REPAIRS |
REPAIRS
Even with the best cleaning and storage practices, fine jewellery will experience wear and tear. It’s important to know what to expect when you bring your pieces to a jeweller for repair. Understand the steps involved in the jewellery repair process so you can be prepared for any necessary fixes.
The Process
1. Trust and Expertise
- Find a skilled jeweller: Ensure your jeweller is a member of Jewellers Association of Australia or similar respected institutions.
- Certifications: Look for certifications from, Gemmological Institute of America (GIA), Gem Studies Laboratory (GSL) Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia (DCLA)
2. Preparing for your visit
- Insurance valuation: Know the value of your piece for insurance purposes. Also, take photos of your jewellery.
- Quotes: The jeweller will provide a cost and time estimate. No work should be done without your approval.
3. Common jewellery repair issues
- Quality of repair: Repaired areas should match the rest of the piece in colour, lustre, and appearance. No visible marks such as hammering or other tools marks, or seams should remain, unless previously advised this may occur due to the nature of the repair.
- Stone security: Stones should be tight and secure in their settings.
4. Specific repairs
Resizing a ring
- Cutting and soldering: Metal is added or removed to adjust size. No seams should be visible when finished.
- Sizing beads: Small beads are placed inside the shank for slight size adjustments
- Spring inserts: Inserted inside the shank for an adjustment of 1-2 full sizes. This is not suitable for all rings or tings that are worn frequently.
Chain repair
- Strength post-repair: Repaired chains are generally weaker, with possible stiffness in small or lightweight chains.
- Complex chains: Link chains, like rope and cable chains, and herringbone chains are more challenging and may incur extra costs.
Claw repairs
- Replacing/retipping claws: Worn claws are repaired by adding metal or replacing the claw head. The repaired claws should match in size and shape and fully cover the stone.
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REPAIR FAQs
- Diamond Identification: Trusted jewellers will ensure you get your diamond back. They may show you the diamond's unique characteristics under a microscope or take a picture for verification.
- Checking for loose stones: Touch gemstones with a toothpick to see if they move. If they do, bring them to your jeweller for tightening.
- Chipped diamonds: Chopped diamonds generally cannot be repaired but can be replaced or, if larger enough, recut. Ensure your insurance covers chipped diamonds.
- Length of repair: It is not uncommon for repairs to take several weeks to be carried out. Particularly if waiting on certain stones or parts.
- Off-Site Repairs: For certain items, such as watches, it may be necessary to send them to an external specialist for repair. You should be informed if this is required.
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TAKE IN PROCEDURE
A jeweller should have a take-in procedure to ensure clear communication, accurate documentation, and customer satisfaction. This process helps verify ownership, document the condition of the item, and outline the requested repairs. It minimizes the risk of misunderstandings, protects against potential disputes, and ensures that each piece is returned in its correct condition. A well-defined take-in procedure also streamlines operations, enhances professionalism, and builds trust with customers.
1. Record customer details
- Collect essential information such as name, contact numbers, and address, and possibly email.
- Obtain a mobile number maybe used for sending text notifications when the repair is ready for payment and collection
2. Visual inspection
- The jeweller may use a loupe to examine the item and note any defects. A loupe is a small magnifying glass.
- The jeweller should advise you of their findings and any significant defects that may affect the repair quality and/or cost of the repair. Note: if dirt build-up may prevent a full inspection.
- Things that may be noted include loose, chipped, broken or missing stones; condition of claws such as worn or broken; cracks in ring shanks or bezels; worn links on necklaces or bracelets; wear on pendant bails; or tension in a tongue of a box clasp.
3. Description of the piece
- The jeweller will write a description of the item, including but not limited to the metal and stones. These are typically only referred to by colour. For example, yellow metal with 1 white stone, rather than a gold ring with a diamond.
- They should also note:
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- Any hallmarks
- Ring size and setting style
- For pearls, the number, length, size and clasp description.
- For chains, the style, weight, length, colour, clasp type and marking on the links or clasp.
- Detailed descriptions help ensure the right piece is returned after cleaning and polishing.
4. Requests from customer
- The jeweller should clearly document what the customer wants to be done.
- If you decline a suggested repair, the jeweller should note this.
5. Sketch or photograph
- The jeweller include a sketch of the item or take a photograph
6. Establish cost and timeline
- The jeweller may ask when if there is a deadline to have the item back; this may effect the cost.
- The jeweller may give a quote on the spot, or contact you at a later date with a quote once they have confirmed parts' availability and/or cost.
7. Customer Acknowledgment
- The customer should review the information, sign the acknowledgment, and be provided with a copy of the take-in document.
- The customer should return the copy when collecting the repaired item, which should also be signed for. Take a photo of the copy for your own records.