Quality jewelry is resistant to regular wear and tear. However, even fine jewelry is susceptible to damage, such as loose stones, tarnished metal, or broken chains. Understanding how best to approach jewelry repair can ensure that your favorite pieces stand the test of time.
At Kroman Jewelry, we know the key to jewelry longevity involves regular cleaning, proper storage, and the use of professional jewelry repair services. Let’s explore some of the most common jewelry repair mistakes to avoid to keep your jewelry in pristine condition.
Common Jewelry Repair Mistakes to Avoid
After discovering that your jewelry is damaged, you may be contemplating fixing it yourself. Unfortunately, DIY repairs can cause more damage to your jewelry and could make the piece unwearable.
When approaching jewelry repair, avoid the following common mistakes:
1. Use of Harsh Cleaning Solutions
Dust, dirt, and other residue can build up on your jewelry over time. Metal jewelry can also wear down and tarnish when it comes into contact with acids, oil, moisture, and air. When cleaning your jewelry, it’s important to avoid certain chemicals that could cause further damage, such as bleaches, detergents, solvents, and deep cleaners.
The best cleaning methods for jewelry depend on the piece you want to clean. For example, jewelry that contains pearls, opals, coral, or turquoise, should always be cleaned by a jewelry repair expert. It’s also a good idea to consult with a professional before using any at-home jewelry cleaning kits.
2. Trying Ring Stretching
Ring resizing can be tricky, even for seasoned professionals. Attempting to change your ring size at home often leads to poor results. Ring stretching is a trend that’s been going around social media for years and involves the use of a hammer and a mandrel on a pedestal. The hammer is used to resize the ring as it sits on the mandrel.
While ring stretching can be effective for ring resizing, it should only be used for plain bands. In addition, you should only try to size your ring by up to a maximum of one size. Ring stretching can also have unexpected side effects, such as dents and scratches on the metal. For these reasons and more, it’s best to leave this job up to the experts.
3. Applying Glue to Set Stones
Over time, stones can come loose from their settings. When this happens, the risk of losing the stone significantly increases. While gluing the stone back onto your wedding ring may seem like a good idea, you want to avoid putting any type of glue on your fine jewelry.
Removing adhesive from jewelry can be challenging, especially when you use a more permanent glue, such as super glue. Removing this type of glue from a fragile stone or scratchable metal often requires the jewelry to be soaked in an acetone-like solution to dissolve the glue, which could harm the jewelry. In short, it’s best to avoid glue.
4. Restringing Beads or Pearls Yourself
It can be disheartening to watch your pearls or beads fall to the floor after your necklace suddenly snaps. If you’re lucky, you’re able to find all of the beads. After that, you might try to restring them, potentially losing beads in the process. This approach is rarely ever a good idea.
Pearl and beaded jewelry is specially designed to hold the weight of the beads. Special knotting and clasps are generally used to keep the necklace in one piece and prevent the pearls or beads from moving around on the string. It’s best to avoid restringing your necklace yourself and instead, bring all of the components to a jewelry repair expert.
5. Making Incorrect Watch Repairs
Repairing a watch at home can be challenging due to the dozens of tiny parts inside. Watch repairs can range from changing a dead battery to resizing the watch band for a more comfortable fit. While more minor repairs can be done on your own, it’s best to call a professional when you’re unsure of the proper fix.
A jewelry repair expert can assist you with anything you need fixed on your watch. They can change the battery, add or remove links in the band, replace damaged glass, or diagnose the problem if the watch has stopped working altogether. A professional can also tell you if the watch is worth fixing or should be replaced.
6. Forgoing Professional Repair Services
When it comes to repairing jewelry, the average person has little to no experience. Jewelry repair is a specialized field that requires a steady hand, the proper equipment, and extensive knowledge of how to make proper repairs to avoid causing further harm to the piece of jewelry.
When in doubt, always request guidance from a jewelry repair expert. However, not just any company will do. Ensure that the business you choose has certified professionals on staff who will provide excellent customer service and reliable repairs.
Work With a Reliable Jewelry Repair Expert
No matter how well we care for our jewelry, pieces can become damaged over time, especially with regular use. In some instances, an item purchased recently may need repair to adjust the size or alter its appearance. Jewelry repair services cover many types of repair, such as ring resizing, chain repair, soldering, prong tightening, and stone replacement.
When choosing a repair service, there are several things to look for. The quality of repairs and service tops the list. The best jewelers prioritize customer service and will clearly communicate your options. Also, consider other important aspects, such as the price of service and repair timeline.
Trust Kroman Jewelry for Jewelry Repair & Maintenance
If you need your jewelry repaired, don’t make these common mistakes. Instead, trust Kroman Jewelry in Overland Park, KS to make the necessary repairs while handling your jewelry with the utmost care. Contact us today at (816) 656-7747 to get started.
