Terms of service

Last updated: 8th March 2026

 

 

These Terms of Service govern your use of the À Vie Diamonds website (aviediamonds.com) and any commission or purchase you make through it. Please read them before using the site or placing an order.

 

Our services are intended for consumers — private individuals purchasing for personal use. By using the site or submitting an enquiry, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old and that you are acting as a consumer, not for business or commercial purposes.

 

 

1. About Us

À Vie Diamonds Ltd is a bespoke jeweller registered in England and Wales. We design and make jewellery to individual order for clients across the UK and worldwide.

 

Company name               À Vie Diamonds Ltd

Company number            16096594

Registered in                   England and Wales

Registered office             Bartle House, 9 Oxford Court, Manchester, England, M2 3WQ

Email                               enquiries@aviediamonds.com

Website                           aviediamonds.com

VAT                                 Not VAT registered

 

2. How a Contract Is Formed

It is important to understand at what point a legally binding contract comes into existence between you and À Vie Diamonds. The answer is: not at enquiry, and not during the consultation or design process.

 

2.1  Enquiry and consultation — no obligation

Submitting an enquiry through our website or contacting us by any other means does not create a contract. Our consultations are free and without obligation. You are under no commitment to proceed at any point during the design and CAD development process.

2.2  When the contract is formed

A binding contract comes into existence when both of the following have occurred: (a) both you and À Vie Diamonds have signed a Commission Agreement setting out the agreed brief; and (b) you have paid the 70% production deposit in cleared funds following confirmation of your design.

 

Until both conditions are met, no contract exists and either party may withdraw without obligation.

2.3  The Commission Agreement

When you confirm that you are ready to proceed, we will issue a Commission Agreement — a document specific to your commission that records the agreed design, stone specification, metal, payment schedule, and delivery details. The Commission Agreement and these Terms of Service together form the complete contract between us.

 

Where there is any conflict between a specific term in your Commission Agreement and these Terms of Service, the Commission Agreement prevails for that commission.

2.4  Our right to decline

We reserve the right to decline any enquiry or commission at our discretion, before a Commission Agreement is signed. If we are unable to take on a commission, we will tell you promptly and no payment will be taken.

 

3. Pricing and Payment

3.1  Prices

All prices are quoted in pounds sterling (£). À Vie Diamonds is not VAT registered; prices do not include VAT and no VAT is charged.

 

Stone prices are subject to market movement. Any estimate provided during consultation is indicative only. The final price will be confirmed in writing at the point of Design Approval and reflected in the Commission Agreement and deposit invoice. You are under no obligation to proceed if the confirmed price differs materially from the original estimate.

3.2  Payment structure

Commissions are paid in two stages:

 

–     70% production deposit — due on confirmation of design. This payment authorises us to purchase your stone and materials and begin production. It is non-refundable once materials have been purchased — see our Refund Policy for full detail.

–     30% balance — due on completion of the piece, before dispatch.

 

All payments are due within 5 business days of the relevant invoice being issued. Payment is by bank transfer to the account details shown on the invoice. Your commission reference number (AV-XXXX) must be used as the payment reference.

3.3  Late payment

If payment is not received within 5 business days of the invoice, we will send a reminder. If payment remains outstanding after a further 5 business days, we reserve the right to release your commission slot. Production will not begin, and materials will not be purchased, until cleared funds are received. We will always contact you before taking any action.

3.4  No hidden costs

The price you are quoted covers the stone, the metal, the setting and crafting work, design, hallmarking, and insured UK delivery. There are no additional charges unless specifically agreed in writing — for example, if you request CAD files (see Section 6.3) or an expedited timeline.

 

4. The Commission Process

Every À Vie commission follows the same core process. It is designed to be clear, unhurried, and personal.

 

1.    Enquiry and consultation — free, no obligation. We discuss your brief, preferences, budget, and timeline.

2.    Design development — we develop a design concept and CAD render based on your brief. Unlimited revisions are included at no charge until you are satisfied.

3.    Stone selection — once the design is confirmed, we source stone options to match your brief and present them with full grading certificates and itemised pricing.

4.    Design and stone approval — you confirm the final design and your chosen stone in writing. This is the point at which the Commission Agreement is signed and the production deposit is invoiced.

5.    Production — your piece is handcrafted by our workshop. Standard lead time is 3–6 weeks from receipt of the production deposit, plus 3–5 working days for UK Assay Office hallmarking.

6.    Quality check and dispatch — every piece is inspected before dispatch. You receive a signed quality check record, grading certificate, and hallmark documentation with your commission.

 

We will keep you updated at key milestones during production. If a delay arises for any reason, we will contact you promptly and in writing.

 

5. Delivery

Full details of our delivery process, courier arrangements, international shipping, and risk transfer are set out in our Shipping Policy, which forms part of these Terms of Service.

 

In summary: all pieces are dispatched via insured, tracked courier once the balance payment is received. Risk passes to you on delivery. We cover insured UK delivery as standard. International customers are responsible for any import duties, taxes, or customs fees applicable in their country.

 

6. Intellectual Property

6.1  Our designs and website content

All design work, CAD files, renders, sketches, photography, written content, and branding created by or for À Vie Diamonds is our intellectual property and is protected by copyright. You may not reproduce, distribute, or commercially use any of it without our written permission.

6.2  Your finished piece

You own the physical piece. You are free to wear it, photograph it, share images of it, and do with it as you wish. There are no restrictions on your use of the finished jewellery.

6.3  CAD design files

The CAD design files created during your commission remain the intellectual property of À Vie Diamonds. They are our design tools and are not included as part of the commission by default.

 

If you would like to receive your CAD files — for example, to have the piece remade in future or to share with an insurer — you may request them. We will provide them for a fee, which will be confirmed in writing before any transfer. We reserve the right to decline file transfer requests at our discretion.

6.4  Inspiration images and reference material

If you share images with us for inspiration or reference purposes, you confirm that you have the right to share them and that doing so does not infringe any third party's intellectual property rights. We use reference images solely to inform your commission and will not reproduce or publish them.

 

7. Photography and Portfolio Use

Once your commission is complete, we may ask whether you are happy for us to photograph the finished piece for our portfolio, website, or social media. This is always optional. We will never photograph or publish images of your piece without your explicit permission.

 

If you agree, you can withdraw that permission at any time by contacting us at enquiries@aviediamonds.com. We will remove any images of your piece from active use promptly on request.

 

8. Our Liability to You

8.1  What we are always responsible for

Nothing in these terms limits or excludes our liability for:

 

–     Death or personal injury caused by our negligence

–     Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation

–     Any liability that cannot be excluded or limited under UK law, including your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015

 

8.2  Limit of our liability

Subject to Section 8.1, our total liability to you for any claim arising out of or in connection with a commission — whether in contract, tort, or otherwise — is limited to the total amount you have paid us for that commission.

8.3  What we are not liable for

We are not liable for indirect or consequential losses, including:

 

–     Loss of a proposal moment or event caused by a delivery delay where the timeline was not confirmed as essential in writing

–     The sentimental or emotional value attributed to a piece beyond its monetary value

–     Costs incurred by you as a result of a delay that is outside our reasonable control (see Section 9)

 

This does not affect your right to a remedy under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 for a piece that is faulty, misdescribed, or not of satisfactory quality.

 

9. Events Outside Our Control

We will not be liable for any delay or failure to perform our obligations where that delay or failure is caused by circumstances genuinely outside our reasonable control — including but not limited to supplier delays, Assay Office processing times, courier disruption, or events of force majeure.

 

If such an event affects your commission, we will contact you promptly, explain the situation honestly, and give you a revised timeline. If we cannot agree a revised timeline, you may cancel the commission and receive a full refund of all sums paid.

 

Where you have confirmed a required date in writing — such as a proposal date — please refer to the timeline provisions in your Commission Agreement. If we have confirmed that date in writing and cannot meet it, you are entitled to a full refund. If the date was not confirmed as essential, the above applies.

 

10. Cancellation and Refunds

Our full cancellation and refund terms are set out in our Refund Policy, which forms part of these Terms of Service. In summary:

 

–     Consultation and design development are free and without obligation — no payment is taken until you confirm the design

–     The 70% production deposit is refundable in full if cancelled before any materials are purchased or work has begun

–     If cancellation comes after some costs have been incurred, we will deduct only those actual costs and refund the remainder

–     Once the stone has been purchased and crafting has started, the deposit is non-refundable

–     Your statutory rights for faulty or misdescribed goods apply in full regardless

 

11. Ethical Sourcing and Hallmarking

11.1  Conflict-free diamonds

All natural diamonds we supply are conflict-free in accordance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. We are happy to discuss stone provenance at consultation.

11.2  Fairtrade gold

Fairtrade gold is available on request. If this is important to you, please raise it at brief stage and we will confirm availability and any cost implications.

11.3  Hallmarking

All precious metal pieces are submitted to a UK Assay Office for independent testing and hallmarking in accordance with the Hallmarking Act 1973 before dispatch. The hallmark is a legal confirmation of metal purity. You will receive the hallmark documentation with your finished piece.

 

12. Using Our Website

12.1  Permitted use

You may use aviediamonds.com to browse, make enquiries, and commission jewellery for your own personal use. You must not use the site for any unlawful purpose or in any way that could damage, disable, or impair its operation.

12.2  Accuracy of information

We take care to ensure the information on our website is accurate and up to date. However, stone prices, availability, and lead times can change. Any specific details — pricing, timelines, stone options — will always be confirmed in writing before you are asked to commit to anything.

12.3  Third-party links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites — for example, grading laboratories or educational resources. We are not responsible for the content or practices of those sites.

12.4  Prohibited uses

You must not:

 

–     Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent information in any enquiry or communication

–     Attempt to commercially exploit, resell, or sublicense any commission or design work without our written consent

–     Scrape, copy, or reproduce any content from our website without permission

–     Use our website in any way that infringes the rights of any third party

 

13. Privacy

How we collect, use, and protect your personal information is set out in our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms of Service. By using our website and services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood our Privacy Policy.

 

14. Complaints and Disputes

If you have a complaint about any aspect of your commission or our service, please contact us in writing at enquiries@aviediamonds.com with your commission reference and a clear description of the issue. We will acknowledge within 3 business days and provide a full written response within 14 business days.

 

If we cannot resolve your complaint directly, we will signpost you to an appropriate Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme. You also have the right to bring a claim in the small claims court for disputes up to £10,000 and to seek guidance from Citizens Advice or Trading Standards at any time.

 

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

 

15. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms of Service from time to time — for example, if our process changes or if there are updates to applicable law. The current version will always be published on our website with a revised date at the top.

 

Changes will not apply retrospectively to commissions already under way. If you have signed a Commission Agreement, the terms in force at the time of signing govern that commission.

 

16. General

–     If any provision of these terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force.

–     Our failure to enforce any provision of these terms at any time does not constitute a waiver of that provision.

–     These terms, together with your Commission Agreement, Privacy Policy, Refund Policy, and Shipping Policy, constitute the entire agreement between us in relation to your commission and your use of our website.

 

Contact Us

For any question about these terms:

 

Email                               enquiries@aviediamonds.com

Post                                 À Vie Diamonds Ltd, Bartle House, 9 Oxford Court, Manchester, England, M2 3WQ

Website                           aviediamonds.com

 

 

À Vie Diamonds Ltd  ·  Company No. 16096594  ·  Registered in England and Wales

Bartle House, 9 Oxford Court, Manchester, England, M2 3WQ  ·  aviediamonds.com