Ordering Questions

Q. Can I trade in my high school ring for a college ring?

A. In most cases, we will accept a trade-in on a Balfour college ring or gold Balfour high school ring. We also accept trade-ins on other manufacturers' rings. Other manufacturers' rings must be gold (non-precious metals are not accepted) and have a 10K, 14K, or 18K stamp inside the ring. Balfour will determine the trade-in value once the ring is received. A credit for an eligible trade-in ring will be granted if the trade-in accompanies the order to which the credit will apply. Therefore, trade-in credits are not available with online orders.

Q. How do I find the price for a ring?

A. Many styles are available for online purchase. Please select your school name using the school locator. Locate the style in which you're interested and click the Design and Purchase button. As you configure your ring, pricing will appear. If you're interested in a style that is not available for online purchase, please contact a telephone sales representative. They will be happy to quote you a price on your ring.
If your school has an online brochure or order form, pricing will be listed on the pricing and ordering page. A pdf of your school's order form can be downloaded by clicking on the order form link on the pricing and ordering page.

Q. Why are some ring designs not available at my school?

A. A collection of designs is carefully selected to meet the needs of your school, its students and alumni. Balfour works closely with each school to offer the products that will best suit the school's requirements.

Q. Why are some designs for my school not available for online ordering?

A. The styles and product options selected for online ordering represent the most popular and most commonly ordered features. For further information regarding your school's product offering, you can contact us here or by calling 877-Balfour (225-3687) weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST. For schools with Official Ring collections, you can see your ring selection by using the school lookup to locate your ring catalog, or by calling 877-Balfour (225-3687).

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Ring Features and Options

Q. Is 10K more durable than 14K or 18K and what do most people order?

A. Gold's rich glowing color and malleability make it the most favored precious metal for creation of fine jewelry in the world. 24K is pure but too soft to use. 18K is 75% pure and is the European standard. 14K (58% pure) is the most popular choice in the U.S. 10K is an affordable beautiful alternative. 10K gold (42% pure) is the lowest concentration of gold that can be trademarked in the US. White gold is the same quality of 10K, 14K, or 18K yellow gold, but is ALLOYED to be silver in color.

Q. What is an ALLOY?

A. An ALLOY is base metals that are combined with gold, silver or zinc to provide hardness, color and workable features.

Q. What is an Antique Finish?

A. A darker background that accentuates the ring's detail.

Q. What is a Natural Finish?

A. An all-gold appearance to the ring without a dark background.

Q. What is Balfour Premium Auralite?

A. An exclusive yellow metal with silver, gold and palladium (in the platinum family), its luster is uniquely matched by its durability.

Q. What is Celestrium™?

A. Celestrium is comparable to a fine jeweler's non-precious metal. It polishes to a brilliant silver luster and is known for its strength, resistance to chemical reaction and ease of maintenance. Celestrium rings are only available with an antique finish.
Note: Not all features, options and alloys are available at all schools

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Ring Care

Q. How should I care for my ring?

A. As a proud owner of a fine ring by Balfour, a few precautions and some simple care will ensure your enjoyment of this fine piece of jewelry for years to come. It is natural for gold and silver to tarnish. You can remove tarnish easily with any good silver polish. After applying the polish with a soft cloth, clean your ring in a mild soapy solution. Then rinse the ring in clear water and dry.

Chemicals can discolor your ring. Some, like mercury, chlorine or household chemicals, can cause permanent damage. Your ring can also be damaged in any form of heavy manual labor. To protect your ring, remove it whenever doing heavy work, whenever exposed to chemicals, while working on or near heavy machinery, or when working with power tools. Since temperature and exercise affect finger size, wear your ring for at least two weeks before considering any size adjustment.

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Repairs

Q. If my ring needs adjustment or repair, where do I send it?

A. Please complete the College Ring Adjustment Form. Ship your ring in a padded envelope along with the ring adjustment form using a traceable service such as the Post Office, UPS or Federal Express. Send your ring to:

Balfour College Repairs
7211 Circle S Road, Building C
Austin, TX 78745

Or

Balfour College Repairs
P.O. Box 149207
Austin, TX 78714-9207

Q. Is there a charge for repairs?

A. Many repairs are covered at no charge as a benefit of our Lifetime Warranty. Some items may be charged a minimal labor fee. We will not proceed with your repair until we notify you of pending charges and receive your approval. After reviewing the chargeable repair schedule, include a credit card number on the College Ring Adjustment Form to proceed with your repairs without delay.

Q. How long do adjustments take?

A. The average turnaround on an adjustment is 2-4 weeks. If you have a specific question, please contact us directly at 877-Balfour (225-3687).

Chargeable Repair Schedule