| Jewelry repair is one of those things that typically | | | | attention to detail and sheer opulence. It could |
| are self evident to the owner of a piece of | | | | have taken well over a year or more just to |
| jewelry. If a ring is too big or too small, it | | | | make some of these wonderful pieces and |
| obviously needs to be adjusted or "sized" in | | | | heaven forbid they ever need repairing. And keep |
| jeweler's parlance. If a clasp no longer works on a | | | | in mind that your average "working Joe" of that |
| chain or bracelet, it generally needs to be replaced. | | | | day could not even conceive of owning a splendid |
| If an ear ring just falls out of ones ear, it probably | | | | piece of gold jewelry. |
| needs a new back or if possible, to tighten the old | | | | The majority of families in America today not |
| one. In fact, anything that prevents the owner | | | | only can afford one but many, many pieces of |
| from worry free wear most likely falls under the | | | | jewelry. The gift of jewelry celebrates and |
| inexhaustible category of jewelry repair. And | | | | punctuates most all significant occasions in today's |
| believe me when I say after 33 years, I've seen | | | | modern world. And, it is no longer relegated to |
| most everything.....until the next thing comes along. | | | | just special occasions, but is worn with great |
| Most people operate under the age old adage that | | | | pleasure day in and day out. The vast amount of |
| "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Yet with jewelry that | | | | fine jewelry in the market place today is made |
| is a misconception that has cost countless | | | | from gold - not stainless steel. And, as such, |
| thousands of people to loose countless millions of | | | | needs to be regularly inspected, cleaned and even |
| dollars; not to mention the sentimental value that | | | | have routine or preventative maintenance |
| has left a trail of tears and broken hearts. | | | | performed in order to ensure the owner can |
| Remember the old guy on the beach with a metal | | | | confidently wear their special piece of family |
| detector? You think he is just looking for loose | | | | history. |
| change? | | | | Yet, in our fast paced drive-thru society, people |
| When it comes to jewelry and jewelry repair, | | | | just are not willing to wait very long, if at all, to |
| here is another wise saying that you would do | | | | have their jewelry repaired. Thankfully, cutting |
| well to remember, "an ounce of prevention is | | | | edge technology and new techniques have helped |
| worth a pound of cure". Virtually everyday | | | | jewelers devise better ways of doing repairs |
| someone comes in needing to replace a lost | | | | faster, more efficiently and at a much reduced |
| diamond, sapphire, ruby, emerald or other | | | | cost to the consumer. Just a few short years |
| precious gem stone because they didn't take the | | | | ago the repair of a broken prong on an emerald |
| time or really give any thought to the care and | | | | cluster would have been almost prohibitively |
| protection of their prized possession. On closer | | | | expensive to get fixed. Yet with laser welders |
| inspection it becomes painfully evident that the | | | | finding there way into your better jewelry repair |
| prongs that once held their valuable bauble had | | | | shops and stores, the cost of the repair and the |
| become worn and thin and finally just broke off. | | | | time it takes to repair it have become much |
| Just a quick sixty second inspection by a | | | | more palatable for the consumer. |
| professional jeweler could have saved them $60, | | | | In short, prevention is the best repair for the |
| $600 or even $6000 dollars of repair cost (not to | | | | contemporary wearer of jewelry. Whether an |
| mention the fact that Grandmas diamond is now | | | | heirloom or a recent purchase, things happen in |
| lost forever.) | | | | the real world. Rings are caught in doors, pockets |
| Historically, the jeweler, like most craftsmen, had | | | | and purses; chains and necklaces are caught in |
| to make everything from scratch even the tools | | | | sweaters, pulled by children and grandchildren, and |
| they used. It was a painstaking process that took | | | | chewed up by the dog; and, bracelets just simply |
| days and even weeks to complete. If a ring | | | | wear themselves out at the joints with daily |
| needed to be sized, the process could take over | | | | wear. So, let me leave you with this final axiom, |
| a week - just on that one ring. Most everyone | | | | "if you want to see it tomorrow, you better take |
| has seen these magnificent necklaces, bracelets, | | | | care of it today. |
| rings and ear rings from ancient times with there | | | | |