When It Comes to Jewelry Repair, Trust the Experts
Imagine this scenario: you're racing around on the eve of a major anniversary with your significant other, and you've just found the perfect pearl necklace to celebrate the moment with.
But things go sour quickly when you realize that this wonderful necklace has snapped in one place.
You don't panic.
Thinking fast, you grab a glue stick and some string, paste the pearls back together and, just in time, hand the love of your life a beautiful...
messy, balled-up handful of pearls.
Jewelry repair is a precise process that should be left to the professionals in almost every case.
Whether you're trying to reset of loose gemstone or restore a family heirloom, bring your piece to an expert before you pull out the Elmer's or the soldering iron.
Many pieces of jewelry have intricate designs that require very close attention and special equipment.
Some damaged pieces may have prongs or other features that you're tempted to press back into shape, but you really shouldn't touch them.
A specialist has the eye for repair that you don't: they will be able to see problems and roadblocks to repair that you cannot.
An expert will carry out a jewelry repair in a very direct manner: they will mend the parts that are out of whack, and replace missing parts by ordering them from suppliers.
Most jewelry repair takes place in trade shops that employ several craftspeople that each specialize in a specific skill such as soldering, stone cutting, and stone-setting.
Trade shops are the best thing to look for when you need something fixed, especially if you have a complex problem or an older piece of jewelry.
They will handle your challenges with extreme care and an eye for detail.
Jewelry repair and restoration is not for the faint of heart.
Every time you bring in an item for repair, you run the risk of the piece being damaged further or even ruined.
This is especially true if you're trying to restore old or antique items.
It's simply the nature of precious stones and metals - they are difficult to alter and work with.
However, if you're linked with the right craftsperson, you can have your jewelry looking like new in no time.
Find a jeweler with good communication skills who will keep you abreast of the process.
If you have a more elaborate repair project, you will need to work closely with the craftsperson to make creative decisions toward a final product.
Some projects crash and burn, but a skilled master can make a very old and damaged piece look like it was forged yesterday, without taking away any of its old-world character.
It's not a good idea to send your jewelry away to be worked on, unless you really have to.
If any problems arise, you'll want to physically visit the shop to speak with the jeweler and see the status of your piece.
Again, it's good to find someone you have a good rapport with during such a fragile process.
Jewelry repair is a world unto itself, and we're lucky to still have people around who take such pride and care in fixing and restoring our bling.
Make sure you find a reputed professional next time you're in need - Scotch tape really doesn't do the trick.
But things go sour quickly when you realize that this wonderful necklace has snapped in one place.
You don't panic.
Thinking fast, you grab a glue stick and some string, paste the pearls back together and, just in time, hand the love of your life a beautiful...
messy, balled-up handful of pearls.
Jewelry repair is a precise process that should be left to the professionals in almost every case.
Whether you're trying to reset of loose gemstone or restore a family heirloom, bring your piece to an expert before you pull out the Elmer's or the soldering iron.
Many pieces of jewelry have intricate designs that require very close attention and special equipment.
Some damaged pieces may have prongs or other features that you're tempted to press back into shape, but you really shouldn't touch them.
A specialist has the eye for repair that you don't: they will be able to see problems and roadblocks to repair that you cannot.
An expert will carry out a jewelry repair in a very direct manner: they will mend the parts that are out of whack, and replace missing parts by ordering them from suppliers.
Most jewelry repair takes place in trade shops that employ several craftspeople that each specialize in a specific skill such as soldering, stone cutting, and stone-setting.
Trade shops are the best thing to look for when you need something fixed, especially if you have a complex problem or an older piece of jewelry.
They will handle your challenges with extreme care and an eye for detail.
Jewelry repair and restoration is not for the faint of heart.
Every time you bring in an item for repair, you run the risk of the piece being damaged further or even ruined.
This is especially true if you're trying to restore old or antique items.
It's simply the nature of precious stones and metals - they are difficult to alter and work with.
However, if you're linked with the right craftsperson, you can have your jewelry looking like new in no time.
Find a jeweler with good communication skills who will keep you abreast of the process.
If you have a more elaborate repair project, you will need to work closely with the craftsperson to make creative decisions toward a final product.
Some projects crash and burn, but a skilled master can make a very old and damaged piece look like it was forged yesterday, without taking away any of its old-world character.
It's not a good idea to send your jewelry away to be worked on, unless you really have to.
If any problems arise, you'll want to physically visit the shop to speak with the jeweler and see the status of your piece.
Again, it's good to find someone you have a good rapport with during such a fragile process.
Jewelry repair is a world unto itself, and we're lucky to still have people around who take such pride and care in fixing and restoring our bling.
Make sure you find a reputed professional next time you're in need - Scotch tape really doesn't do the trick.
