Repairing a Valuable Gemstone Ring
Helpful Tips to Handle the Trip to the Jeweler to Fix a Damaged Ring
Mar 15, 2008
This is the second article in the series about inspecting pronged rings to avoid dropping gemstones. The first article discussed basic ring maintenance.
Savvy jewelry owners check their pronged jewelry, especially rings, every time it is worn. The basic inspection involves examining prongs to see if any have become lose or damaged. Fixing this problem before it escalates will be the difference between happily wearing a pronged diamond solitaire and that horrifying trip to the jewelers for a replacement quote.
Taking the ring to a jeweler to be checked or repaired:
For those that have an expensive gemstone ring, routine maintenance involves an occasional trip to the jewelers to have the integrity of the prongs checked. The best way to handle this maintenance issue is to make an appointment at the jeweler and stay onsite while the ring is checked.
Why? The vast majority of jewelers are honest. However, for the jewelry owner’s piece of mind (for instance to make sure the gemstone has not been swapped out during its stay at the jewelers), it is always best to be onsite and observe the ring’s inspection.
Any legitimate jeweler is going to recognize the jewelery owner’s concern and will appreciate the chance to discuss any potential repairs with them in person at that time. Unless a prong is damaged, it is quick work to use a pair of gem-setting pliers to tighten any loose prongs.
Also, should the ring not need any repair work, staying onsite eliminates a trip back to the jewelers to pick up the ring – and reduces the jeweler’s liability while storing your ring.
Handling the repairs:
Depending on the repair needed, an appointment might also be made to facilitate the repair job. However, more than likely the jeweler will want to perform several similar repair jobs at the same time, so this may not be a feasible option.
The best policy is to select a jeweler with whom some sort of a relationship has been formed in the past. Lacking that, referrals from friends can be helpful.
A good option is to have the jeweler and owner examine the gemstone at drop-off using a loupe, with the jeweler making certified notes on its clarity, cut, color and carat weight. Then perform the same procedure at pickup.
Think this might be insulting to the jeweler? It should not be. In any event, most would rather insult a service provider than to find out several years hence that they've been sporting a fake or inferior gemstone.
After this hoopla, even a jeweler that might have thought about swapping out the gemstone will more than likely think twice.
The next article will discuss gem setting pliers that can be used to perform at home routine maintenance.
