Section 1

Who We Are

The Sovereign Pearl is an independent retailer specializing in vintage jewelry, antique pieces, estate jewelry, pearls, and one-of-a-kind collectibles. We are based in the United States and sell to customers domestically and internationally through our Shopify-powered online store.

When this policy refers to "we," "us," or "our," it means The Sovereign Pearl. When it refers to "you" or "your," it means you as a visitor or customer of our store.

Section 2

Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly to us and information collected automatically when you visit or make a purchase from our store.

Section 3

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

1. Process and Fulfill Orders — To process your purchase, arrange shipping, send order confirmations, and handle any issues related to your order.
2. Communicate with You — To respond to your inquiries, send order and shipping updates, and provide customer service.
3. Email Marketing — To send you news, updates, and promotional content about our collection — only if you have opted in. You may unsubscribe at any time.
4. Fraud Prevention and Security — To detect and prevent fraudulent transactions, unauthorized returns, and other harmful or illegal activity.
5. Legal Compliance — To comply with applicable laws, regulations, tax obligations, and legal processes, including maintaining records of transactions as required.
6. Improve Our Store — To understand how customers browse and interact with our store so we can improve the shopping experience, our listings, and our service.

Section 4

Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

1. Shopify — Our store is built on Shopify's platform. Shopify processes your data on our behalf to operate the store, handle payments, and provide infrastructure. For details on how Shopify handles your data, see Section 5 and Shopify's Consumer Privacy Policy.
2. Shipping Carriers — We share your name and shipping address with shipping carriers (such as USPS, UPS, or FedEx) solely to fulfill and deliver your order.
3. Payment Processors — Payment information is transmitted to Shopify Payments and their payment processing partners to complete your transaction. We do not receive or retain your full card details.
4. Legal Obligations — We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, court order, or governmental authority, or to protect the rights, safety, and property of The Sovereign Pearl or others.
5. Business Transfer — In the event of a sale, merger, or transfer of all or part of our business, customer information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to the same privacy commitments.

Section 5

Shopify as Our Platform Provider

Our store is powered by Shopify Inc. Shopify provides the technology and infrastructure that allows us to operate our online store, process payments, and manage orders. In doing so, Shopify processes certain personal data on our behalf as a data processor, and in some contexts independently as a data controller.

Shopify's own privacy practices — including how they handle data collected through Shop, Shop Pay, and their platform services — are governed by Shopify's Consumer Privacy Policy, which complements this policy. We encourage you to review Shopify's policy for a complete picture of how your data is handled at the platform level.

Section 6

Cookies and Tracking

Our store uses cookies and similar tracking technologies. These are small files placed on your device that help our store function properly and allow us to understand how you interact with our site. Cookies are managed and set by Shopify on our behalf.

We use cookies for the following purposes:

• Essential cookies — Required for the store to operate, including maintaining your shopping cart and processing your checkout.
• Analytics cookies — Help us understand which pages are visited and how customers navigate our store, so we can improve the experience.
• Preference cookies — Remember your settings and preferences, such as your currency or region.

Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our store.

Section 7

Email Marketing

With your permission, we may send you emails about new arrivals, special pieces, promotions, and updates from The Sovereign Pearl. You will only receive marketing emails if you have explicitly opted in, either at checkout or through a sign-up form on our site.

You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any email we send, or by contacting us directly. Opting out of marketing emails will not affect transactional emails related to your orders.

Email marketing for our store is handled through Shopify Email, Shopify's native email tool. Your email address is stored within our Shopify account and is not shared with any external email marketing platform.

Section 8

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, including to provide our services, maintain records for legal and tax obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

When you place an order, we retain order and transaction records as required by U.S. tax and accounting law. If you request deletion of your data, we will delete or anonymize information that we are not required by law to retain.

You may request access to or deletion of your personal information at any time by contacting us (see Section 12).

Section 9

Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. We honor the following rights for all customers regardless of location:

1. Access — You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
2. Correction — You may ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
3. Deletion — You may request that we delete your personal information, subject to any legal retention obligations.
4. Opt Out of Marketing — You may opt out of marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link in any email or by contacting us directly.
5. Data Portability — You may request a copy of your data in a portable format where technically feasible.

If you are a resident of California, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information), and the right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 12. We will respond to verified requests within 30 days. For rights related to Shopify's platform-level data processing, please also visit Shopify's privacy portal.

Section 10

Children's Privacy

Our store is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

Section 11

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of our store after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

Section 12

How to Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the personal information we hold about you, please contact us:

• Email: contact@thesovereignpearl.com

We are committed to working with you to resolve any concerns promptly and fairly.