When I picked out the diamond ring that I would present to the woman I was hoping to spend the rest of my life with, the last thing on my mind was how to care for it over a lifetime (spoiler alert, she said yes!). I had no idea that jewelry needs love and attention just like the person wearing it.
Like so many others, we learned about jewelry care the hard way. After several years of
wedded bliss, Karen looked down at her left hand and noticed that the center diamond from
her engagement had vanished. Panic set in. We combed every inch of the house, the car, the
yard, and everywhere she had been that day. It was gone. We never found it.
So, let’s talk about something that I wish I knew about before we lost that very special
diamond. Let’s talk about what to look for so you can prevent a loss before it happens.
Symptoms of a Loose Stone
The center diamond or gemstone in any ring is the one to be most worried about. It is the most susceptible to loss and typically the most valuable part of the ring. You don’t need to be an expert to spot warning signs that indicate your jewelry's about to break. If you notice any of these symptoms, I’d suggest that you remove the jewelry, place it in a baggie, seal it up, and get it to your jeweler.
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 diamond or gemstone may be at risk.
Missing or Bent Prong - If you have a prong so damaged that you can see that it's no
longer supporting the stone, you are one clothing snag or bump away from losing your
stone.
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. Links, clasps and prongs are made of metals
that move, rub, and thin over time.
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. Have your jeweler check all the links before you spend money to fix just the one that broke.
You don’t need to be an expert to check for these warning signs, but we typically recommend that you have your valuable fine jewelry checked by an expert every six months or so.
If you bring your jewelry in to K.Hollis Jewelers, we’ll take a close look and let you know if there are any warning signs that you shouldn’t ignore. Then grab a cup of coffee or glass of wine while we clean your jewelry so that it looks brand new. One last little secret… we do it for free. Shhh... Don’t tell anyone 🤫
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