Helping Care for Your Cherished Rings, Bracelets & Necklaces –Your Jewellers in Caterham | C & A Giddings
While many of us wear our cherished jewellery every day and are intimately familiar with even the most minute and nuanced of its details, we still may take some time to notice emerging defects as we don’t all feel inclined to closely inspect our favourite pieces all that regularly. So in this blog, the jewellers at C & A Giddings – situated across two stores nearby Caterham, both in Reigate – have explored some of the most common signs that it’s time to consider professional jewellery repairs.
For Caterham is an area from which we constantly receive customers, who visit us to take advantage of our 120 years’ of collective experience serving as Surrey and Sussex’s favoured jewellers. This experience manifests itself in both our ability to assist in finding the perfect ring, necklace or bracelets for him or for her, and in the high standard of our jewellery repairs, which restore beloved pieces to their former glory. And on this note, without further ado…
A Few Common Signs You Might Require Jewellery Repairs
Worn Clasp & Chain – Necklaces and bracelets, no matter how strong they might seem, can be susceptible to wear or damage that makes it no longer fit for purpose. It may still close but feel less secure, making it a huge risk when out and about around Caterham, as it may fall off without you realising. Keep an eye out for stretching or discolouration, which are both signs of wear targeting a specific segment of the necklace or bracelet. Sudden damage, for example if a piece is caught and tugged hard, can also cause a loose clasp that will likely call for jewellery repairs.
Thin Shank – The shank is also referred to as the band; it’s the portion of the ring that runs round your finger. Over time, they can begin to show signs of wear and even eventually crack. One of the easier signs to spot, you should try and anticipate any cracking by keeping an eye on any sign of thinness or a perceived weakness (e.g it becomes more bendable). Acting ahead of time may save expense as jewellers can intervene early.
Damaged Prong – Many rings, bracelets and necklaces with prong settings are vulnerable to damage, should they become snagged on material or badly knocked. Many Caterham residents will be able to spot damage right away, as the prong might seem bent or in a different position to the others, while others might feel thin or flat in comparison to its neighbours. Jewellery repairs addressing damaged prongs are fairly varied, depending on the extent and type of damage. They might see our jewellers remove a stone and carefully adjust the prong, or see the prong entirely replaced.
Loose Stone – If you’re lucky, you’ll notice that the precious gem or stone in your bracelet, necklace or ring is loose before it falls out…. Unfortunately, however, it’s a fairly common horror story – looking down and noticing an empty space where it once sat. Even if the gem or stone feels only slightly loose, it’s urgent you visit our jewellers – at either of our stores near Caterham – if you plan to continue wearing the piece. While replacing it will be possible, it’ll prove rather expensive and there’s also a certain sentimental sense of loss that our jewellers are very sympathetic to. Common causes of a loose stone range from damaged prongs, to chipping of the stone itself. We’ll diagnose the issue and explain it to you before recommending the most appropriate jewellery repairs.
