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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I've been meaning to hold off on posting my review until the wedding bands for myself and my fiancé were finished, but the staff at Joseph went above and beyond my expectations today, so I'm posting my review early. When my fiancé and I first started talking about engagement rings, we knew that our primary requirement was wanting ethically sourced diamonds. Using that as our starting point, I began researching local jewelers to see what was available (since we wanted to be able to view our jewelry in person if possible), and we discovered that Joseph Jewelry was only a block away from our home and had fantastic reviews. After visiting many stores online, and viewing a few in person, we decided that Joseph seemed the most reliable and had an incredibly impressive array of designs online (which are just as impressive in person). The fact that our design would be custom and unique to us was the icing on the cake. Erich is our closest point of contact, and he's always been great about walking us through details and educating us every step of the way (whether about the design process or the materials used). We never felt pressured or rushed in any way during any of our many visits. If Erich was busy with another client or not in that day, Tony would step in - and he's equally fantastic. Lex was our designer, and had a really quick turnaround time on any changes we requested to our engagement ring design, as well as good advice on alternatives if my requests would compromise the structure and strength of the jewelry itself. Safe to say, the staff never makes you feel like a nuisance - they listen to your thoughts, concerns, and always do their utmost to make their clients happy. As for the custom jewelry designing process itself - it's pretty cool, as others have noted. There's really nothing quite like the combination of seeing the digital renderings and getting to feel a physical wax mold to give you a sense of how the design will look and feel in the end. It's as close to getting to see an actual product as you can get before the jewelry is actually made, helping you ensure that you're truly happy with the design. (And even then, when I actually got to see the final ring in person? So, so much more gorgeous than I was expecting. I don't get excited all that easily, and I was giddy when I finally got to wear the ring.) The experience made it easy for us to decide to return to the same store for our wedding bands. And the second time we went to brainstorm on my fiancé's band, Tony also offered to clean my ring (for free) while we were there. I got to see their steam cleaner, which was super efficient. But adding to all of this, this past weekend I somehow managed to clumsily dent my ring. I was fully prepared to have to leave my ring at the store and pay to restore it, and was feeling pretty guilty for not being more careful. I popped by the store, and Erich immediately set my mind at ease, saying it was no problem. He headed to the back room to talk with other staff, and within minutes, they had my ring back out, polished and cleaned beautifully, and I literally can't tell which side of my ring had the scratch anymore. To me, this is truly service at its finest. Basically - service and style make all the difference. Could not recommend Joseph more if you're shopping around for engagement and wedding rings.
