Lapidary Service Agrement

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Effective Date: July 23, 2026

Provider: The Lapidary Office

Website: www.TheLapidaryOffice.com

1. Agreement and Acceptance

This Lapidary Service Agreement ("Agreement") governs all lapidary, gem-cutting, and stone restoration services provided by The Lapidary Office ("Company," "we," "us," or "our") to you ("Client," "you," or "your").

By submitting material for service, approving a work order or estimate, making a deposit, paying an invoice, or electronically checking an acceptance box on our website, you agree to be bound by all terms contained herein.

2. Definitions

  • Company: The Lapidary Office, its owner, independent contractors, and employees.

  • Client: The individual, business, or entity submitting material or contracting services.

  • Submitted Material / Rough Material: Any raw mineral, rough gem material, preform, or pre-cut stone provided by the Client for processing.

  • Finished Stone: The final gem, cabochon, or mineral product resulting from completed services.

  • Services: Custom faceting, precision cutting, cabbing, repair, re-polishing, preforming, or design consultations provided by the Company.

  • Work Order: The written estimate, invoice, or digital intake form detailing agreed-upon services and scope.

3. Scope of Services

Lapidary services are subject to the terms, risks, payment requirements, cancellation provisions, and refund limitations contained in the Lapidary Service Agreement. The terms below summarize the applicable refund principles and do not replace or override the Lapidary Service Agreement.

The Lapidary Office provides professional lapidary work for Client-provided materials. Services include, but are not limited to:

  • Custom gemstone faceting and precision design implementation.

  • Cabochon cutting, shaping, and polishing.

  • Gemstone recutting, repair, or repolishing.

  • Preforming, consultation, and custom design evaluations.

Note: Every mineral specimen and gemstone project is unique. Final yields, optical performance, and aesthetics will vary based on the natural characteristics of the individual stone.

4. Customer Representations

By submitting material to the Company, the Client represents and warrants that:

  • You are the legal owner of the material or possess explicit legal authority from the owner to submit it for processing.

  • The material is lawful to possess, transport, and process under local, state, and federal laws.

  • The material has been accurately described regarding its identity, known treatments, and origins.

  • The material is safe to process and free of undisclosed hazardous substances (e.g., toxic heavy metals, radioactive elements, or friable asbestos risks).

5. Inspection of Submitted Material

Upon receipt, the Company performs only an initial visual and optical inspection of submitted materials.

  • Visual inspection cannot detect all internal strain, microscopic fractures, sub-surface cleavages, or chemical treatments.

  • The Company does not perform formal gemological appraisal or origin/treatment certification unless explicitly contracted as a separate service.

6. Inherent Risks of Lapidary Work

IMPORTANT WARNING: Lapidary work involves the physical alteration and permanent transformation of submitted material. Once cutting or grinding begins, the stone cannot be restored to its original state.

  • Inherent Risks: Cutting, grinding, thermal heating, and polishing carry significant risks of fracturing, chipping, cracking, thermal shock failure, or partial or complete loss of the material. These events are caused by internal strain, micro-fractures, cleavage planes, inclusions, or hidden structural flaws inherent in raw mineral materials.

  • Unavoidable Risk: Client acknowledges and agrees that these material risks are inherent to the process of gem cutting and cannot be completely eliminated, even when the highest levels of professional care and skill are exercised.

7. No Guarantees

The Lapidary Office provides no warranties or guarantees regarding:

  • The physical survival of any raw material during processing.

  • Specific final carat weight, dimensions, yield percentage, or symmetry.

  • Final color depth, clarity, brilliance, or optical performance.

  • Complete Client satisfaction regarding natural characteristics revealed during cutting (e.g., color zoning or inclusions exposed during faceting).

  • Suitability of any Submitted Material for a requested design or intended use.

8. Design Changes

To preserve structural integrity, maximize yield, or avoid emerging inclusions, the Company reserves the right to make necessary adjustments during the cutting process. These adjustments may include minor changes to:

  • Pavilion depth, crown height, or table size.

  • Facet orientation, outline shape, or facet arrangement.

The primary objective during any modification is the safety and structural preservation of the stone. Final design decisions may differ from requested specifications where necessary to preserve structural integrity or maximize the quality of the finished stone.

9. Customer Approval Process

  • Estimates & Work Orders: Project scope and estimated fees will be provided via written estimate or digital invoice before major work begins.

  • Design Approval: For complex custom faceting, design diagrams, renderings, or faceting diagrams may be provided for Client review upon request.

  • Change Requests: Any Client-requested design alterations after cutting has commenced may incur additional labor charges and modified completion timelines.

10. Pricing and Payment

  • Deposits: A deposit or full advance payment may be required before work commences on custom orders or mail-in services.

  • Final Billing: Final invoices cover remaining service balances, return shipping fees, taxes, and specialized packaging expenses.

  • Clearing Funds: Finished goods will only be released or shipped once final payments have fully processed and cleared.

  • Late Payments: Invoices unpaid past thirty (30) days are subject to interest or administrative fees.

11. Shipping Responsibilities & Transit Risk

  • Client Responsibility: The Client is solely responsible for all inbound and outbound shipping fees, adequate packaging, tracking, and shipping insurance.

  • Transit Loss Disclaimer: The Lapidary Office is not liable for items lost, stolen, or damaged while in transit (whether inbound to our studio or outbound to the Client).

  • Shipping Insurance: We strongly advise purchasing full carrier insurance. Transit loss or carrier damage claims must be filed and managed directly by the Client with the shipping carrier.

  • Customs/International: The Client is responsible for all import/export duties, taxes, or customs delays.

The Client acknowledges that any carrier-provided insurance or shipping protection purchased for return shipment is a separate service provided by the carrier or shipping provider and does not constitute insurance coverage provided by The Lapidary Office for Client-owned materials.

12. Insurance While in Possession

  • Property Status & Risk: Client-submitted materials remain the sole property and financial risk of the Client. Unless expressly agreed in writing, the Company does not provide insurance coverage for Client-submitted materials against theft, loss, accidental damage, destruction, or inherent material failure while they are in the Company's possession.

  • Storage Care & Client Insurance: While items are stored securely within our facility, the Company does not provide property coverage for Client goods. Clients submitting rare or high-value materials are strongly advised to maintain their own private, scheduled jewelry/mineral transit and off-premises insurance policies.

13. Limitation of Liability

  • Waiver & Assumption of Risk: To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Client assumes all inherent risks associated with the lapidary services described in this Agreement. The Client hereby releases and holds harmless The Lapidary Office, its owners, and its employees from any claims, damages, liabilities, or losses resulting from the damage, fracture, or failure of material during processing.

  • Limitation of Scope: Except as otherwise required by law, the Company's liability for claims arising from the inherent characteristics of submitted materials or risks ordinarily associated with lapidary work is strictly limited as provided below.

  • Liability Cap: To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company's total aggregate liability arising from or relating to the Services under this Agreement shall not exceed the amount actually paid by the Client for the specific Services giving rise to the claim. This limitation applies specifically to claims arising from or relating to lapidary services performed under this Agreement. Claims involving website services, digital subscriptions, or unrelated products shall be governed by the applicable agreement controlling those services.

  • Excluded Damages: Under no circumstances shall the Company be liable for raw market value, replacement costs, loss of anticipated profits, emotional distress, or sentimental value attached to submitted materials.

14. Repair and Recutting Services

Submitting previously damaged, chipped, heavily included, or worn stones carries a significantly higher failure rate than working with clean rough. Thermal shock and vibration from lapidary wheels can cause pre-existing stress fractures to travel rapidly across the stone. The Client accepts this heightened risk for all repair and recut orders.

Upon request, the Company will return all reasonably recoverable fragments of submitted material with the completed order or upon termination of the Services.

15. Refund Policy

  • Deposits: Deposits covering custom design work, prep time, or dedicated scheduling are non-refundable once lapidary work has commenced.

  • Completed Labor: Service fees compensate the Company for labor, expertise, equipment use, and materials consumed during the performance of the Services. Once Services have been performed, those fees are non-refundable except where required by law.

  • Cancelled Projects: If a project is cancelled by the Client prior to cutting, a refund will be issued minus any return shipping costs and an administrative inspection fee.

    Return and Refund Policy

16. Completion Times

  • Estimates Only: All completion dates provided are non-binding estimates. Completion estimates are not guarantees and time is not of the essence unless expressly agreed in writing.

  • Delays: Turnaround times may vary depending on project complexity, equipment maintenance, material instability requiring delicate hand-cutting, or supply delays.

17. Storage and Abandoned Property Policy

  • Completion Notice: Upon project completion, a final invoice and notification will be sent to the Client's email address on file.

  • 90-Day Limit: If the Client fails to pay the final balance or provide a valid return shipping address within ninety (90) days of the initial completion invoice date, the property shall be deemed abandoned.

  • Disposition Under Arizona Law: Abandoned items will be handled in accordance with applicable Arizona law governing personal property liens and abandoned property and any applicable lien rights. The Company reserves the right to sell or liquidate abandoned materials to recover unpaid labor charges, storage costs, and administrative expenses.

18. Photography and Media Documentation

·        The Lapidary Office may take photographs or videos of submitted materials, work-in-progress, and completed projects for internal business purposes, including documentation, quality control, project records, service verification, dispute resolution, and maintaining accurate service records.

·        All photographs and videos created by The Lapidary Office remain the property of The Lapidary Office. However, ownership of photographs or videos does not grant the Company permission to publicly identify a Client, disclose private project details, or use images of Client materials for marketing purposes without the Client's consent.

·        Marketing Use:
Photographs, videos, finished stone images, project descriptions, or related materials may be used on The Lapidary Office website, social media channels, promotional materials, educational content, or other public communications only with Client authorization.

·        Client Authorization:
Clients who wish to permit public use of project images or details may provide written approval. Clients may also request that their projects remain private and not be used for public marketing purposes.

19. Right to Refuse Service

The Company reserves the right to refuse or discontinue service at its sole discretion for any reason. Upon receipt, the Company reserves the right to inspect materials and refuse service for reasons including, but not limited to, materials suspected of:

  • Containing hazardous or toxic dust risks (e.g., cinnabar, arsenic compounds, friable fibrous minerals).

  • Being structurally unstable, stolen, misrepresented, or beyond studio capabilities.

Refused materials will be returned to the Client at the Client’s expense.

20. Force Majeure

The Lapidary Office shall not be held liable or responsible for any failure or delay in fulfilling its obligations under this Agreement when such failure or delay is caused by events beyond our reasonable control. Such events include, but are not limited to:

  • Acts of God & Public Health: Extreme weather, fires, floods, natural catastrophes, pandemics, epidemics, or public health emergencies.

  • Governmental Actions: Government orders, mandates, legal restrictions, or civil unrest.

  • Operational Disruptions: Utility or power outages, internet outages, critical equipment failures, and severe cybersecurity incidents.

  • Supply & Transit Issues: Supplier shortages, shipping carrier failures or delays, supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages.

In the event of a Force Majeure occurrence, performance timelines shall be extended for a period equal to the delay caused by the event. Force majeure events may affect estimated completion dates, shipping timelines, communication availability, or service schedules. The Client acknowledges that such delays do not constitute a breach of this Agreement when caused by circumstances outside the Company's reasonable control.

21. Governing Law and Venue

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Arizona, United States. Any legal actions or proceedings arising under this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Maricopa County, Arizona.

22. Dispute Resolution

For disputes specifically arising from or relating to lapidary services performed under this Agreement, the parties agree to the following dispute resolution process:

  • Informal Resolution: Both parties agree to attempt in good faith to resolve any disagreement through direct negotiation.

  • Small Claims / Mediation: If unresolved, the parties agree to first participate in non-binding mediation before filing any court action, except claims properly brought in Small Claims Court.

23. Severability

If any provision or clause of this Agreement is found to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that specific provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

24. "As-Is" Material Condition

Submitted materials are accepted in their existing condition. The Company is not responsible for defects, instability, prior damage, undisclosed treatments, or conditions existing before work begins.

25. Interruption of Work

The Company may suspend work if previously undisclosed conditions are discovered that materially increase the risk of failure. The Client will be notified when practical before additional work proceeds. The Company may terminate Services if continuing the work presents an unreasonable risk of material failure, equipment damage, or safety hazards.

26. Electronic Acceptance

Client agrees that electronic signatures, electronic acceptance, payment of invoices, submission of work orders, or online acceptance shall have the same force and effect as an original handwritten signature. Temporary service interruptions caused by maintenance, technical issues, third-party failures, or force majeure events do not automatically entitle subscribers, mail in Client, or Online Shoppers to refunds, credits, or extensions unless required by applicable law or expressly provided by The Lapidary Office.

27. Privacy Policy

Client information will be used only for providing the Services and administering the business, subject to the Company's Privacy Policy.

28. Entire Agreement & Non-Waiver

This document constitutes the entire agreement between The Lapidary Office and the Client regarding lapidary services. It supersedes all prior written or verbal discussions, estimates, or understandings. Modifications to this Agreement are valid only if made in writing and agreed to by both parties. Failure to enforce any provision shall not constitute a waiver of future enforcement. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and a Work Order, the Work Order shall govern only with respect to the specific services described therein.

29. Contact Information

For questions regarding work orders, custom cutting, or shipping instructions:

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