Re-Tip Prongs and Beads
You want to be able to wear your find jewelry for all kinds of occasions, which is what it's for, after all. But that also means it's exposed to hazards and just general wear and tear over time that can cause damage to certain areas of a piece.
Whether you need the prongs on your engagement ring repaired or the beading on a family heirloom touched up, our experts have the right set of skills and the proper tools to get the job done. We'll return your piece to you looking like new, so you can again wear it the way it was meant to be worn.
Process Overflow
Re-tipping prongs and beads is a delicate process, especially because we don't want to do anything that will adversely impact another part of the piece. Many gemstones can be damaged by heat, which is why we use the best tools available to precisely direct a focused laser to only the specific area we're trying to repair.
- The first step in any re-tipping project is to clean and examine the entire piece to see if there is any additional damage that needs to be repaired.
- Once we know what we're working with, we'll solder a new bead of metal onto the worn surface of the old prong or bead to build it back up again. We'll also make sure all prongs are sitting securely against the gemstone like they should be.
- After the soldering is completed, we'll check all gemstones to make sure they're secure, and then we'll polish and refinish the piece.
Advanced Tools
In order to complete this type of highly technical and detailed work, we use only the best tools available. These include lasers that allow us to direct heat only onto the spots that need it without impacting any surrounding areas or features. This is especially important because re-tipping is carried out with the gemstones in place, and with this type of tool, we can avoid exposing them to the heat.
Why It's Important
Re-tipping may hardly seem to make a difference in the appearance of your ring or other piece of jewelry, but it's extremely important when it comes to the safety and security of your gemstones. Prongs especially serve several functions, including holding the stone securely and serving as a buffer to deflect impact.
This is why they get worn down, of course, and it's also why you need them. Many beads, while they may seem simply decorative, also serve similar purposes, and restoring them to their original condition is an excellent way to ensure that your fine jewelry looks its best for many years to come.
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Joseph Jeweler is THE BEST! I worked with them to design my fiance's engagement ring and couldn't be happier with the entire experience--from working with the staff, to the design and fabrication process, and of course the ring itself. Danny and the rest of the team are true professionals: knowledgeable, attentive, and just plain fun to work with. They have an amazing selection, expert designers and jewelers, and a state-of-the art fabrication shop on-site. Their web-based design portal lets you communicate with the design team directly and allows you to share ideas, images, etc so you can move from concept to finished design quickly. And the results are amazing! My fiance LOVES her ring! Not only does she get so many compliments on it, but we both still catch ourselves just staring at it and admiring it more often than we'd like to admit ;) And of course price matters. I didn't know what to expect, especially for custom jewelry and given their impeccable reputation. But it was a tremendous value! Like I said earlier, I couldn't be happier with this entire experience, and would wholeheartedly recommend Joseph Jeweler. In fact I can't stop raving about them to anyone who'll listen :)
