Symptoms of a Loose Stone
The greatest fear of the newly engaged is losing that very precious, costly diamond ring. Aside from misplacing the entire ring, the center stone is typically the most vulnerable.
Center stones seem to disappear with no notice. But, to the slightly trained eye, there are a few warning signs when your jewelry's about to break:
Too-Short Prong - If you notice one of your prongs appears slightly shorter than the others or its rounded top seems to have narrowed, the security of your center stone may be at risk.
Missing or Bent Prong - Come see us ASAP if you have a prong so damaged that you can see with the naked eye that it's no longer supporting the stone. Don't try to bend it back yourself!
Shifted Stone - Is your center stone no longer sitting level? Does it seem to have rotated slightly? Either abnormality indicates your prongs are no longer holding the stone tightly enough.
Since the center stone is the most valuable and often most vulnerable portion of your ring, visit your jeweler for a repair as soon as possible if any of these symptoms arise.
Bracelets, Necklaces, Chains, and Earring Red Flags
Rings aren't the only type of jewelry susceptible to wear and tear. Bracelets, necklaces, and earrings all have common warning signs as well.
Damaged Clasps - Clasps that don't close tightly, or require a little finagling to get just right, aren't something to ignore. Your bracelet or necklace might seem secure, but even a slight compromise in the integrity of the clasp puts your entire piece at risk.
Stretched Strands - Especially applicable to pearls, stretched-out necklace or bracelet strands are also dangerous. If your pearls seem to hang slightly lower than usual, bring them into your jeweler and ask about re-stringing.
Broken Earring Posts - Broken or bent earring posts make the earring backs less reliable. Realizing you're unexpectedly rocking the one-earring trend may be second on the list of panic-inducing jewelry loss mishaps.
Worn Chain – Metals wear thin as the jewelry surfaces rub against each other. Chains are particularly susceptible to this type of wear since they typically comprise links. If your chain breaks due to wear, it is highly likely that other links are also worn but haven’t broken yet.
If you notice damage to your fine jewelry, noted above or otherwise, come see us as soon as possible. The sooner you catch a problem, the easier and cheaper it will likely be to fix.
Learn more about our services and repairs here.