FALL BACK JEWELRY HACK

Life Hack?

No, jewelry hack!

For it’s that time of year again (Fall Back one hour tonight at 2:00 a.m.) that are ideal times (along with Spring Forward) to check your jewelry.

Why now?

Because, just like clockwork, it’s twice a year, separated by the seasons. It makes it easy to remember! Something we have to do…

Just like maintaining your jewelry

At the minimum you should inspect your jewelry (or take them in to a jewelry store and have them professionally looked at) twice a year (if not more, depending on how much you abuse your diamonds and gold).

What should you look for?

I’m glad you asked. I have a list…

But first; Clean your jewelry!

Get all that dirt off so you can see your metal and stones clearly (and if any stones come out in the ultrasonic cleaner, that only means the only thing holding them in was dirt!)

Once your goods are clean, grab a 10x jeweler’s loupe and start inspecting. Scrutinize every detail… every nook and cranny.

Here we go…

1. Prong Nubs – The most important aspect of jewelry. Look at the prongs good and long. All around. Make sure they come up and fold over your stones (not sticking straight up). Make sure the nubs on top are domed and durable. If they look low, or feel flush to the stones, it’s time for a retipping. Run your fingers over them, can you feel the nubs, or are they totally flat and smooth? The prongs on the outside of the ring wear down first. And any stones that stick up high (like an engagement ring) will wear down equally fast.

2. Cracked Prongs – Check the prong posts for cracks, fissures, signs of damage or failure. If you see faint hairline fractures, your prongs could snap off (goodbye diamond). They’ll need to be fixed!

3. Prong Spacing – Make sure all the prongs around the stones are equally spaced apart. They are there to protect the stones, and the most vulnerable area are the edges. If prongs are knocked over, bent sideways, leaving a gap, your stones are at risk and could be hit, struck, or chipped where open. They’ll need to be closed and straightened.

4. Check The Stones – Look at the surfaces and edges of the stones. Are they worn down, cracked, chipped? Do they have broken edges? Fractures? Many stones, even diamonds, can get damaged or destroyed. The good thing is, if you have your rings insured, often insurance will cover the cost of replacing broken or lost gemstones! Check it out!

5. Shank Inspection – Look at the shank, the base of your ring. Is it ultra-thin? Is it bent, breaking, flat or oval? It should be durable, rounded, and not have any signs of cracks in the shank. If it’s too thin, it could break (and possibly stab your finger). See your local jeweler for prices on a brand new shank.

6. Stones Loose? – Take some tweezers (pointed jeweler’s tweezers work best) and gently tap at the top of your stones. Do they wobble? Tilt? Grasp the edges of the stones and see if they rotate in the head (very gently, you don’t want to pry them loose by checking them). If they move in the slightest, you’ll need to get them tightened. Loose stones can wear down due to friction, they can be bumped free, and they can shatter upon impact. Either get them fixed, or be ready for disaster.

7. Clasp Check – Now look at the clasps on your bracelets and chains (hopefully you have lobster claw clasps – the best!) Make sure the clasps are snug, not gapped open, and the springs feels strong. If not, have a jeweler replace them.

8. Jagged Chains? – Run your fingers over your chains or bracelets. Do you feel rough spots? Jagged areas? Broken wires? If you find breaks, get them soldered. Also, you can always measure your chain as well. Chains (especially box chains) have a tendency to stretch out and weaken. And if they are longer then they should be, it could be signs of poor integrity and structure damage. Take them in for inspection.

9. Jump Rings – Jump rings, those tiny rings that often hold clasps on, chains, links, earrings… Make sure they are closed properly. The ends should meet and not have any gaps. If they are pulled open, separated, twisted, it’s time to have them closed. See a jeweler today (or buy yourself some jeweler’s pliers and DIY)!

10. Earring Backs – Make sure they are tight. They should snug your earring post and feel secure. If they are loose, wobble, tip sideways, slip off… Throw them out! You’ll end up losing your earrings. It’s advised to upgrade and replace earring backs when they lose their tenacity (I love the chrysmela locking earring backs).

11. Earring Posts – Look at the earring posts now. Are they straight? Bent? Cracked? If so, it may be time for a repair. And if you have screwbacks, make sure the threads are durable and not stripped.

12. Dings? – Look at all your jewelry for dings, dents, or deep scratches. Many of these can be fixed, smoothed out, polished at your local jewelry store. They don’t create a lot of damage, but they certainly are unsightly!

13. Tarnish – Is the color of your metal consistent? Tarnished? Turning colors? It may be time to invest in a good polishing cloth (one that has rouge). These can help minimize tarnish and scratches, and also remove hard water stains… Get yourself a cloth, they make them for silver, gold, and platinum.

14. White Gold Turning Yellow? – Is your white gold coming off? Looking yellowish? Antiqued? White gold is rhodium plated to make white gold (which is basically yellow gold with zinc added) look whiter. Eventually this outer white plating wears off and you’ll need to get them rhodium plated again (usually about every 5-10 years). Any good jeweler can do this (although it’s not cheap). But it will make your rings and jewelry look bright and brand new again. :)

So there you go, a bunch of life hacks, err, jewelry hacks, that will not only maintain your jewelry and prolong the life of your valuables, but make them look new and bling again.

Set a reminder…

If you need to, set a reminder in your smartphone to get your jewelry cleaned and inspected a few times a year (or every time you bump them). Or just do it the old fashioned way; write it on a calendar! :)

Spring Forward, Fall Back: Jewelry Check!

You’ll be happy you did.

So Fall Back tonight, and use that extra hour for jewelry maintenance.

Cheers! :)