The Art of Jewelry Maintenance
Jewelry pieces are a part of our everyday lives and they mark milestones of love. Jewelry can’t truly be enjoyed unless they are worn.
As you are wearing and enjoying your jewelry hand creams, lotions, dust and grime find there way into your beloved pieces. Overtime the stones doesn’t look so bright and a metal holding them securely slowly wears away.
However, when your jewelry is clean, it looks truly amazing! Jewelry should be cleaned and inspected at least once a year and with some designs more than that.
When your jewelry is cleaned by a master goldsmith it goes into a ultrasonic bath with hot soapy water that will loosen and remove the grime which has darkened the beauty of your ring.
Once the ring is cleaned it can then be inspected.
Inspection can tell you if your stones are secure and if the metal needs to be repaired.
If repairs are needed, these are the classic steps that are done to secure your stones.
1. In this photo of a worn prong or tip indicates that the stone is not secure and can fall out at anytime. Not only does replacing a stone is costly, but also if it is a significant heirloom stone that is has been handed down the sentimental value is irreplaceable. To avoid this situation I highly recommend that you get your ring inspected by a master goldsmith.
2. The process of repairing a prong or tip is to secure the stone will start with getting the same metal as the metal in your jewelry is made of so that it blends seamlessly.
The process starts with getting the correct basic dimensions that is long enough that can be handled so it can be welded to the metal of the ring. At this point there will be excess amounts of metal.
3. In this photo you can see that the excess metal has been trimmed down to its basic shape. The stone is secure but there are sharp corners that need to be refined so that the jewelry can be worn comfortably.
4. In this last photo you can see the sharp corners have been removed.
The metal has been sculpted to its natural shape. The ring gets polished and is now ready to enjoyed knowing that the stone is safe.
I hope that this article helps to inform what is going on with your jewelry. Why overtime it can loose its luster and sparkle as well as why it is important to keep up your maintenance. I am happy to clean and inspect your pieces.
Ross Goldsmith
224 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
San Anselmo, Ca 94960
Phone: 415-458-1770
