Jewelry repair is one of those things that is normally obvious to a jewelry owner. If a ring is too big or too small, it obviously needs to be adjusted or "sized" in the jeweler's parlance. If a clasp no longer works on a chain or bracelet, it usually needs to be replaced. If an earring just falls off your ear, you probably need a new backing or, if possible, tighten the old one. In fact, anything that keeps the homeowner from using carefree is likely to fall into the inexhaustible category of jewelry repair. And believe me when I say that after10 years, I've seen almost everything ... until the next thing.
Most people operate by the adage that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." However, with jewelry, this is a misconception that has cost countless thousands of people to lose countless millions of dollars; not to mention the sentimental value that has left a trail of tears and broken hearts. Remember the old man on the beach with a metal detector? Do you think he's only looking for loose change?
When it comes to jewelry and Jewelry repair near me, here's another wise saying you'd do well to remember, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Virtually every day someone comes in with the need to replace a lost diamond, sapphire, ruby, emerald, or another gemstone because they did not take the time or think about the care and protection of their prized possession. On closer inspection, it becomes painfully apparent that the prongs that once held your valuable bauble had become worn and thin and eventually broke. A quick sixty-second inspection by a professional jeweler could have saved them $ 60, $ 600, or even $ 1000 in repair costs (not to mention the fact that Grandma's diamond is now lost forever).
Historically, the jeweler, like most craftsmen, had to make everything from scratch, even the tools he used. It was a painstaking process that took days and even weeks to complete. If a ring needs to be resized, the process could take more than a week, just on that ring. Almost everyone has seen these magnificent necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings from antiquity with their attention to detail and sheer opulence. It could have taken over a year or more just to make some of these wonderful pieces and God forbid they ever need repair. And keep in mind that the average "hardworking Joe" of that day couldn't even conceive of having a splendid gold jewel.
Most families in America today can afford not just one, but many, many pieces of jewelry. The gift of jewelry celebrates and punctuates most of the important occasions in today's modern world. And, it is no longer relegated to just special occasions but is used with great pleasure day after day. The vast amount of fine jewelry on the market today is made of gold, not stainless steel. And as such, it should be inspected, cleaned, and even routine or preventative maintenance performed to ensure the owner can confidently use his special piece of family history.
However, in our fast-paced, self-service society, people just aren't willing to wait long, if ever, for their jewelry to be repaired. Fortunately, cutting-edge technology and new techniques have helped jewelers come up with better ways to make repairs faster, more efficiently, and at a much lower cost to the consumer. Just a few years ago, repairing a broken point in a group of emeralds would have been almost prohibitively expensive. However, with laser welders coming to your best jewelry repair near me shops and workshops, the cost of repair and the time it takes to repair it have become much more consumer-acceptable.