Even the most skillfully-crafted jewelry pieces experience wear with time.
Chances are strong that your favorite, cherished piece will eventually need mending or refurbishing.
Fortunately, today's jewelry repair techniques combine the best of old-world craftsmanship and modern technology.
They ensure that your favorite piece will be with you for a lifetime.
Here are six of the most common jewelry repair problems you may experience (you may even find yourself up against more than one of them): 1) Broken or faulty clasps: The clasp is usually the first component to go when it comes to bracelets and necklaces.
This is because the clasp (the piece that joins each end together) is subject to wear, due to its moving parts.
It's also the part that bears the most weight and the brunt of tugging and pulling.
Clasps come in several different types.
Sometimes the fix is as simple as cutting off the old clasp and applying a brand new one.
This can often be done at home.
Sometimes, though, the problem is a bit more complicated.
A clasp that breaks or fails more than once usually indicates a deeper structural problem.
Soldering, replacement of other components or a whole new type of clasp may be needed.
In a case like this, you should have your jewelry repair performed by a professional.
2) Broken links: Chains in necklaces and bracelets are subject to regular force that may weaken and break individual links.
Links are relatively simple and easy to fix or replace.
However, this is something that should be done by a professional.
3) Worn-down metal.
This is common with rings, especially engagement rings and wedding bands.
This is because they're worn constantly, for years.
Friction between skin and metal causes the metal to wear down.
This weakens the metal.
Eventually, this weakened spot can break.
Worn spots can be fixed by having metal added to them.
Building up worn spots prevents further damage from occurring.
This type of jewelry repair must be done by professional goldsmith.
4) Worn or broken prongs in gem settings.
Gemstones are usually held in place by "prongs" or "claws.
" These prongs wear down with time, sometimes even breaking off.
Your stone is subject to falling out of its setting when this happens, especially if more than one prong is affected.
Like worn down ring bands, new metal must be added to the prongs to build them back up.
A professional must undertake this kind of job.
5) Slipped prongs.
Sometimes prongs can simply slip out of place.
This can happen when a piece takes some kind of a physical blow.
Often it's just a matter of bending the prong back into the correct position.
A jewelry repair professional can do this for you.
He will also be able to tell if any other damage has occurred.
6) Lost stones.
Few things are as disheartening as losing a stone in a favorite piece of jewelry.
Fortunately, this is an easy jewelry repair for a professional.
The downside is that it can be expensive to replace a lost stone, depending on its type.
However, most jewelry owners are happy to be able to preserve a cherished piece by simply replacing the gem.
Lost stones often result from a structural problem, like a worn or broken prong.
Your jewelry repair professional will examine your piece carefully.
He will inform you if there's a problem with a setting that needs to be addressed.
Many jewelry stores have jewelry repair professionals that work on site.
Even a discount jewelry store may be able to fix your piece on site.
Other retailers don't have jewelry repair person on site, but can usually ship pieces out for fixing.
However, you'll pay more for this service.
Therefore it's best to find a store with a repairman on site.