I am going to be completely transparent about this, because I think you deserve a straight answer before you decide whether to order from us.
We ship from Surat, India. Delivery to the USA takes 12 to 18 business days. That is longer than Amazon Prime. It is longer than most US-based brands. And I think if you understand why, and why that is actually a good thing for the piece you are buying, it changes how you feel about those 12 to 18 days.
Why We Ship From India
Because that is where our jewellery is made. By artisans. In workshops. In a city that has been working with precious metals for centuries.
We are not a brand that sources products from a factory, imports them to a US warehouse, and ships them to you domestically. We are a brand that makes genuine handcrafted 925 sterling silver jewellery in Surat, Gujarat, India, and ships it directly to you from the city where it was made.
The difference between those two models is the difference between a product and a piece. A product is manufactured somewhere, stored somewhere else, and shipped from wherever is most convenient for logistics. A piece comes from a specific place, made by specific people, with specific skills. Ours come from Surat.
What Surat Is and Why It Matters
Surat processes approximately 90% of the world's rough diamonds. This single fact makes it one of the most important cities in global jewellery. But Surat's precious metals heritage goes far beyond diamonds.
The city has centuries of silverwork tradition. During the Mughal era, Surat was one of the most important trading ports in the world, where Persian, Gujarati, and European craft traditions converged. The techniques for working silver that were developed and refined during that period are still practised in Surat's workshops today, passed within families across generations.
When I say our pieces are handcrafted in Surat, I am not using a marketing phrase. I mean: a skilled craftsperson in a small family workshop in Surat, using techniques that have been refined over generations, made this specific piece. The weight of the silver. The quality of the polish. The smooth action of the clasp. These reflect that craft skill.
Why Indian Handcrafted Silver Is Priced Lower Than Western Equivalents
A question I receive regularly: if your silver is genuine 925 sterling silver, handcrafted by skilled artisans, why is it priced at $69.99 when comparable Western handmade silver jewellery costs $150 to $300?
The honest answer is cost structure. Labour costs in India differ fundamentally from labour costs in the USA, UK, or Europe. This does not mean the skill level is lower. The artisans who make our pieces are genuinely skilled — their craft is the product of years of practice within a tradition that has produced fine metalwork for centuries.
It means that the economics of producing handcrafted sterling silver jewellery in Surat allow us to price at $69.99 for a piece that would cost $150 to $300 if made in the USA or UK. This is not cutting corners. It is a different cost structure for the same level of craftsmanship, or better.
For you, as a buyer, this represents extraordinary value: genuine handcrafted 925 sterling silver at a price point that would only buy factory-produced costume jewellery from a Western brand.
What 12 to 18 Business Days Actually Means
I want to address this directly because I know it is the thing that makes some buyers hesitate.
12 to 18 business days is approximately 2.5 to 4 weeks including weekends. That is how long international tracked shipping from India to the USA takes through the postal system with a reputable carrier. This is not us being slow. This is the reality of international shipping from India.
During those 2.5 to 4 weeks: your order has a tracking number. You can see exactly where your parcel is at any moment, from the moment it leaves our workshop in Surat to the moment it arrives at your door. It passes through Indian customs, international transit hubs, US customs, and then enters the USPS domestic network for final delivery.
We dispatch within 24 hours of your order, Monday to Saturday. You receive your tracking number by email the moment we ship. If your parcel ever stops moving in tracking for more than a week, email us immediately and we investigate and resolve it.
What Happens If Something Goes Wrong
This is the most important question for any international purchase from a brand you have not bought from before. So I am going to answer it completely.
If the piece arrives damaged: Email abdesignsjewelleryusa@gmail.com with a photo of the damage within 7 days of delivery. We will send a replacement piece at no cost. No argument. No lengthy process.
If the piece does not arrive: If tracking shows your parcel is genuinely lost — not just delayed, but actually showing no movement for more than two weeks — email us. We will investigate with the carrier and, if the parcel is confirmed lost, send a replacement.
If the quality does not meet your expectations: This is a subjective area. What we can commit to: every piece is 925 hallmarked sterling silver, every piece is nickel-free, and every piece is quality checked by our team before dispatch. If the piece you receive does not match the product listing in any material way, email us with photos and we will resolve it.
If you simply do not love it: We are not a brand with a no-questions-asked return policy on international orders. The cost and complexity of return shipping from the USA to India makes this impractical for us as a small bootstrapped brand. What we can commit to is resolving any genuine quality, material, or accuracy issue immediately.
This is an honest policy. Some international buyers prefer the reassurance of a domestic return address. If that is you, this may not be the right purchase for you right now, and I would rather tell you that honestly than have you buy and be disappointed.
Why This Model Produces Better Jewellery
When you buy directly from a brand that makes its own jewellery in its own workshop, in the city where the jewellery tradition exists, you get something that brands with US warehouses and outsourced production cannot offer: a piece with genuine provenance.
Provenance is not just a nice story. It is the difference between a piece that has meaning and a piece that is merely functional. Our smiley charm was made by hand in Surat. It carries the hallmark of 925 sterling silver. It was quality checked by a real person before it left our workshop. It was tracked from Surat to your door. When it arrives, you know exactly where it came from and what it is made of.
That is what we offer. And I believe it is worth 12 to 18 business days.
Use code USALAUNCH10 for 10% off your first order. Valid 30 days.
→ Shop the Smiley Charm — $69.99 | → Read Full FAQs
FAQ
Why does Abdesigns ship from India?
Because that is where our jewellery is made. By artisans. In Surat, Gujarat — a city with centuries of precious metals heritage. We ship directly from our workshop to you, which means 12–18 business days but genuine craft provenance.
Is it safe to order jewellery from India online?
Yes, when you order from a legitimate brand with a transparent returns policy, tracked shipping, and direct founder contact. We provide all three. Read our full FAQs for shipping and returns details.
What is the difference between Indian handmade silver and factory silver?
Indian handmade silver from Surat comes from artisans working in a centuries-old precious metals tradition. Factory silver is machine-produced in bulk. The quality of the finish, the weight of the metal, and the precision of the clasp reflect the difference. Both may be stamped 925 — but only one is handcrafted.
