For jewellery items, please refer to our size guides on how to determine your ring and bangle size. Please take care when specifying your size, if the wrong size is ordered and the piece requires resizing, a resizing fee applies.

You will need to contact W.J. Sanders Customer Service for confirmation that the product can accommodate your design.  If your request is achievable and outside the scope of the engraving quoted online we will provide you with a quote.

W.J. Sanders can customise most products, depending on the scope of the customisation. Please contact W.J. Sanders Customer Service for a quote and lead time to accommodate your desired customisation.

All products are subject to strict quality control guidelines by our Australian metalsmiths and are all assayed and hallmarked in Australia. W.J. Sanders manufactures at its facilities in Sydney, Australia and for some products works with selected international workshops. For more information on specific products, please contact W.J. Sanders.

• W.J. Sanders rollerball pens can be refilled with a Schmidt Roller refill or a similar European brand.
• W.J. Sanders ballpoint pens can be refilled with a Schmidt P900 or a comparable European brand.
• W.J. Sanders fountain pens can be refilled with an international ink cartridge or by using the supplied ink converter with a suitable ink brand of your choice.

The distinction lies in the ink and the writing experience.

Rollerball pens utilise water-based ink, this ink takes longer to dry and can be susceptible to smudging. In contrast, ballpoint pens require more pressure during writing and dry quicker due to their oil-based ink.

Ballpoint pens:

• Easy to write with, suitable for busy lifestyles
• Uses quick-drying ink, preventing smudging
• Entry price, ideal as a versatile starter pen

Rollerball pens:

• Convenient and versatile, a cost-effective alternative to fountain pens
• Uses liquid ink for a strong line on the page
• Designed for on-the-go use, offering a fluid writing experience similar to fountain pens
• Wide range of ink colours available
• Smooth and comfortable to use for long periods, suitable for signatures, letters and notes
• Ink may take longer to dry, prone to smudging
• Potential for slight bleed-through onto paper, depending on pressure and paper quality.

No. The refills are different sizes.

W.J. Sanders fountain pens can be refilled either with an ink cartridge or by using the supplied ink converter to draw ink from a pot.

Here is a step-by-step guide to disassembling, cleaning, and refilling a W.J. Sanders fountain pen.

How to disassemble a fountain pen:

1. Remove the cap
2. Point the nib away from your body and unscrew the forepart from the barrel by turning it counterclockwise.
3. Remove the empty ink cartridge or ink converter.

How to clean the nib of a fountain pen:

If you are changing ink colours or if dried ink is present in the nib, cleaning the nibs is recommended. Note: Disassembling the nib itself is not advisable as it may damage the feed system or deform the nib.

1. With the grip section facing up and the nib pointing down, rinse the nib with tap water until the water runs clear. Water should flow from the grip section down to the nib.
2. If dried ink remains, dip the nib in warm water to soften the ink, then rinse again with tap water. Repeat as needed.
3. Place the pen on a sheet of paper towel ad leave it on a cool, safe place to dry.

How to change a fountain pen ink cartridge:

1. Insert the new cartridge into the grip section's narrower side.
2. Gently push the cartridge until the ink collector tip punctures the cartridge and fits firmly.
3. Ink should flow from the reservoir through the feed system to the nib. If it does not, gently squeeze the cartridge to speed up the process.

How to refill a fountain pen ink converter:

Clean

1. To remove excess ink, turn the converter knob counterclockwise until the rubber seal in front of the rod reaches the converter's mouth.
2. Dip the converter into a cup of water and turn the knob up and down several times to clean the reservoir. Change the water and repeat until it remains clear.
3. Place ink converter on a sheet of paper towel and leave it in a cool, safe place to dry.

Refill

1. Pour some ink into a small disposable container and dip the converter mouth into the ink.
2. Turn the knob counterclockwise to refill the ink. Once full, dispose of the excess ink in the cup - Do not pour back into the ink bottle.
3. Return the ink converter to the grip section of the pen, ensuring it connects firmly with the ink collector.

Reassemble

With the ink converter in the pen barrel, turn the grip section clockwise to secure it. Replace the cap.

Registering an account enables you to: 

• Track the progress of your orders 
• View your order history 
• Check/edit your contact details  

If you have forgotten your password, click on the 'Forgotten Your Password' button on the log in screen within 'My Account', and we will send you an email link for resetting the new password. 

If you are having problems logging on then please contact W.J. Sanders Customer Service on 02 9557 0134 from within the Australia or +61 2 9557 0134 from outside of Australia or email info@wjsanders.com 

Please log in to your account where you will be able to adjust your preferences.

Our Artisans work with private individuals, institutions and corporations to realise their ideas or designs. Contact our Customer Service Team to discuss your bespoke piece.

Design turnaround time may vary based on the complexity of your design. Bespoke commissions can take from 3 - 6 months, including research and development, consultations, and prototyping.

W.J. Sanders work with a range of materials and metals, not limited to precious metals only. Where necessary, we will work collaboratively with suppliers of other materials to bring your vision to life.

Yes, all visits are by appointment to ensure dedicated attention to our customers. Our office hours are from 8.30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Please contact W.J. Sanders Customer Service to schedule an appointment.

Unfortunately, no. Please refer to our Terms of Business for details regarding quoting.

While some jobs can be quoted on the spot, typically quotations will be provided within 10 business days.

It can be, it definitely varies per job. For quality and lasting plating, the preparation is the most important element.

Generally, you cannot plate over existing plating. Objects must be polished back to the base metal before plating, this can be a time consuming and costly procedure.

This depends on the value of the work or commission in question. A proportion of the work undertaken by W.J. Sanders is on objects that have sentimental value and in many cases our works will cost more than the piece is worth on the resale market.

That depends on the specific piece. Are you merely repairing an item, or are we looking at conservation or restoration of a significant piece? When a piece has provenance around it you must maintain its patina and character. If this is the case, then simply repairing the item will certainly devalue it.

If you want to retain the value of the item, as well as the quirks that aging brings to metal, you need to have historic skills. You don’t just ‘fix’ old items. You must assess it, understand the period, regions and technique used when the item was made and then match those skills in order to protect the value of an item.

The W.J. Sanders team are master craftsmen and craftswomen. Our team are highly sought after because they’ve been trained in contemporary approaches, in addition to being masters in century-old techniques. This is essential, to ensure something is conserved and restored properly.

Absolutely! Particularly if the piece has significant emotional meaning or is valuable to someone.

We see dents in tea and coffee pots and serving trays for example. Dents in a tray mean it won’t sit right. Again, it’s critical how you approach that dent. The skills must match the period of when the item was originally made. It may mean using special dollies or stakes, instead of using hammers, force or heat to repair something.

More to the point, repairing an item means a piece of history continues to live on, rather than being discarded. It might not be valuable today, but the next generation can enjoy the beauty regardless of it’s worth.

Yes, W.J. Sanders regularly restores metalware that is electroplated. It is important to understand the two types of electroplating: Electro-plated Nickel Silver (EPNS) and Electro-plated Brittania Metal (EPBM). The difference between the two is huge as far as the skills and cost involved in restoration. Nickel silver can be heated and polished, whereas EPBM cannot. The W.J. Sanders team can restore both.

W.J. Sanders has been offering gold and silver restoration since the company’s inception in Sydney, Australia in 1911. Right up until the 1930s W.J. Sanders predominantly sold gold and silver ware. Silver electroplating wasn’t something we offered as a core service until the late 1930s Sparrow brought his electroplating expertise to W.J. Sanders in the early 2000’s after he sold his own successful business to W.J. Sanders, he has been working here as a master craftsperson ever since.

W.J. Sanders charges a Quotation Fee to cover the provision of your quotation. This fee is payable in full when you request your quotation and is non-refundable. This fee is later deducted from the quotation if you proceed with the quote.

Quotation Fee:

• First two items: $88.00 incl. GST
• Each additional item: $25.00 incl. GST