Terms of service

Article 1 – Seller Information

These General Terms and Conditions of Sale govern the purchase of products marketed through the official Il Forte Gioielli website (hereinafter referred to as the “Website”).

The Seller is:

Il Forte Gioielli di Gioielleria Pellegrineschi

Registered office: Via Vallisneri n. 2/A
55032 Castelnuovo di Garfagnana (LU) – Italy

VAT Number: 01171230467

REA Number: LU-122692

ATECO Code: 47.77 – Retail sale of watches and jewellery.

E-mail: ilfortegioielli@gmail.com

(hereinafter also referred to as “Il Forte Gioielli”, the “Seller”, “we”, “us” or the “Company”).

These General Terms and Conditions of Sale govern all purchases made through the Website by individuals and legal entities.

By placing an order through the Website, the Customer declares that they have read, understood and fully accepted these General Terms and Conditions of Sale.

Il Forte Gioielli reserves the right to amend or update these General Terms and Conditions of Sale at any time, including in order to comply with regulatory, organisational or commercial changes. Any amendments shall apply exclusively to orders concluded after their publication on the Website.

Customers are advised to consult the latest version of these General Terms and Conditions before making any purchase.

Article 2 – Definitions

For the purposes of these General Terms and Conditions, the following definitions shall apply:

Customer: any individual or legal entity making a purchase through the Website.

Consumer: an individual purchasing for purposes unrelated to their business, commercial, craft or professional activity, pursuant to Italian Legislative Decree No. 206/2005 (Consumer Code).

Professional: any individual or legal entity acting in the course of their business, commercial, craft or professional activity.

Products: all jewellery, charms, bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings, accessories and any other items marketed by Il Forte Gioielli.

Contract: the sales contract concluded between Il Forte Gioielli and the Customer through acceptance of the order.

Website: the website through which the Products are marketed.

Order: the purchase proposal submitted by the Customer through the Website.

Force Majeure: any unforeseeable and unavoidable event beyond the Seller’s control, including, by way of example but not limited to, natural disasters, fires, pandemics, strikes, wars, interruptions to transport services, logistical issues, measures imposed by public authorities or other events temporarily preventing performance of the Contract.

Article 3 – Subject Matter of the Contract

3.1 These General Terms and Conditions govern the distance sale of Products marketed by Il Forte Gioielli through its official website.

3.2 The Products offered include, by way of example but not limitation, charms, necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, pendants, accessories and other jewellery items manufactured or selected by Il Forte Gioielli.

3.3 The Products are intended exclusively for the Customer’s personal use. Purchases made for the purpose of professional resale are prohibited without the Seller’s prior written authorisation.

3.4 The information available on the Website does not constitute a binding offer to the public, but rather an invitation to submit an offer to purchase. The sales contract shall be deemed concluded only when Il Forte Gioielli sends the order confirmation.

3.5 Il Forte Gioielli reserves the right to modify, update, replace or discontinue the sale of any Product at any time without prior notice, without prejudice to orders already confirmed.

Article 4 – Product Descriptions

4.1 Il Forte Gioielli undertakes to describe its Products as accurately as possible, providing their main characteristics, materials, dimensions and any other information considered useful for the purposes of the purchase.

4.2 Images published on the Website are for illustrative purposes only. Although they are produced with the utmost care, they may show slight differences compared with the actual Product due, by way of example, to:

  • photographic lighting;

  • monitor, smartphone or device settings used by the Customer;

  • screen resolution;

  • different production batches;

  • handcrafted workmanship.

4.3 Any differences in colour, finish or proportions that do not alter the nature, quality or functionality of the Product shall not constitute a lack of conformity.

4.4 Measurements, weights and dimensions shown on the Website are approximate and may be subject to minor production tolerances.

4.5 Lifestyle photographs or images showing Products being worn are intended solely to represent the Product and facilitate its understanding. They shall not constitute a contractual element in relation to perceived proportions during use.

4.6 Il Forte Gioielli reserves the right to make technical or aesthetic changes to its Products provided that such changes do not adversely affect the quality, functionality or value of the Product purchased.

Article 5 – Handcrafted Characteristics of the Jewellery

5.1 Many of the Products marketed by Il Forte Gioielli are made using handcrafted techniques, which represent a distinctive and valuable feature of the Products.

5.2 Natural characteristics resulting from manual workmanship, finishing techniques, polishing, stone setting or assembly form an integral part of the Product’s identity and shall not be considered manufacturing defects.

5.3 Where a Product contains natural stones, mother-of-pearl, enamel, pearls or other natural materials, each item may display slight variations in colour, veining, reflections, transparency or texture compared with images published on the Website or with other items of the same model.

5.4 Such characteristics are distinctive features of natural materials and shall not constitute grounds for complaint, replacement, price reduction or withdrawal on the basis of a lack of conformity.

5.5 By purchasing the Product, the Customer acknowledges that photographs on the Website represent the Product as accurately as possible, although a perfect match in terms of colour or dimensions with the Product actually received cannot be guaranteed.

5.6 Il Forte Gioielli carries out quality checks on all Products prior to dispatch. Any lack of conformity identified by the Customer must be reported without undue delay in accordance with the procedures set out in the section relating to warranties and returns.

Article 6 – Materials, Finishes and Natural Oxidation

6.1 Jewellery marketed by Il Forte Gioielli is made using carefully selected materials, including sterling silver 925, yellow gold-plated or rose gold-plated silver, natural stones, synthetic stones, enamel, pearls, cubic zirconia and other materials specified in the relevant Product description.

6.2 Sterling silver 925 is a precious metal which, by its nature, may naturally oxidise over time. This is a normal process resulting from the characteristics of the metal and may be influenced by external factors including humidity, perspiration, skin pH, perfumes, cosmetics, detergents, salt water, chlorine, atmospheric conditions and storage methods.

6.3 Similarly, yellow gold-plated and rose gold-plated finishes are subject to natural wear as a result of normal use of the jewellery and cannot be expected to retain their original appearance indefinitely.

6.4 Oxidation of silver, natural wear of plated finishes and aesthetic changes resulting from normal use of the Product shall not constitute a lack of conformity and shall not be covered by the statutory guarantee, unless they are attributable to an original defect in the Product.

6.5 The Customer agrees to follow the care and maintenance instructions provided by Il Forte Gioielli in order to preserve the appearance and characteristics of the jewellery over time.

Article 7 – Product Availability

7.1 All Products displayed on the Website are subject to actual stock availability.

7.2 The presence of a Product on the Website does not guarantee its immediate availability.

7.3 In exceptional circumstances, Products may become unavailable due, by way of example, to simultaneous sales, stock synchronisation errors, supply issues or events beyond the Seller’s control.

7.4 If a Product ordered is no longer available after the Order has been placed, Il Forte Gioielli shall promptly inform the Customer and offer one of the following alternatives:

a) a full refund of the amount paid;

b) replacement with a Product of equivalent value, subject to the Customer’s consent;

c) waiting for the Product to be restocked, where possible.

7.5 None of the circumstances described above shall entitle the Customer to claim any additional compensation, damages or penalties beyond the refund of any amounts already paid.

Article 8 – Prices

8.1 All prices published on the Website are expressed in Euros (€) and include VAT where applicable under current legislation.

8.2 Shipping costs, customs duties, taxes or any additional charges applicable to international shipments shall be shown separately during the purchasing process or shall remain the responsibility of the Customer where required by the laws of the destination country.

8.3 Il Forte Gioielli reserves the right to change the prices of its Products at any time. Any price changes shall not affect Orders that have already been confirmed.

8.4 Where a clearly incorrect or manifestly unreasonable price compared with the actual value of the Product is published due to technical, IT or material error, Il Forte Gioielli reserves the right to cancel the Order, promptly notify the Customer and issue a full refund of any amount already paid.

8.5 Any promotions, discounts, promotional codes or commercial campaigns shall be valid exclusively for the period stated and may not be combined unless expressly indicated otherwise.

Article 9 – Payment Methods

9.1 The Customer may make payment using the methods made available on the Website at the time of purchase, including, by way of example, credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, Shopify Payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay or other electronic payment systems that may be available.

9.2 All payments are processed through secure payment platforms. Il Forte Gioielli does not store or have access to the Customer’s complete payment card details.

9.3 The amount due shall be charged in accordance with the procedures established by the selected payment provider.

9.4 If payment is declined, cancelled, reversed or deemed unauthorised by the issuing institution, the Order cannot be processed and Il Forte Gioielli shall not be required to dispatch the Products.

9.5 Il Forte Gioielli reserves the right to carry out anti-fraud checks where a transaction presents unusual or suspicious elements and may request additional documentation before accepting the Order.

Article 10 – Orders and Conclusion of the Contract

10.1 Submission of an Order by the Customer constitutes an offer to purchase the selected Products.

10.2 Before finally confirming the Order, the Customer is required to carefully check all information entered, including the selected Products, quantities, delivery address and billing details.

10.3 After submitting the Order, the Customer shall receive an automatic e-mail confirming receipt of the Order. This communication does not constitute acceptance of the contractual proposal.

10.4 The sales contract shall be deemed concluded only when Il Forte Gioielli confirms acceptance of the Order and begins preparing it for dispatch.

10.5 Il Forte Gioielli reserves the right to contact the Customer if clarification is required in relation to the Order placed.

10.6 If the Customer identifies any errors in the submitted Order, they are advised to contact Customer Service promptly. Changes may only be made if the Order has not already been transferred to the logistics department or courier.

Article 11 – Refusal or Cancellation of an Order

11.1 Il Forte Gioielli reserves the right to refuse, suspend or cancel an Order, including after receipt, in the following circumstances:

  • incomplete, inaccurate or unverifiable Customer information;

  • payment not authorised or unsuccessful;

  • suspected fraud, unlawful use of payment instruments or potentially unlawful activity;

  • Orders placed for speculative purposes or unauthorised resale;

  • an obvious material error relating to the price, description or availability of the Product;

  • subsequent unavailability of the Product;

  • events of Force Majeure.

11.2 If an Order is cancelled after payment has been made, Il Forte Gioielli shall refund exclusively the amount actually paid by the Customer using the same payment method used for the purchase.

11.3 Cancellation of an Order shall not entitle the Customer to claim any further damages, compensation or indemnity, without prejudice to any mandatory rights provided by applicable law.

Article 12 – Shipping and Delivery

12.1 Il Forte Gioielli ships its Products within Italy and to the countries for which a shipping service is made available on the Website.

12.2 Unless otherwise stated on the relevant Product page, indicative delivery times are:

Italy: 1 to 3 working days from dispatch;

International destinations: 3 to 9 working days from dispatch.

12.3 Delivery times are indicative only and may vary due, by way of example, to national or local public holidays, high order volumes, strikes, weather conditions, customs inspections, logistical issues or other events not attributable to Il Forte Gioielli.

12.4 For Orders delivered within Italy, a shipping charge of €7.00 applies to Orders below €65.00. Shipping is free for Orders of €65.00 or more, unless otherwise stated in promotional offers published on the Website.

12.5 For international shipments, any customs duties, local taxes or other charges required under the laws of the destination country shall be borne by the Customer unless otherwise stated.

12.6 Once the shipment has been entrusted to the courier, Il Forte Gioielli shall provide the Customer with the Order tracking number, where available.

12.7 The Customer is responsible for checking the accuracy of the delivery information provided. Il Forte Gioielli shall not be liable for delays or failed deliveries resulting from incorrect, incomplete or inaccurate addresses provided by the Customer.

Article 13 – Delivery and Transfer of Risk

13.1 For purchases made by Consumers, the risk of loss of or damage to the Product shall pass to the Customer when the Customer, or a third party designated by the Customer other than the carrier, takes physical possession of the Product, in accordance with applicable legislation.

13.2 Where the Customer independently appoints a carrier other than the one proposed by Il Forte Gioielli, the risk shall pass to the Customer upon delivery of the Product to the carrier chosen by the Customer.

13.3 Upon delivery, the Customer is advised to check the integrity of the packaging. If the parcel shows clear signs of damage, the Customer is advised to accept the delivery subject to reservation and promptly contact Il Forte Gioielli, providing appropriate photographic documentation.

13.4 Any irregularities identified must be reported to Customer Service as soon as possible in order to allow the necessary checks to be carried out with the appointed courier.

Article 14 – Right of Withdrawal

14.1 Where the Customer qualifies as a Consumer pursuant to Italian Legislative Decree No. 206/2005 (Consumer Code), they have the right to withdraw from the purchase contract within 14 (fourteen) calendar days from the day on which they acquire physical possession of the Product, without being required to provide any reason.

14.2 In order to exercise the right of withdrawal, the Customer must communicate their decision by means of an explicit statement sent to the e-mail address indicated on the Website, specifying at least:

  • Order number;

  • name of the purchaser;

  • Products subject to the withdrawal;

  • contact details for any further communication.

14.3 The Customer must return the Product within 14 (fourteen) days of notifying Il Forte Gioielli of their withdrawal.

14.4 The right of withdrawal shall be considered validly exercised only where the procedures set out in these Terms and Conditions and applicable legislation have been complied with.

Article 15 – Return Conditions and Exclusions from the Right of Withdrawal

15.1 The right of withdrawal may only be exercised where the Product is returned:

  • intact;

  • unused other than as strictly necessary to establish its nature, characteristics and functioning;

  • free from damage, alterations or signs of wear;

  • complete with its original packaging and any accessories, certificates and complimentary items received;

  • suitably packaged for transport.

15.2 The Customer shall be responsible for any reduction in the value of the Product resulting from handling other than what is strictly necessary to establish its characteristics.

15.3 Pursuant to Article 59 of the Italian Consumer Code, the right of withdrawal is excluded, among other circumstances, for:

  • Products personalised or made according to the Customer’s specific requirements;

  • Products modified at the Customer’s request;

  • engraved, personalised or made-to-measure Products;

  • any other circumstances provided for by applicable legislation.

15.4 Il Forte Gioielli reserves the right to refuse a return where the Product is returned in a condition incompatible with the exercise of the right of withdrawal or where it has been damaged for reasons attributable to the Customer.

Article 16 – Returns Procedure

16.1 Before returning any Product, the Customer is required to contact Il Forte Gioielli Customer Service in advance.

16.2 No return should be sent without the Seller’s prior authorisation.

16.3 Once the request has been received, Il Forte Gioielli shall provide instructions regarding the returns procedure.

16.4 Return shipping costs shall be borne by the Customer, except in cases provided for by law or where the return is due to an established lack of conformity.

16.5 The Customer is responsible for adequately packaging the Product for return. Any damage occurring during transportation due to inadequate packaging shall remain the Customer’s responsibility.

16.6 Il Forte Gioielli reserves the right to refuse cash-on-delivery shipments or returns made using methods that have not been agreed in advance.

Article 17 – Refunds

17.1 Once the returned Product has been received, Il Forte Gioielli shall inspect its condition and verify compliance with these General Terms and Conditions.

17.2 Where the right of withdrawal has been correctly exercised, the refund shall be issued within the time limits provided by applicable legislation and, unless otherwise agreed, using the same payment method used by the Customer for the purchase.

17.3 Il Forte Gioielli may withhold the refund until the Product has actually been received or until the Customer provides evidence that it has been dispatched, whichever occurs first.

17.4 If the Product shows damage, signs of use exceeding what is permitted or is missing essential components, Il Forte Gioielli may reduce the refund by an amount corresponding to the reduction in the value of the Product, within the limits permitted by applicable legislation.

Article 18 – Statutory Guarantee of Conformity

18.1 All Products sold by Il Forte Gioielli are covered by the statutory guarantee of conformity provided for under Articles 128 et seq. of the Italian Consumer Code, where applicable.

18.2 The guarantee covers only lack of conformity existing at the time the Product is delivered.

18.3 In the event of a lack of conformity, the Customer must promptly contact Il Forte Gioielli and provide:

  • Order number;

  • a detailed description of the issue;

  • suitable photographic documentation allowing an initial assessment to be carried out.

18.4 Il Forte Gioielli reserves the right to request the return of the Product in order to inspect its condition before proceeding with repair, replacement, price reduction or refund, in accordance with applicable legislation.

18.5 Each request shall be assessed individually by the appointed technical personnel.

Article 19 – Warranty Exclusions

19.1 The warranty does not cover damage resulting from:

  • normal wear and tear of the Product;

  • natural oxidation of silver;

  • natural wear of yellow or rose gold plating;

  • scratches, abrasions or discolouration resulting from use;

  • impacts, drops, crushing or deformation;

  • improper use of the Product;

  • contact with sea water, swimming pools, detergents, solvents, perfumes, cosmetics, creams or other chemical substances;

  • improper storage of the jewellery;

  • repairs, modifications or alterations carried out by parties other than Il Forte Gioielli;

  • failure to follow maintenance instructions.

19.2 Natural variations in stones, pearls, mother-of-pearl, enamel or other natural materials shall not constitute a lack of conformity.

19.3 Minor differences in dimensions, colour or appearance resulting from handcrafted workmanship shall not constitute manufacturing defects.

19.4 Il Forte Gioielli shall not be liable for indirect, incidental or consequential damage resulting from improper use of the Product, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

Article 20 – Jewellery Care and After-Sales Assistance

20.1 Jewellery marketed by Il Forte Gioielli is made using quality materials and requires appropriate care and maintenance in order to preserve its appearance and characteristics over time.

20.2 Customers are advised to:

  • avoid contact between jewellery and perfumes, creams, cosmetics, detergents, solvents, sea water, swimming pool water, chemical substances and abrasive products;

  • remove jewellery before taking part in sports, manual work or other activities that could result in impacts, deformation or scratches;

  • store jewellery, when not being worn, in its original packaging or in a dry place protected from humidity.

20.3 Failure to maintain the Product in accordance with these instructions may adversely affect its appearance and may result in the warranty becoming invalid in the circumstances provided for in these General Terms and Conditions.

20.4 Il Forte Gioielli provides its Customers with an after-sales assistance service.

Any repair requests shall be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

20.5 Where damage is not covered by the statutory guarantee, Il Forte Gioielli may, where technically possible, offer a paid repair service, subject to prior communication of the relevant costs and estimated processing times.

20.6 The Customer must contact Customer Service before sending any Product for assistance or repair.

Article 21 – Limitation of Liability

21.1 Il Forte Gioielli undertakes to exercise the utmost care in the manufacture, preparation and dispatch of its Products.

21.2 Without prejudice to any mandatory provisions of applicable law, Il Forte Gioielli shall not be held liable for direct or indirect damage resulting from:

  • improper use of the Product;

  • failure to follow use and maintenance instructions;

  • normal wear and tear of materials;

  • events attributable to the Customer or third parties;

  • delays attributable to couriers, competent authorities or events of Force Majeure.

21.3 Il Forte Gioielli does not guarantee that the Website will always be available without interruption or free from technical errors, although it undertakes to keep it regularly updated and efficient.

21.4 Under no circumstances shall Il Forte Gioielli’s total liability exceed the amount actually paid by the Customer for the Product concerned by the claim, without prejudice to any mandatory rights recognised by law.

Article 22 – Intellectual Property and Use of the Website

22.1 All content available on the Website, including, by way of example, trademarks, logos, photographs, images, texts, descriptions, videos, graphic elements, layouts, Product designs and any other content, is the exclusive property of Il Forte Gioielli or the respective rights holders and is protected by Italian, European and international intellectual property legislation.

22.2 Any reproduction, distribution, modification, publication, commercial use or other exploitation of Website content without the prior written authorisation of Il Forte Gioielli is prohibited.

22.3 The Customer agrees to use the Website exclusively for lawful purposes and in compliance with applicable legislation.

22.4 Any use of the Website that could compromise its proper functioning or security, or cause damage to Il Forte Gioielli or third parties, is prohibited.

22.5 Any tolerance by Il Forte Gioielli of conduct contrary to these Terms and Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of its rights.

Article 23 – Privacy, Force Majeure and Amendments to the Terms and Conditions

23.1 The Customer’s personal data shall be processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, as described in the Privacy Policy available on the Website, which forms an integral part of these General Terms and Conditions.

23.2 Il Forte Gioielli shall not be held liable for delays or inability to fulfil its obligations where these result from events of Force Majeure or unforeseeable circumstances beyond its control, including, by way of example, natural disasters, fires, wars, pandemics, strikes, interruptions to transport networks, IT system failures, measures imposed by competent authorities or other similar causes.

23.3 For as long as the Force Majeure event continues, performance of the affected obligations shall be suspended to the extent affected by the event.

23.4 Il Forte Gioielli reserves the right to amend or update these General Terms and Conditions at any time. Any amendments shall apply exclusively to Orders placed after their publication on the Website.

Article 24 – Applicable Law, Jurisdiction and Final Provisions

24.1 These General Terms and Conditions shall be governed by Italian law.

24.2 Any dispute relating to the interpretation, performance or validity of a contract concluded with a Consumer shall fall within the jurisdiction of the court of the Consumer’s place of residence or domicile, as provided by applicable legislation.

24.3 Where the Customer does not qualify as a Consumer, any dispute shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Lucca, unless otherwise provided by mandatory law.

24.4 The nullity, ineffectiveness or invalidity of one or more provisions of these General Terms and Conditions shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions, which shall continue to have full force and effect.

24.5 Failure by Il Forte Gioielli to exercise any of the rights provided for under these General Terms and Conditions shall not be interpreted as a waiver of those rights.

24.6 For all matters not expressly governed by these General Terms and Conditions, the provisions of the Italian Civil Code, the Italian Consumer Code and any other applicable Italian and European legislation shall apply.