Working with a Jewelry Store
While there are many DIY tips on how to clean and store jewelry, it’s best to work with a jeweler for repairs. If you purchased a piece online, the store where you purchased it has since closed or you have moved away, work does not have to be done at the same place!
When you bring a piece to be repaired:
- The jeweler will examine the damage and provide a quote for the work needed. If your collection is insured and the work extensive, you might consider working with your carrier at this point.
- Not all repairs are done in-house. Many jewelry stores do standard repairs, such as ring resizing and fixing a broken chain but will send out more complicated jobs. This step can add to the time it takes for your jewelry to be repaired.
Common Types of Jewelry Repair
Of all jewelry repairs, the following are most common:
- Resizing a Ring: If a ring is too loose or tight, the size can be adjusted by cutting and soldering the shank.
- Chain Repair: Over time, a link can break or the chain gets stretched out. These repairs involve adding a link and soldering the chain back together or replacing the clasp. Complexity can depend on the type of chain and size of the link.
- Prong Repair: The prongs supporting the stone can experience wear and weaken with time, increasing the chances the stone will fall out. Although prongs may bend and break, they often flatten or develop a rounded appearance. In these instances, the individual prong, tip or a full set may be replaced.
- Shank Repair: The ring’s shank can experience a degree of wear with time, often through the stress placed on it through daily tasks. Engagement rings and wedding bands are at higher risk for this issue, since they are worn every day. If ignored, a fracture at the bottom of the ring may result. In these instances, a jeweler will solder and reshape the band.
- Loose Stones: If you can touch the stone and it moves around, you’re dealing with looseness. Do not continue wearing a piece of jewelry in this fragile state, as it increases the risk the stone will fall out and get lost. Instead, take it to a jeweler for tightening.
Signs of Quality Jewelry Repair
Jewelry repairs have been done well if you cannot spot the work done. Along with securing a stone or fixing a broken chain:
- The repaired area has the same color and luster as the rest of the piece
- You don’t see hammering or tool marks
- Any seams or marks from cutting have been smoothed away
- A new link does not stick out or change how the chain flows
Do you have jewelry in need of repair? Contact Hannoush Jewelers of Connecticut to book an appointment at one of our convenient locations today.
