A jewelry warranty is only as good as its exclusions. In Switzerland, you already have a statutory warranty of two years on new goods, and a seller’s own warranty sits on top of it. Before you buy, check four things: how long the coverage lasts, what counts as excluded wear or damage, which remedies you get (repair, replacement, refund) and how you must file a claim. This guide walks through each one so you can read any warranty page, ours included, with confidence.
TL;DR
- Swiss law gives you a two-year statutory warranty on new goods from delivery, and a seller cannot shorten it in consumer sales.
- A seller’s terms (GTC) can change your remedies, for example limiting them to repair, so the remedies clause matters more than the headline “lifetime” label.
- Normal wear, misuse, falls, shocks and humidity are the usual exclusions. If a seller blames you, it must back that up with a technical report.
- Report any defect immediately and in writing, and keep your order confirmation, photos and correspondence.
Table of Contents
- Why the fine print matters more than the headline
- What Swiss law already gives you
- Statutory rights versus a seller’s warranty
- How long coverage lasts, and the deadlines that catch people
- Exclusions: the clauses that decide most claims
- Remedies: repair, replacement or refund
- Our perspective
- A fine-print checklist you can use on any jewelry page
- How to file a claim, step by step
- Exchanges, online buying and what to verify first
- Shop moissanite with a warranty you can read
- FAQ
- Sources
Why the fine print matters more than the headline
Most jewelry pages lead with a number: 100 days, six months, one year, “lifetime”. Those headlines are easy to compare and tell you very little. The real value of a warranty sits in the paragraphs underneath: what is defined as a defect, which parts are covered, what the seller will actually do about it, and what you must do to keep your rights.
The pages that rank for this topic show the pattern. One brand offers a one-year warranty on gold vermeil, another offers 100 days covering manufacturing defects with free replacement of small accent stones, another offers six months covering non-human damage with repair or replacement. The same word, “warranty”, describes very different promises. Comparing them means reading the terms, not the banner.
If you live in Switzerland, you also have a baseline that no seller can remove in a consumer sale. Knowing that baseline tells you what a seller’s warranty really adds.
What Swiss law already gives you
Under Art. 197 et seq. of the Code of Obligations (CO), goods that do not have the promised or expected quality are considered defective, and the seller, not the manufacturer, is liable. So if a ring arrives with a loose stone setting or a clasp that fails under normal use, your counterpart is the shop that sold it to you.
Three points frame everything else:
- Promised or expected quality. A product page that says “D color moissanite, 925 silver” is a promise. If the item does not match, it is defective. So screenshot the product page when you order.
- Statutory remedies. The law offers cancellation, price reduction or replacement, though the seller’s general terms can modify these.
- The seller’s terms can limit things. The seller may totally or partially exclude the guarantee in the contract or GTC for all or certain types of defects.
That last point is the reason fine print exists. Freedom of contract is the governing principle in Swiss law, but according to a CMS Law guide to warranties, the Law against Unfair Competition acts as a check against terms that create substantial disadvantages for consumers. In practice: read the terms, and do not assume an unusual clause is unenforceable just because it feels unfair.
Statutory rights versus a seller’s warranty
Think of the two as layers. The statutory layer applies automatically. The seller’s warranty is a voluntary promise, usually longer or more generous in some respect, but with its own conditions.
| Point | Statutory warranty (Switzerland) | Typical seller warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Who grants it | The law, by default | The seller, in its terms |
| Duration, new goods | Two years from delivery | Set by the seller: months, a year or lifetime |
| Can the seller shorten it? | Not in consumer sales | Not applicable, it is the seller’s own offer |
| Remedies | Cancellation, price reduction, replacement | Often repair first, sometimes replacement or exchange |
| Cost to you | Defect claims are not billed as a service | Check for shipping, handling or inspection fees |
| Conditions | Prompt notice of defects | Registration, proof of purchase, care rules |
A lifetime promise does not replace your statutory rights. It adds a second route. Keep both in mind when you file a claim.
How long coverage lasts, and the deadlines that catch people
The two-year statutory period
The statutory warranty period for new goods is two years from delivery (Art. 210 CO), and it cannot be shortened by the seller in B2C contracts. So a “six-month warranty” on new jewelry sold to a Swiss consumer does not remove your two-year statutory rights. It is just the seller’s own promise.
For second-hand goods the picture differs: the period may be contractually shortened to a minimum of one year (Art. 210 para. 4 CO). That matters if you buy pre-owned or vintage pieces, so check whether an item is sold as new.
Notify without delay
The period is not a license to wait. Buyers must notify the seller of defects without delay, preferably in writing. If a defect appears after your first inspection, it must be reported immediately. Failing to do so can mean the item is treated as accepted, even regarding defects found later (Art. 201 CO).
The practical rule: the day you notice a stone moving, a plating fault or a broken clasp, write to the seller. Do not wait for a convenient moment.
Court deadlines
If you ever have to enforce a claim in court, legal action must be started within the two-year statutory period unless the seller agreed to a longer warranty. That is a rare outcome for a jewelry purchase, but it explains why the dates on your order confirmation and delivery notice are worth keeping.
Exclusions: the clauses that decide most claims
Most warranty disputes come down to one question: is this a defect, or is this wear and damage? The common exclusions are normal wear, misuse and external interventions such as falls, shocks or humidity. Sellers may also exclude consumables and accessories.
For jewelry, read for these specific phrases:
- “Normal wear and tear.” Fine scratches on metal and gradual dulling of plating are usually here. Ask how the seller defines “normal” and whether plating thickness or finish is covered at all.
- “Damage from impact.” A bent prong after a knock is generally treated as damage. A prong that fails under light, ordinary wear is arguably a defect. The wording decides which side of the line it falls on.
- “Exposure to chemicals, chlorine, perfume, humidity.” Reasonable, but note whether the list is specific or an open-ended “any substance”.
- “Lost stones.” Some warranties cover replacement of small accent stones for a limited period, others exclude stone loss entirely. This is the clause jewelry buyers miss most often.
- “Unauthorized repair or resizing.” Taking a piece to a third-party jeweler can void the seller’s own warranty. It does not remove your statutory rights, but it complicates proof.
- “Accessories and packaging.” Chains, clasps, boxes, extenders or gift items may be listed separately.
When a seller argues you misused the piece, the burden matters. If it alleges inappropriate use or buyer fault, it must substantiate that with a technical report. A bare assertion is not enough, and you can ask for the report.
Remedies: repair, replacement or refund
This is the clause that surprises people. Statutory law offers price reduction, cancellation or replacement for fungible goods. Under Art. 205 CO the buyer may rescind the contract or demand a price reduction, and replacement under Art. 206 CO applies specifically to fungible goods. Repair is not on the statutory list: the Federal Office of Justice notes that current Swiss law gives no statutory right to repair.
So a seller’s terms may legitimately say “we repair” and nothing more. Two things help you here:
- A repair-only clause is common and allowed. Look for what happens if repair fails.
- According to Stiftung für Konsumentenschutz, case law typically lets a buyer insist on replacement or rescission after two to three unsuccessful repair attempts.
When you compare warranties, rank the remedy wording: replacement or exchange is stronger than repair only, and repair only is stronger than a vague “we will look into it”.
Our perspective
We make moissanite jewelry, and we have a strong view on warranties: a promise should be easy to read and easy to use. A warranty that needs a lawyer to decode is a marketing line, not a protection.
Moissanite is a lab-grown gem, which is why we can offer sparkle at fair prices. We back our pieces with a lifetime warranty and, for club members, unlimited exchanges. Our aim is that you spend less time worrying about the terms and more time wearing the piece. Because 100% of our profits go back to the people who make our jewelry, a warranty claim is never a fight with a faceless margin. It is a conversation about making sure the work lasts.
Our advice to any buyer, from us or anyone else: ask the seller to put the warranty in writing, read the exclusions first, and keep your records. If a brand is confident in its craftsmanship, it will be glad you asked. We are.
Ammar
A fine-print checklist you can use on any jewelry page
Open the warranty or terms page and go through these in order. It takes about ten minutes.
- Who is the seller, and where? A Swiss-law seller and a foreign shop may apply different terms. Confirm which terms apply to your order.
- What duration is promised, from which date? From delivery, from purchase or from registration? Does “lifetime” mean the life of the piece, the life of the brand or your lifetime, and what is the seller’s definition?
- What exactly is covered? Manufacturing defects, stone setting, clasps, plating, soldering? Is a defect defined or left open?
- What is excluded? Wear, impact, chemicals, loss, resizing, third-party repairs.
- What is the remedy? Repair, replacement, exchange, refund or credit. Is there a step-by-step order?
- What does it cost to claim? Shipping both ways, inspection fees, handling fees. Prepaid labels are a good sign.
- What proof do you need? Order number, photos, proof of purchase, a registration step, a care routine.
- How fast must you report? Under the statute you must notify without delay. Check whether the seller sets a shorter window and whether it affects your statutory rights.
- Is it transferable? If you plan to gift the piece, find out whether the recipient can claim.
- Does the seller cap the number of claims? “Unlimited” and “one per year” are very different things.
If any answer is missing, ask by email before you pay. Save the reply with your order records.
A related point is what warranties do not do. A warranty covers defects, not loss or theft. For that, see our guide to warranty versus insurance for Swiss jewelry, and for moissanite-specific care and cover, moissanite care and insurance for Swiss buyers.
How to file a claim, step by step
A tidy claim is a fast claim. Here is the sequence that follows the Swiss rules above.
- Stop wearing the piece if the defect could worsen, such as a loose stone.
- Photograph the issue in daylight, close up and from a distance, with the whole piece in the frame.
- Write to the seller immediately. The law expects notice without delay, preferably in writing. Email is fine and creates a record.
- Include the essentials: order number, date of delivery, a short description, photos and which remedy you want.
- Follow the return instructions and keep tracking proof for any shipment.
- Keep every message. If the seller later alleges misuse, you will want the full trail.
If you are covered by an extended or lifetime promise, say so in your message and cite the terms. Our article on a five-minute email that can protect your lifetime jewelry warranty goes through what to put in that message.
If the claim is rejected
Do not accept a one-line refusal. Ask the seller for its reasons in writing. If it says the damage came from your use, remember that it must support that with a technical report. If repair was the only remedy in the terms and it failed more than once, point to the position described by Stiftung für Konsumentenschutz on replacement or rescission after repeated failed repairs. Consumer advice organizations in Switzerland can help you word a reply. Keep your replies calm and factual.
Exchanges, online buying and what to verify first
Warranty is one part of buying jewelry online. Before you order, confirm the basics: the seller’s identity, the product description you are relying on, and the return and exchange rules. We cover those in verifying two proofs before buying jewelry online in Switzerland. If you want to understand how swaps work in practice, including prepaid labels and club exchanges, read how to swap jewelry online and how to verify unlimited exchange as a Swiss buyer.
Care also keeps a warranty claim clean. Pieces stored well and cleaned properly rarely end up in a dispute about “damage”. Two of our guides help: keeping gold jewelry shiny without frequent polishing and protecting and displaying your daily pieces.
Shop moissanite with a warranty you can read
We sell lab-grown moissanite rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and stacking sets, with a lifetime warranty and unlimited exchanges for club members. If you are comparing pieces, start with our women’s rings, or browse the full range on the Meri Jaan shop.
Before you order, read the warranty terms on our site and write to us with any question. We would rather answer it before you buy than after.
FAQ
Does a seller’s “lifetime warranty” replace my Swiss statutory rights?
No. The statutory warranty on new goods is two years from delivery, and a seller cannot shorten it in consumer sales. A lifetime promise is an extra layer with its own conditions. Read both before you decide which route to use for a claim.
Is repair a legal right if my jewelry has a defect?
Not under current statute. The Federal Office of Justice states that Swiss law has no statutory right to repair, and a seller’s terms may limit remedies to repair. If repair fails repeatedly, replacement or rescission may be available.
What damage is usually not covered?
Typical exclusions are normal wear, misuse and external events such as falls, shocks or humidity. Lost stones and third-party repairs are also frequent exclusions in seller terms. Check the wording before you buy.
How quickly do I need to report a problem?
Without delay, and preferably in writing. If you notice a defect after your first inspection, report it immediately, otherwise the item may be treated as accepted despite that defect.
What if the seller says I caused the damage?
The seller must back this up with a technical report. Ask for it in writing, and keep your photos and order records.
Sources
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ), Swiss Federal Consumer Affairs
- Garantie légale pour les défauts, Fédération romande des consommateurs
- SR 220, Swiss Code of Obligations, Fedlex
- Modernisierung des Gewährleistungsrechts beim Kauf, Federal Office of Justice
- Wann und wie lange gilt die Garantie? Stiftung für Konsumentenschutz
- Warranty law in supply contracts in Switzerland, CMS
