Good customer service from Toledo
In this morning's post was a pair of 24 KT gold earrings to replace an identical pair I'd bought last July from Artesania Burgueño in the spectacular Spanish city of Toledo. The gold thread which forms the traditional damascene pattern is pushed into grooves by the jeweller who has previously etched the pattern into a metal background. We'd watched the jewellers at work for quite some time, having been led to the small workshop by the man they have on the street near the cathedral who brings people to this out-of-the-way place that tourists would likely not find on their own. I don't usually follow such people but made an exception in this case and loved those earrings.
So I was very disappointed when I took them off one evening at the end of March and noticed that one of them had lost the damascene incrustation. I'd only worn them about three or four times so I phoned the workshop to get their e-mail, unfindable on the internet (artesaniaburgueno@gmail.com if ever you should need it!). I sent them a photo and they responded immediately, saying this should not have happened and offering to send me another pair for free. Six weeks later, still nothing. So I sent them a follow-up e-mail on 9 May and look what I got in the post this morning! A new pair! I didn't really believe they'd come through, but bravo to them.
By the way, although the address, nº6 Plaza Santa Isabel, makes it sound as though Artesania Burgueño is on a square, the Plaza is actually more of a street and you can find it by walking up the Calle Sola until it meets the Plaza Santa Isabel. The workshop and shop are just there, down some stairs in what looks like an old convent.