you should be looking at if you’re concerned about the presence of pure gold. 18 karat yellow gold and 18 karat white gold have the same percentage of gold, plus 6 parts of ‘other metals’ (totaling 24 karats).

Are the diamonds real?

  • No! What we use is AAA grade cubic zirconia.

What is cubic zirconia?

  • Cubic zirconia is a much less expensive man-made gem that appears quite like a diamond, but they are very different. Cubic zirconia is a manmade mineral made of zirconium dioxide. CZs can appear to be very like diamonds, but they have very different mineral structures. Cubic zirconias have been found in nature in small amounts, but the vast majority used in the jewelry are man-made in a lab. Synthetic diamonds are also made in labs, but they have the same carbon structure as diamonds- cubic zirconias do not. 

Where and how are your rings made?

  • Our rings are semi-handcrafted which means the base of the ring is machine made with a mold, but all the gems are carefully placed by hand with tongs. All this process is made by our loyal and trustworthy manufacturers in China.

How much do the rings weight?

  • Our rings normally weight between 50 and 60 grams.

What are some care tips for the rings?

  • Although it is quite lasting and durable, plated gold can get scratched and dented, if it is treated too harshly – pieces worn on hands and wrists, such as rings and bracelets, are especially susceptible to this kind of damage. It is always wise to keep that in mind and take them off before activities that are potentially high-impact. Frequently used gold that is repeatedly exposed to dust, moisture, perspiration and makeup can eventually collect dirt and marks, and over time lose some of its radiant shine.Like most jewelry, gold can be altered and even damaged by acids, abrasives and other harsh chemicals. Chlorine is its worst enemy – it can weaken gold and eventually break it down, so it is best to take off gold jewelry before getting into a swimming pool or a hot tub. When using chlorine bleach, it is best to wear thick rubber gloves or remove your rings and bracelets altogether.

Do your rings have warranty?

  • No. However we do promise the best quality we can provide. The positive feedback from our clients proves that.

What's your return policy?

  • We do not accept returns at fratrings.com so be very careful when placing an order. We fulfill most orders almost immediately so adjustments to the order is rarely possible. Spend extra time measuring your finger, all of our rings are true to their size. Please be mindful that our rings will not last forever; Premium longer than Standard but please take care of either accordingly (keep out of water, not for everyday wear, etc.)

What's your exchange policy?

  • We will 100% always send you the correct ring or custom ring when something is our fault. We’d only ask you to send a picture of the incorrect ring and packaging and we will ship out the correct version as soon as possible.

What's your refund policy?

  • We do no offer refunds but will gladly exchange the ring if there is something wrong with the one you received