Replace Prongs
Sometimes one or more prongs in a ring or other piece of fine jewelry will be damaged or worn to the point that they need to be replaced. This is a highly technical process, and it's one that our experts have extensive experience in. We'll replace as many prongs as necessary to ensure the integrity of your piece and the security of your gemstones, and we'll return it to you as good as new.
Process Overflow
While every repair job will involve a slightly different set of challenges, we follow the same general process steps for each piece in order to ensure the highest quality of work every time.
- The first thing we do for any prong replacement project is to thoroughly clean and inspect the piece. That way, we can see exactly what we're working with and whether or not any additional prongs will require our attention.
- Next, we remove the old prong at its base, and then drill in to create an attachment point for the new prong.
- We then add a new wire and shape it appropriately to take the place of the old prong and also to maintain the integrity of the piece.
- Once the new prong is in place, we'll check all gemstones to ensure they're secure, and we'll complete any additional steps to restore the piece to its original condition.
Re-tipping vs Replacing
In general, damage or excessive wear on the prongs in your jewelry will require either re-tipping or replacement. There are various factors that will influence the decision about whether to re-tip or replace, and our experts can help you make that determination based on knowledge accumulated through their many years of experience with this type of work.
Re-tipping is generally best in cases where the prong has been worn down through years of regular wear until it isn't thick enough to perform its required functions anymore. Replacement is required when damage has been done that compromises the integrity of the setting and the security of the stone.
Gemstone Considerations
Because many gemstones can be damaged by exposure to heat, we use highly focused lasers to complete all steps in the prong replacement process. This allows us to direct the heat precisely where it's needed, while avoiding damage to gemstones or other features of the piece.
Finishing Touches
When we say we'll return your item to you as good as new, we mean it. So once we're finished with prong replacement, we'll also re-plate your piece if necessary, and we'll then refinish it to restore its original look completely.
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Joseph Jewelry is such an incredible business, I don't even know where to begin! After spending months shopping Jewelry stores my fiance and I were left disappointed with the lack of variety of styles to choose from as every store had the same designs and when it came to adding sentimental details we kept hearing how expensive it would be to "customize" our rings. These are wedding rings, rings we will wear every day for the rest of our lives so of course we want them to be unique, we weren't going to settle on something so important. Frustrated with our experiences we set out to find a jeweler that could meet our needs, we came across Joseph Jewelry and after reading their rave reviews on Yelp we decided to make a visit to their store. What a change from the other jewelers we visited. From the moment we walked in the store we were greeted by friendly staff and the selection of stones and settings was almost overwhelming. They can truly make anything! The craftsmanship is incredible, they pay close attention to every detail, they answered every random question we had (even after hours), and walked us through their seamless design process. We started with pictures of rings we liked which turned into sketches from their designers, which then became 3D modeling images, and then the stunning final product! From beginning to end their staff was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable of the materials we wanted to work with, and they gave us honest feedback on our ideas in order to design a ring that exceeded our expectations! I can't say enough about the staff, the craftsmanship, and the ring (and neither can everyone that sees it)! We will be back to design the bands as well as design jewelry for family and friends. Did I mention their pricing is in line with other jewelers mass produced basic styles? We'd pay twice the price for the level of care, service, and quality of the final product we received. Thank you Joseph and your amazing staff, you have customers for life!
