The information on this page might answer most of your questions, but if some remain, you can fill out the form at the bottom of this page or text us at (612) 567-2397. We're an intimate shop, generally working 9-5ish hours M-F in our studio in the Northeast Minneapolis Art District.
2024 HOLIDAY ORDER-BY DATES AND DETAILS TO CONSIDER:
- UNITED STATES: Order by Sunday, December 15th for arrival by Christmas
- INTERNATIONAL: Order by Saturday, November 30th for arrival by Christmas
- Around the holidays our turnaround time is quicker than the rest of the year, because the volume of lockets we make requires that we are in the studio more often. This means, on average, it takes about 2-4 business days to make your locket, and then it travels to you based on the shipping selection you make at checkout.
- We highly recommend ordering sooner rather than later if you know you'd like to gift a locket this year. It allows us a margin of error for correcting things that need correcting (imperfections in the making process, shipping issues, etc). that may arise. It helps us do a good job for you!
- CANADIAN ORDERS: We strongly recommend selecting Fedex as your shipping carrier until the Canada Post strike ends. USPS and GlobalPost both partner with Canada Post.
CANADA POST STRIKE NOTICE:
- Canada Post workers have been on strike since November 15th, which has effected some packages that were shipped before then. If this is your package, please know we're tracking it's movement, or lack thereof, and expect things to move swiftly once the strike ends.
- We ended shipping options with GlobalPost Standard and USPS as they both partner with Canada Post, until the strike ends and backlogs of shipments are caught up.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR ORDERING A LOCKET?
- Choose a locket style you love
- Upload the photo you'd like added to your locket
- Go through the checkout process
- Yep! It's actually that easy.
ONCE YOUR ORDER IS IN OUR HANDS:
- We resize, sharpen and print the image.
- Then cut it, set it, and hand-pour a resin we mix ourselves. We keep a close eye on your locket for the next two days while it cures into a piece of jewelry that will last forever as the hardened resin protects your photograph.
- When it's complete and ready, we'll ship it to the address you provided us when ordering and provide tracking.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECEIVE MY LOCKET ORDER?
- You will have your locket in your hands in about 10-14 days from the date of order, often sooner. We generally try to keep an up-to-date "Lead Time" message at the top of our home page.
- Double photo lockets take longer because we have to pour the resin on each side on separate days, and they need time to "dry" as well.
- We begin making lockets as they come in, so generally the production begins within 1-2 days of you ordering.
- If you have a date you are working against, please note that in your order! Sometimes we'll reach out with a recommendation to upgrade your shipping selection to get it faster when we think someone chose too slow of a shipping option. We also bump orders to the top of the list if they have a quick turnaround.
WILL YOU LET ME KNOW IF THE PHOTOS I CHOSE DON'T WORK?
- Of course! This is so rare, but if needed, we will certainly reach out.
- While we rarely see issues with photo quality, we often find challenges in photo shape. For example, if you're ordering a heart locket, know that the bottom corners will be cut off. Similarly, an oval locket works best with a vertically-oriented photo, so a landscape with many faces would be harder to fit in. But, we do our best to work our magic!
- We've also added notes on each locket that recommend certain shaped photos.
WILL A CELL PHONE PHOTO BE GOOD-ENOUGH QUALITY?
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Yes! In fact, we'd estimate that most orders come to us with photographs from cell phones. They work perfectly!
- We've also made lockets from photos of photos inside a frame. The quality of the image doesn't actually have to be super high for the locket to look amazing. And if for some reason we think it isn't right, we would definitely reach out to you.
CAN YOU SEND ME A PREVIEW OR "PROOF" BEFORE YOU FINALIZE MY LOCKET?
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Yes. If you'd like a proof before we set the secure resin inside, please leave a note somewhere in tour order about this as we only send them when the desire is indicated. We generally text these, as it seems to be the quickest way (for everyone) to see the proof, so be sure to add your phone number to your order and keep an eye out for a message from us that will include a photo.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT YOU ADD RESIN TO THE LOCKET?
- Resin is a mixture of organic compounds that creates a clear hard surface, almost like glass but not breakable, that protects your photograph from wear and tear. We mix the resin in small batches and by hand, and then slowly pour it over your photo to make sure the right amount sits inside your locket. It's pretty cool, really! It takes a day or two to dry and then keeps your locket extra safe for long-term use and enjoyment.
- This process is something we developed when initially playing around with lockets in 2016/2017 as we wanted to have one for ourselves that kept the photographs protected.
- The result is a unique process that feels really well-made once the locket is in your hands. It's like running your hands over a softer glass.
HELPFUL LINKS:
- "How to Choose a Photo for Your Locket" is here
- "Tips for Choosing a Locket for Someone Else" is here
- "How to Clean Your Locket" is here
- Adding a second photograph to your existing locket is here.
- Ordering a new chain is here.
HOW DO I GET MY PHOTO TO THE LOCKET SISTERS?
- When you're on the product page for the locket you want you'll see some fill-able questions and "UPLOAD PHOTO" is one of them. This is the spot that you give us your picture to go inside your locket.
- The image can be bmp, gif, jpg, jpeg, jpg, jif, jfif, jfi, png, wbmp, xbm, tiff, psd, or pdf and can be really, really big too. These are really just funny-looking file names for all the various types of digital pictures we accept.
I CAN'T GET MY PHOTO TO UPLOAD. ANY IDEAS?
- First, sorry! Glitches are the worst, aren't they?
- To remedy, try taking a screenshot of the image you want to load and load that instead. 9 times out of 10 this solves the problem.
- If that doesn't work, email us at thelocketsisters@gmail.com with the photo you want, and the locket you want, and we'll draft your order internally and send it back to you to complete. That always solves the problem ;)
I'M LOCAL, DO YOU HAVE A STOREFRONT I CAN VISIT TO SEE THE LOCKET OPTIONS?
- Yes! We have a big spacious studio in the Northeast Minneapolis Art District. Though it's not a storefront and is more of a studio for us to make your lockets, it does have a display with all the lockets for the local folks who need something more experiential when ordering their locket keepsakes.
- We schedule these by appointment only as we are in and out of the studio all week long.
- To schedule a time to visit, please text us at 612-567-2397.
- Even those who come into the studio will still have their order processed online as we need the digital image (and all that other good stuff to get it shipped to you!).
DO YOU OFFER ENGRAVING?
- No. We worked toward adding engraving for a long time, collaborating with a manufacturer on the design we needed and all it's details, and we just didn't like what it did to our lockets. After returning our new engraver, we decided it's just not something we'll offer (for now). We're really, really good at getting your photos into lockets, and that's what we'll continue to focus on.
- Many customers have brought their locket to a local engraver in their community, and have had positive, successful experiences. We recommend this route if engraving is an important feature for your locket!
CAN I SWITCH OUT THE PHOTO IN MY LOCKET AFTER IT HAS BEEN MADE?
- Nope. We secure the images in a resin, which protects it. Our lockets are meant to be a lifetime piece. If you're craving a different picture close to your heart, you can always buy another one! We have a few clients who have more than five :)
CAN I ADD A SECOND PHOTOGRAPH TO MY EXISTING LOCKET?
- Sure can! People do this often, actually.
- To make this happen, you'll need this link here to provide us with your second picture, and shipping information, and for you to complete checkout.
- Then, you send the locket to:
The Locket Sisters
2205 California St NE #202
Minneapolis, MN 55418
- We keep an eye out for it, then magically get that second picture you love inside the locket once it arrives, and send it back to you. Easy peezy.
CAN I ORDER A LOCKET NOW, BUT RECEIVE AN EMPTY LOCKET SO THE RECIPIENT CAN CHOOSE THEIR OWN PHOTOS?
- Yes. For this, you have to add "dummy photos" to whatever locket you're ordering because photos are required when checkout out.
- Be sure to note that you'd like the locket sent empty, without resin
- Once the gift has been given and the photos are chosen, you'll/they'll send the locket back, and send us an email or text with the photos they'd like added.
DO YOU GIFT WRAP THE LOCKETS?
- Everything comes in what we would consider gift wrap, meaning you could hand someone the locket in the way that we send it to you and it looks like a gift, even if you're ordering it for yourself.
- You also have the option of adding a hand-written note to the box. You can find this at the checkout page of your order.
CAN YOU RUSH MY ORDER?
- Usually. If you send us a message or make a note in your order we will work really hard to accommodate your timeline. Text us at (612) 567-2397 with the timeline you'd like us to meet, whether it's a locket with one or two photos, and where it's headed and we'll see if we can help make this happen.
THE PHOTOGRAPH INSIDE MY LOCKET IS CHANGING COLOR OR CLARITY, IS THAT NORMAL?
- Not normal! And we're so sorry!
- The photograph inside your locket should appear very clear, and should not change in color, ever. If this is happening, it means we encountered a small batch of resin that didn't settle or mix properly and we need to make this right for you by repairing it or making a new locket for you.
- To start the repair process, send us a photo of your locket and order number or name to hello@thelocketsisters.com or via text at 612-567-2397
- We will send you a return label to print at home, and once it's back in our hands we'll assess if you'll need a repair or a brand new locket.
- Thanks for giving us a chance to make it right.
HOW DO I OPEN MY LOCKET?
- Hey this is a great problem to have! It means the hinge and resin are snug and tight, just the way we like them to be.
- First of all, this is rare, but if it's happening to you, know that these are not fragile lockets, so it will not break trying to get it open, and besides, if it does break, we will repair or replace that because that should definitely not happen.
- If you have a guitar pick at home, slide that between the non-bale side of the locket to pry open the two sides.
- If you don't have a guitar pick, use a butter knife. To protect the metal-on-metal, wrap the knife in a tissue, slide it between the two sides, pop it open.
- If this method doesn't work, please call or text us at 612-567-2397 so we can FacetTime our way through this issue.
HOW DO I CLEAN MY LOCKET?
- Great question! We have a whole page here dedicated to caring for your locket. Go check that out.
- We also wrote a blog here to help with this, and there's a video here.
WHICH CHAIN LENGTH DO MOST PEOPLE CHOOSE?
- 18 inch or 20 inch are the most common.
- If you get your locket, and you feel like uggghhhhh I chose the wrong length then just send us a message and let us know. We'll send you a different length, and you can slip that old chain you originally got in an envelope with a stamp and snail mail her back to us. It's really ok.
WILL MY LOCKET BE WATERPROOF?
- We wouldn't call this waterproof, but we're comfortable with water resistant. Water will increase the wear of your locket, but it won't ruin it per se. The best thing for your locket is to wear it when you're dry, as your body's natural oils keep it from tarnishing, and to take it off before showering and swimming.
- Once as an experiment we placed finished lockets in a glass of water for four days to see what would happen. The photos were fine because they're protected under a resin, and the locket itself needed just a bit of polishing. So, technically your locket can get wet, but we still recommend keeping it dry :)
WHAT ARE YOUR LOCKETS MADE OF?
- Each piece has different materials, so see the individual lockets for descriptions of the materials used. Generally though, they range from .925 sterling silver, 14k gold vermeil, solid 14k gold, 24k gold-fill and stainless steel with brass.
- ALL lockets are nickel-free and hypo-allergenic.
- Allyssa, the owner, has sensitive skin (hey hey redhead life!) and tests all materials on herself before committing to them as a company.
WHAT IS GOLD VERMEIL?
- Gold vermeil is the highest-quality, longest-lasting gold option next to solid gold (which we will also eventually offer).
- The length of time that the heavy 14k gold plating will stay on your locket depends on how you wear are care for it. We wear ours often, all the time even, and it's lasting years. Could be forever if you care for it well.
- We recommend avoiding getting it wet, and storing it in dry, secure spaces.
- 3 microns is a very thick plating of gold (generally regarded as the heaviest plating available).
- Most gold plating is 0.5-1.0mm, and ours is 3-6x heavier than that, which means it will last much, much longer.
CAN YOU PHOTOSHOP THE IMAGE?
- Yes, we bring every image into Photoshop to shrink down the size to fit into your locket. We make only contrast and brightness edits unless you have a specific request for us. We began our photo careers with a boutique studio in Minneapolis, so we're pretty good at this stuff.
DO YOU HAVE LOCKETS THAT ARE NOT NECKLACES?
- We do! We have two bangle bracelet lockets, one in gold and one in silver. Also check out The Henry leather keychain, The Lapel Pin in gold, silver or bronze, The Ozzie Clip (GREAT for kids), and the Walter Locket.
WOULD YOU DONATE A GIFT CARD TO MY FUNDRAISER?
- Yes! We do this often and to date have donated to many dozens of organizations, like Crescent Cove, The Little Fox Foundation, and the Como Zoo Conservatory.
- Reach out to Mandy via email at mandy@thelocketsisters.com or fill out the form below and she'll take care of you.
RETURN POLICY
- Our lockets are made just for you, with just the image you chose inside. The custom nature of our lockets means we're not able to accept returns. And yet, we want to make sure you love it. If you have any concerns about your locket after receiving it, please contact us so we may make it right.
I'M INTERESTED IN A VINTAGE/ANTIQUE LOCKET. WHEN WILL MORE BE AVAILABLE?
- No but seriously aren't they so beautiful?? They're even more fun to FIND for you!
- We announce new "vintage drops" on our social media, we're most active on Instagram, and our newsletter, so be sure to keep in touch there.
- Generally we choose a day that they will go live (like "10am on Saturday the 12th!" or whatever it'll be) and then put videos of the lockets in our Instagram, and share the live link to shop then too.
- Each vintage/antique locket includes a custom photo placement, too, but we do NOT put resin on the old lockets because it can break the hinge easily. For our evergreen designs, we have a process for protecting the hinge that wouldn't be ensured on designs we didn't make.
CAN YOU PUT A PHOTO IN AN OLD LOCKET I ALREADY OWN?
- Right now we don't offer this service.
- Maybe someday tho as we get the request a lot. I think the biggest reason we haven't offered it yet is just taking the time to work through the logistics of making the process easy for you.
SHIPPING
DOMESTIC UNITED STATES:
- USPS First Class: Free to you! (2-8 days)
- USPS Priority (2-3 days)
- USPS Priority Mail Express (usually overnight, two days tops)
- FedEx Home Delivery (1-5 days)
- FedEx 2 Day (two business days)
- FedEx Standard Overnight (next business day by 4pm)
- FedEx Priority Overnight (next business day by 10:30am)
- FedEx First Overnight (next business day 8am)
INTERNATIONAL:
- Shipping outside of the United States can be done with USPS ($16-$60 USD), GlobalPost Standard (approx $20 USD), or Fedex ($80+ USD)
- Your country may require customs fees upon entry, and we don't have any control or knowledge of this when we ship your locket. We've seen this fee vary from $25 to $50 USD, and some countries do not require it at all. The price of your locket does not include the potential customs fee your country may require.
- We've recently updated our shipping zones to include Canada, Australia, Mexico, Germany, France, China and New Zealand. We recommend the flat rate option with GlobalPost as it offers door-to-door tracking, whereas USPS stops tracking the package as soon as it leaves the United States. FedEx is also a reliable, fast option - but much more expensive.
- Our international shipping options are limited right now (although bigger than they once were!) as we find the most issues with getting your locket to you when it goes beyond the US or Canada. It's not an issue with foreign countries per se, but just the massive amount of logistics that go from getting your package from here to there, a lot can go wrong, and 50% of those shipments have issues.
- To guarantee we can provide a positive experience, we've added GlobalPost to our USPS and FedEx shipping options, and are keeping it limited until we feel like we can guarantee a smooth arrival of your locket outside of the Unite States.