{"id":20069,"date":"2022-12-05T07:00:25","date_gmt":"2022-12-05T12:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=20069"},"modified":"2022-12-05T13:29:06","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T18:29:06","slug":"inspect-your-jewelry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/inspect-your-jewelry\/","title":{"rendered":"INSPECT YOUR JEWELRY"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"blog-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Inspect-Your-Jewelry-For-Breaks-Damage-Chips.gif\" alt=\"Inspect Your Jewelry For Breaks Damage Chips\" title=\"Inspect Your Jewelry For Breaks Damage Chips\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-20072\" \/><\/div>\n<h2>Is your Jewelry Broken?<\/h2>\n<p>\nMost people take their items into a jewelry store to get them <strong>clean and inspected<\/strong> twice a year.<\/p>\n<p>\nIn fact, this <strong>routine maintenance<\/strong> is normally <strong>required <\/strong>to uphold any warranties, guarantees, or service plans that the store may give you on your jewelry.<\/p>\n<p>\n<strong>But I&#8217;m here to say&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><h2>It&#8217;s Not Enough!<\/h2>\n<p>\nYour rings take <strong>a lot of abuse<\/strong> throughout your daily lives (how many times do you <strong>cut yourself<\/strong> and have no idea how it happened?). It&#8217;s <strong>way to easy to break something<\/strong>, damage a prong, or chip a stone (<strong>or even lose one<\/strong>), and not even know it.<\/p>\n<p>\n<strong>This can be prevented&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><h2>If you Inspect your Jewelry!<\/h2>\n<p>\nInspect them on <strong>a regular basis<\/strong>, like once a week, or at least twice a month. <strong>Inspect and clean them yourself<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>\nBuy a few items to <strong>make inspections easier:<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2togsB4\">10x Jeweler&#8217;s Loupe<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2to8RCv\">Diamond Tweezers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2sUAxhi\">Jewelry Ultrasonic Cleaner<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2tsMwnx\">Jewelry Steam Cleaner<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\nLearn <strong>how to inspect them<\/strong>, and what to look for&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><h2>RINGS:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Grab a loupe<\/strong> and check your prongs good. Make sure they&#8217;re <strong>built up and durable<\/strong> &#8211; not worn flat on the stone. You should be able to <strong>run your fingers over the tops of your prongs<\/strong> and feel the small nubs. If they feel smooth and flat and flush with the stone, <strong>it&#8217;s time to have them rebuilt<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Make sure your prongs aren&#8217;t <strong>cracked <\/strong>either. They tend to either crack at the tops, where they bent over the stone, or they tend to <strong>break at the base<\/strong>. So check your prongs good for <strong>any signs of fractures or hairline fissures<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Make sure your prongs are <strong>evenly spaced all the way around<\/strong> your stone. If one prong is bent, or bumped, leaning more towards one prong than the other, <strong>get it repaired<\/strong>. This <strong>enlarged gap<\/strong> that&#8217;s created around your stone, leaves the edge <strong>open and vulnerable<\/strong> to chipping or breaking. Prongs should all be uniform, the same height, and resting upon the stone (<strong>not lifted<\/strong>).<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Check the <strong>shank of the ring<\/strong> (the part that goes under your finger). Make sure it&#8217;s durable, thick &#8211; <strong>not thin, worn, breaking, out of shape<\/strong>, (flat or oval), and also look for any signs of <strong>stretching, pits or bubbles<\/strong> in the band. These are all signs that the shank <strong>could break<\/strong>, and that it needs to be cut off and a new one installed.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Check any <strong>channel walls for clean lines<\/strong> and durability. If the walls appear <strong>jagged<\/strong>, thin, uneven, or <strong>sharp<\/strong>, they need to be redone.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Check your stones (both diamonds and gemstones) for <strong>tightness<\/strong>. This can be done with <strong>the edge of your fingernail<\/strong> (put it to the edge of the stone, the girdle, and gently see if it turns). <strong>Don&#8217;t force it<\/strong>. You don&#8217;t want to loosen it by checking it! Or better yet, use <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2to8RCv\">diamond tweezers<\/a>, grab opposite sides of the stone and <strong>see if it rocks<\/strong>, tilts, or twists in the head. <strong>If it moves, it&#8217;s loose<\/strong>, and if it&#8217;s loose, it needs to be tightened (loose stones that spin, can <strong>chip<\/strong> around the girdle, or even pull free from the head).<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Grab your loupe again and <strong>view all your stones<\/strong>. Make sure they&#8217;re not fractured, <strong>cracked in half<\/strong>, chipped, or even missing from the mounting (you&#8217;d be surprised how often this happens).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><h2>NECKLACES \/ BRACELETS:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Check the links well to see if <strong>the links are pulling apart<\/strong> (stretching). This is a sign that they are getting weak, pulled on, and <strong>could snap or break<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Check that the jump rings, or links holding them together, <strong>aren&#8217;t thinning out<\/strong>. They tend to literally <strong>cut and saw themselves<\/strong> from all the constant movement and friction. Don&#8217;t forget to <strong>check the rings on the clasps<\/strong> and pendants as well!<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Run your fingers over the chain, <strong>you shouldn&#8217;t feel any rough spots<\/strong>. It should feel smooth and sturdy. If you find broken pieces, or <strong>parts that stick up and snag<\/strong>, it&#8217;s time to get them soldered.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Check the clasp to make sure it&#8217;s working properly and secure. Also make sure that <strong>the clasp itself closes all the way<\/strong> and doesn&#8217;t leave a gap! If the spring feels weak, or fragile, it may be time to get a new clasp. <strong>P.S.<\/strong> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2sUpWmo\">Lobster clasps<\/a> are <strong>the most durable clasp<\/strong> you can buy.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Make sure you also check your prongs and gems in the pendants or bracelets. These can <strong>come loose and break<\/strong> just as well.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><h2>EARRINGS:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Check to make sure the <strong>earring backs are tight<\/strong> and secure. And if you can, get <strong>locking earring backs<\/strong> (<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2sqgaVz\">like these best selling backs here on Amazon<\/a>). For if the back is weak, bent, or doesn&#8217;t hold, <strong>you&#8217;ll lose your earring for sure<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Make sure the <strong>earring posts are straight<\/strong> and not bent or weak.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Make sure the base of the posts are <strong>not cracking<\/strong> either!<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Check the prongs and gems in your earrings, many times these get <strong>tangled, caught, or snagged<\/strong> on your clothing, sweaters, and hair.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>If the earrings have <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2to768c\">screw posts<\/a>, make sure <strong>the threads are durable and not stripped<\/strong>. The screw nut should rotate securely (if not snugly), and <strong>not pull off<\/strong>, spin freely, or tilt sideways.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><h2>WATCHES:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Make sure the second hand is ticking properly. If <strong>it hangs on the other hands<\/strong> (gets caught), it&#8217;s come loose from the gears and needs to be realigned. And, if the second hand is <strong>ticking 2 seconds at a time<\/strong>, that means that <strong>the battery is dying<\/strong> &#8211; Get it replaced! Or replace it yourself with a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2tnzTKk\">Watch Tool Kit<\/a>.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Make sure <strong>the crystal isn&#8217;t cracked<\/strong>. If there&#8217;s a crack or break, <strong>moisture can get inside the watch<\/strong> and rust your parts.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Make sure the <strong>stem and crown<\/strong> of the watch work properly. Many times these don&#8217;t rotate properly <strong>due to being bent<\/strong>. And sometimes they even <strong>pull all the way out<\/strong> of the watch. Not good! That needs to be replaced.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Check <strong>the back of the watch<\/strong>, too. Where the <strong>cover seals<\/strong> on the watch case, you want to make sure that it&#8217;s tight, flush, and <strong>not gapped<\/strong>. If there&#8217;s a gap, if it&#8217;s not sealed right, or <strong>if the gasket is eroded or broken<\/strong>, then it should be replaced quickly. If not, water can get into the watch and ruin your movement (and movements <strong>aren&#8217;t cheap<\/strong> to replace).<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Check the band or strap near the watch itself. Make sure <strong>the pins are strong and tight<\/strong>, and not pulling apart or bending.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong>Check your links, too<\/strong>. Make sure all the seams are flush, tight, any <strong>cotter pins are pushed down<\/strong> (not sticking up), any screws are <strong>screwed in and snug<\/strong>, and that the links move correctly and smoothly (links tend to get <strong>ultra dirty inside<\/strong> and can leave <strong>black stains<\/strong> on your wrist). Make sure you remove the band from the watch and <strong>clean the links every now and then<\/strong>. This also keeps the metal from rusting up or any plated layers from eroding.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Check the clasp, <strong>make sure it&#8217;s snapping closed<\/strong> and secure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><h2>So how&#8217;d you do?<\/h2>\n<p>\nGoing through your jewelry often, <strong>can prevent a lot of headaches and mishaps<\/strong> in the future. Because some people never look at their jewelry (<strong>nor clean them<\/strong>), until it&#8217;s too late, and something gets <strong>broken, chipped or lost<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>\nLook over your items well. If you have any concerns, <strong>take it to a jeweler<\/strong> and have it <strong>professionally inspected<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><h2>A Jeweler&#8217;s Opinion is Good Peace of Mind.<\/h2>\n<p>\nPlus, it can prevent you from <strong>losing a diamond!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\nAnd that&#8217;s <strong>well worth the time and effort<\/strong> to inspect it.<\/p>\n<p><h2>Clean your Jewelry Often!<\/h2>\n<p>\n<strong>Keep your items clean and shiny<\/strong>. Clean them <strong>once a week<\/strong> if you can. This keeps dirt and debris off the prongs, metal and stones, and keeps them from getting <strong>scratched, harmed or damaged<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><h2>WARNING:<\/h2>\n<p>\n<strong>Keep any GOLD away from BLEACH!<\/strong> Bleach will break down Gold, <strong>make it brittle<\/strong>, pit it, and <strong>destroy it!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\nPlus, when your goods are dirty, it makes <strong>spotting cracks or chips more difficult, if not impossible<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><h2>So Inspect your Jewelry TODAY!<\/h2>\n<p>\n<strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2togsB4\">10x Jeweler&#8217;s Loupe<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2to8RCv\">Diamond Tweezers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2sUAxhi\">Jewelry Ultrasonic Cleaner<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2tsMwnx\">Jewelry Steam Cleaner<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\n<strong>P.S.<\/strong> The <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2tsMwnx\">Steam Cleaner<\/a> gets your jewelry, diamonds, and gems looking <strong>perfectly spotless and clean<\/strong>, just like the professionals do at jewelry stores.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cheers! :)<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Is your Jewelry Broken? Most people take their items into a jewelry store to get them clean and inspected twice a year. In fact, this routine maintenance is normally required to uphold any warranties, guarantees, <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/inspect-your-jewelry\/\" title=\"INSPECT YOUR JEWELRY\">[Read More&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20072,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,17],"tags":[782,781,635],"class_list":["post-20069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jewelry","category-repairs","tag-fix-jewelry","tag-inspect-jewelry","tag-jewelry-repairs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20069"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20069"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20069\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}