Jewelry is generally made to last for many years; however, as durable as your high-quality jewelry may be, unfortunately, some pieces are likely to break or become worn. Whether you have a favorite piece of jewelry that has been damaged as a result of being passed down from generation to generation or you simply broke the clasp on your favorite necklace while taking it off, all is not lost, and jewelry can be repaired. Although some pieces are easily repaired, many jewelry repairs must be done by a professional jeweler. Here are some tips to restore damaged or tarnished jewelry.
Tarnish
Jewelry that is made from precious metals, including gold and silver, is easily tarnished. To remove tarnish:
Broken Clasp
The clasp is often the first thing to break on necklaces and bracelets. This is because the clasp is subject to extensive wear and tear from putting on and removing the jewelry and it bears the most weight. Clasps are available in a wide variety of styles, so be sure to choose one that coordinates well with the other parts of the piece. Sometimes repairing the clasp is as simple as removing the old clasp and attaching the new one. If the clasp can be repaired or you aren't able to replace it yourself, it is best to take the jewelry to a jewelry repair professional to have the clasp repaired or replaced.
Broken Links or Worn Metal
If a chain has one or more broken links, or if the metal has become worn on a ring, a soldering tool is needed to make the repairs. Damaged jewelry that is made from precious metals should be taken to a jewelry shop for professional repairs. If you aren't familiar with using a soldering tool, it's easier to melt the metals more than you intended. Any jewelry that can only be repaired with the use of specialized equipment, such as a soldering tool, buffing machine or acid pots, should be taken to a professional for the repairs.
It is important to only take your jewelry to a trustworthy jewelry shop for repairs. Be sure to ask the jeweler if they do all jewelry repairs in their shop. Some jewelers send jewelry out for repairs, which means there is a risk of the piece being lost or not being repaired to your satisfaction. So, to protect yourself, be sure that your jewelry is going to be repaired on site.
Share27 June 2019
After wearing the same jewelry pieces day after day for years, I realized that a few of my favorite items had developed a significant level of grime. I didn't want to look sloppy, so I started to look into ways to tidy them up. I talked to a friend of mine who knows how to clean everything, and she had some really amazing ideas for cleaning tiny chains and little prongs. This blog is all about the art of cleaning fine jewelry, and even tidying up older costume jewelry pieces. You never know, you might be able to make those older baubles sparkle.
