Jewelry Checkups: What to Service and When
Almost every lost diamond announced itself first: a prong that snagged sweaters, a faint rattle, a click against the desk. Jewelry rarely fails without warning; it fails without inspection.
The economics are lopsided. Retipping a prong costs a small fraction of replacing a stone, and a free checkup costs nothing at all. Here is the maintenance schedule we recommend to everyone.
The calendar
| How it is worn | Professional inspection | Typical needs over time |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rings | Every 6 months | Prong retips every 5 to 15 years, rhodium every 1 to 3 if white gold, eventual re-shank |
| Frequent necklaces and bracelets | Yearly | Clasp and jump ring checks, occasional solder |
| Occasional pieces | Every year or two | Cleaning, clasp checks |
| Pearl strands worn regularly | Yearly | Restringing every 2 to 5 years |
| Watches worn daily | Battery as needed | Gaskets and service per maker's schedule |
Warning signs that skip the calendar
- A stone that moves, rattles, or clicks when tapped near the ear: stop wearing it today and bring it in.
- A prong that catches on fabric: the tip has worn or lifted, and the stone's cage is open.
- A ring that has bent oval or a band that feels sharp inside: the shank has thinned.
- A clasp that opens on its own even once: it will do it again over a storm drain.
- White gold showing warm patches: cosmetic, but a fine excuse for the checkup that catches the rest.
What an inspection involves
At the bench we check every stone's tightness with a probe, examine prong tips and channel edges under magnification, flex clasps and links, look for cracks at solder joints and thin spots in shanks, and finish with a professional clean. Ten minutes, free, and the most cost-effective thing in all of jewelry ownership.
If something needs work, you get a straight quote and the piece back either way; nothing happens without your go-ahead.
Habits that stretch the intervals
- Rings off for the gym, yard, and heavy housework; impacts do more damage than years of gentle wear.
- Chains off before bed; sleeping stretches links and kinks chains.
- Lotion and sanitizer before rings, not after.
- Pools and hot tubs are off-limits for gold and silver; chlorine is the quiet destroyer of both.
Common questions
Is the free inspection really free?
Yes, and without strings. Inspections find us plenty of honest work when work is genuinely needed, and they save customers from losses that would sour them on jewelry entirely. Everybody wins by it.
How long do repairs take?
Most standard work, sizing, retips, solder, is same-day or a few days at our bench. Complex restoration takes longer and gets a timeline up front. We text when it is ready.
