FAQs
General
What is Serpentine Jewels?
Serpentine is a modern private jeweler. We bring together four roles that are usually fragmented across the jewelry world — gemologist, designer, curator, and advisor — under one roof. The result is a single, trusted partner for every meaningful jewelry decision in your life, from your engagement ring to the thoughtful transformation of a grandmother's heirloom.
Who is Ali Galgano?
Ali is the founder and creative director of Serpentine Jewels and a GIA Graduate Gemologist. Her background spans Cornell, Goldman Sachs, the Gemological Institute of America, and more than a decade of building modern fine jewelry brands. Every Serpentine project is shaped by her point of view: refined taste, technical rigor, and a love of gemstones.
Where are you located?
We work from two private locations: a studio in New York City and an atelier in Greenwich, Connecticut. Both are intentionally intimate spaces, designed for focused collaboration on significant decisions. Appointments are required; addresses are shared upon confirmation. Learn more about our locations.
Do I have to live in New York or Connecticut to work with Serpentine?
Not at all. We serve clients across the country and around the world through virtual consultations and remote project management — by phone, video, photos, sketches, and shipping coordination. Many of our most meaningful relationships have been built without a single in-person meeting. We also host trunk shows in select cities throughout the year — please join our mailing list to hear about upcoming dates.
How do I book an appointment?
Please submit our Request an Appointment form, and our team will be in touch to schedule a time that works for you. For more involved custom projects, we recommend starting with our Begin Your Project form instead — it gives us context on your project before we meet.
Do you have a storefront I can walk into?
We are by appointment only. This allows us to give every client our full attention, prepare pieces and stones thoughtfully in advance, and create the privacy that significant jewelry decisions deserve. To schedule, please submit our Request an Appointment form.
What does "private jeweler" actually mean?
It means we are not a traditional jewelry brand with a fixed aesthetic, and we are not a one-look designer label. We are your jewelry partner — adapting to your style, your occasions, and your collection as it evolves over time. Because we work with you directly, without the overhead of a traditional storefront, value goes into the gemstones, the craftsmanship, and the relationship — not the markup. Most of our clients begin with a single project and grow into a relationship that spans years. Learn more about how we work.
What is the difference between Ready to Ship and Made to Order?
Ready to Ship pieces are available now and dispatch shortly after order confirmation. Made to Order pieces are produced after purchase and typically take six to eight weeks. Custom and bespoke commissions are designed and made specifically for you, on a timeline tailored to the project.
Can I add a custom engraving to a piece?
Yes. Most of our pieces have room for approximately 12 characters. If you are wondering whether a specific engraving will fit on a particular piece, please submit our Connect with Serpentine Jewels form and our team will follow up.
Can you help me with a gift?
Of course. We are happy to help select Ready to Ship pieces, source or design something special, or guide you toward a piece based on the recipient's style, lifestyle, milestone, and your budget. Please reach out and we will be in touch.
Do you offer a wish list or gift hint service?
Yes. Submit our Create Your Serpentine Profile form to share your preferences, sizing, important dates, and a partner or family member's contact information. We will keep your profile on file so we can help thoughtfully with future gifting and special occasions.
Do you host events?
Yes. We host private appointments, trunk shows, and special events in select markets throughout the year. Joining our mailing list is the best way to hear about events near you.
How do I care for my Serpentine pieces?
Fine jewelry rewards attention. We recommend regular professional cleanings, secure storage that prevents pieces from scratching one another, and removing your jewelry before swimming, exercising, sleeping, showering, or applying lotions and perfumes. Detailed care guidance for specific stones and metals is included with every piece, and our team is always available to advise.
Do you offer repairs?
Yes — we are happy to help repair any jewelry we have crafted or sourced. Please share photos and details with our team via the Connect with Serpentine Jewels form, and we will guide you from there.
Do you offer complimentary resizing?
Yes, with a few specifics:
- The first ring resize is complimentary, unless the size difference is dramatic enough to require additional labor or metal.
- Shortening a necklace or bracelet is complimentary the first time.
- Lengthening a necklace or bracelet is priced based on the additional metal and stones required.
To begin, please reach out with a photo and details of your piece.
Do you provide appraisals for insurance?
Yes. We strongly recommend insuring your fine jewelry, and we are happy to provide an appraisal for any piece we create. Additionally, we can facilitate an introduction to an insurance specialist if requested.
Custom Commissions
What is the custom process like?
Every custom project is unique, but all share a common structure built around five steps: sourcing the stone, design, 3D modeling, a resin review (so you can see and feel the proportions before the piece is made in metal), and final craftsmanship. Throughout, we guide with clarity in communication, technical rigor in execution, and confident creative direction. Whether you arrive with a clear vision or an open mind, we meet you where you are. Learn more about our process.
How do I begin a custom project?
Submit our Begin Your Project form to share your vision with our team. Once we have your inquiry, we will be in touch to schedule a consultation.
What is the minimum for a custom piece?
Our custom jewelry starts at $5,000.
How much does a custom piece cost?
Custom projects span a wide range of investment levels above our $5,000 minimum, depending on the stones, metal, complexity of design, and scale of the piece. We are transparent about cost throughout the process and will never proceed without your alignment on budget. The best way to understand what your specific project would entail is to submit a Begin Your Project form — we will follow up with a thoughtful conversation about your vision and provide a clear scope and estimate.
How long does a custom piece take?
Most bespoke projects take several weeks to a few months from first conversation to final delivery, depending on complexity, stone sourcing, and your decision points along the way. We will give you a clear timeline at the outset and update you at every stage. For time-sensitive projects — proposals, anniversaries, milestone moments — please flag this early so we can advise on what is realistic.
What happens if my custom piece will not be ready in time for the occasion?
We always do our best to provide an accurate timeline and update you throughout the process. If your piece will not be ready in time, we are happy to provide a custom painting of the piece for you to present as a gift on the day — a meaningful placeholder until the finished piece arrives.
Can I customize an existing Serpentine piece?
Often, yes. Many of our designs can be adapted in metal, stone, scale, or other details. To explore what is possible for a specific piece, submit our Customize Your Piece form and our team will follow up with options and pricing.
Can I use a stone or piece I already own?
Yes — and this is one of our favorite kinds of work. Whether it is a diamond from a previous setting, a stone you have been holding for the right moment, or an inherited piece you would like to reimagine, our Heirloom Reimagining meaningful about the original while creating something you will actually wear.
How does heirloom redesign work?
We begin with a conversation about the piece's history, your relationship to it, and what you love about it. From there, we evaluate the stones and settings to determine what can be safely reused, propose design directions, and walk you through the same five-step process as any other custom project. Many of our clients are surprised by how much joy comes from wearing what was once kept in a safe. Learn more about Heirloom Reimagining or begin your project.
Do you make engagement rings?
Engagement rings are a significant part of our practice and one of the moments we are most honored to be part of. We work with both diamonds and colored stones, with traditional and unusual cuts, and across every aesthetic from classic to design-forward. Whether you are a partner shopping for a surprise, a couple designing together, or a client commissioning your own ring, we will guide you with care. Explore engagement rings or begin your project.
Do you source diamonds, antique diamonds, and colored gemstones?
Yes. Gemstone sourcing is central to what we do. We can source natural diamonds, antique cuts, and colored gemstones according to your preferences for color, shape, size, origin, quality, character, and budget. Explore our gemstones.
Do you make wedding bands?
Yes. We create wedding bands, eternity bands, ring jackets, and stacking bands, often designed to complement the architecture of your engagement ring.
Can I make changes to the design as we go?
Of course — collaboration is the point! Our process is built around clear decision points (sketch, 3D model, resin) precisely so you can react to a real visualization before any work begins. Significant changes after these milestones may affect timeline or cost, and we will always be transparent about what a change involves.
Is my custom piece returnable?
Custom, bespoke, made-to-order, modified, resized, and engraved pieces are final sale. This is why our process is built around iteration and approval — by the time we cast in metal, you have already seen and approved the design in 3D and resin. Our team's job is to ensure no surprises at the final stage.
Vintage & Estate
How do you source vintage pieces?
Through a network of private sellers, estate specialists, and trusted dealers cultivated over many years. Every piece is personally vetted by Ali for design integrity, condition, and quality. We are selective by nature: not every beautiful piece is a Serpentine piece. Browse our current Vintage & Estate collection.
Can you source a specific vintage piece for me?
Yes. Whether you are searching for an Art Deco bracelet, a signed Cartier piece, or an antique sapphire ring, submit our Vintage Sourcing Request form. We will tap our network and follow up when we find pieces that match your brief.
Are vintage pieces authenticated?
Yes. Each piece is evaluated for authenticity, period, and condition before joining our collection. Where relevant, we share context on the era, the maker, and the history behind the piece.
Can vintage pieces be resized or modified?
Sometimes, depending on the piece. Certain vintage and antique pieces carry construction details or signed elements that should remain untouched, and we will always be candid about what is appropriate. For pieces that can be safely resized, we coordinate the work with bench specialists who understand period jewelry.
Are vintage pieces returnable?
All vintage and estate pieces are final sale. Because each piece is one-of-a-kind and personally vetted, we encourage you to reach out with any questions before purchasing. We are happy to provide additional photographs, measurements, and condition notes, and we welcome in-person or virtual viewings. Please request an appointment or get in touch.
What if a vintage piece needs cleaning or minor restoration before I receive it?
We handle this prior to delivery whenever appropriate. If a piece needs more involved restoration, we will discuss it with you transparently and let you make the call.
Do vintage pieces come with documentation?
We provide what is available and verifiable. For some pieces this includes detailed provenance, original receipts, or designer attribution; for others, it is our own expert assessment.
Shipping, Returns & Payment
Where do you ship?
We ship throughout the United States and can coordinate international shipping on a case-by-case basis. Shipping costs are calculated at checkout or quoted directly for higher-value pieces and custom commissions.
Is shipping insured?
Yes. Every Serpentine shipment is fully insured in transit. We use trusted carriers with signature requirements appropriate to the piece's value, and we coordinate ship dates directly with clients to help ensure someone will be available to receive the package.
How long does shipping take?
For Ready to Ship pieces, we typically dispatch within a few business days of order confirmation. Made to Order pieces ship once production is complete (generally six to eight weeks from order). Custom and vintage pieces are coordinated individually based on your timeline. All of our pieces ship overnight and typically arrive the day after they are shipped.
Can I pick up my piece in person?
Yes — in-person pickup at our New York City studio or Greenwich atelier may be arranged by appointment.
For international shipments, who is responsible for duties and taxes?
Clients are responsible for any applicable duties, taxes, customs charges, or import fees on international shipments. We are happy to discuss expectations before shipment.
What is your return policy?
For Ready to Ship pieces, we accept returns within seven days of delivery, provided the piece is unworn and in its original condition. Custom commissions and all vintage and estate pieces are final sale. To begin a return, please contact us so we can guide you through the process and arrange insured return shipping.
What about exchanges?
We are happy to discuss exchanges for Ready to Ship pieces within the same seven-day window. We want you to love what you wear — please reach out and we will do everything we reasonably can to find the right outcome.
What if my piece arrives damaged?
Please contact us immediately. Every shipment is carefully inspected and packaged before it leaves us, but if anything is amiss on arrival, we will make it right.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept bank transfer, check, and credit card. A 3% processing fee applies to credit card transactions on custom and made-to-order pieces; if you would like to pay by credit card, please let us know and we will prepare an invoice with the fee included.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. We offer financing through Affirm at checkout. For larger custom and diamond projects, we are also able to structure payment milestones tied to project stages — please discuss this with your Serpentine advisor early in the conversation.
Do you collect sales tax?
We currently collect sales tax on all purchases delivered to or picked up in Connecticut, New York, and Washington, D.C. Please reach out to determine the sales tax specifics for your piece.
How do I get in touch?
How do I get in touch?
The fastest way to reach our team is through the links below:
- General questions, repairs, and inquiries: Connect with Serpentine Jewels
- Book an appointment: Request an Appointment
- Start a custom project: Begin Your Project
- Customize an existing piece: Customize Your Piece
- Source a vintage piece: Vintage Sourcing Request
- Join our private client list: Create Your Serpentine Profile
You can also reach us at hello@serpentinejewels.com or 203-914-4636.