Can You Repair an Engagement Ring?

No matter how well you take care of your jewelry and how careful you are, sometimes repairs are necessary. Of all pieces of jewelry, your engagement ring may be the most worn and in need of occasional repair. It’s imperative to get repairs done as soon as you notice an issue to make sure that no additional damage is done. It helps to understand the necessary steps before taking your engagement ring in for repair, and what to expect for the repair process.

Common types of engagement ring repair

There are many different repairs that may need to be done on an engagement ring, but let’s cover the most common ones here.

Resizing: If your engagement was a surprise, it’s more than likely that your engagement ring doesn’t fit perfectly. Or it’s possible that over time your ring has become too snug or too loose on you. In this case, the jeweler can resize your ring to fit your finger comfortably. An engagement ring should be snug enough that you should need to tug a bit to get it over your knuckle and it shouldn’t rotate when it’s at the base of your finger. If it’s rotating, it’s too loose. If it’s painful to remove, then it’s too tight.

If you’re unsure of what your correct finger size should be, any qualified jeweler should be able to assist you by using a finger sizer that is comparable in width to your engagement ring. Once your correct finger size is determined, the jeweler can size your ring accordingly. When making a ring smaller, the ring will be cut on the bottom and metal will be removed before the ring is soldered back together and polished so you won’t be able to see a seam. If the ring is being made larger, it will also be cut on the bottom and metal will be added, then it will be polished.

If your ring has engraving, filigree, or other intricate designs, it may be more difficult to resize and you will need to understand that part of the design may be compromised, at no fault of the jeweler. There are also some rings that cannot be sized (although some jewelers will take on the task), such as eternity rings (rings with stones all the way around).

While it’s complicated to make those rings larger, there are easier ways to make them fit tighter, such as adding a ring guard. Alternatively you can add speed bumps (also called sizing balls), which are just two bumps of metal on the inside of the ring which will make it fit tighter without actually adjusting the size itself. These are easy to remove or adjust if the finger size changes again.

Prong Work: Over time and with normal wear, prongs can get worn down or sometimes break. But no fear, as this is a fairly simple repair for your engagement ring. It needs to be done as soon as you notice the issue because if it’s not taken care of, you could lose one of your stones–which would be more costly since the stone would need to be replaced. To re-tip or replace a prong, metal is added to the prongs to make them stronger and more adequate to hold the stone. If the prongs are too damaged or multiple prongs on one head are broken, it may be safer to replace the entire head–in which case the jeweler should communicate with you to provide options and pricing.

Stone Replacement: Unfortunately sometimes stones break or fall out. This can be fixed with stone replacement. The jeweler will evaluate your ring to make sure the same size and quality of stone is used to match what is currently there. This can also involve retipping or replacing prongs, and sometimes replacing the head entirely.

Shank Repair: If an accident happens and your ring cracks, it can be fixed. Or, if over time your shank gets thin and needs to be built up to maintain the integrity of the ring, it’s not a difficult repair. The jeweler has the option of adding metal to build up the existing shank or cutting off the broken or thin one and entirely replacing it. Either option can make the ring fit better and increase the longevity of your ring.

 

Cleaning & Polishing: Cleaning and polishing your ring is important to keep the ring in good shape and make sure that any other issues are caught before they become a real problem. Most jewelers will clean and inspect your ring free of charge using an ultrasonic cleaner or a steamer. If you want a deeper clean, or the ring to be polished, there is typically a cost associated with that. If you’re having any repairs done to your ring, cleaning and polishing are always done at the end of the process to make sure your ring is returned to you looking beautiful

How to choose a jewelry repair shop

Before leaving your engagement ring with just anyone, do your research. Feeling comfortable with your jeweler is crucial. You should feel confident in their abilities and comfortable discussing your concerns. A master jeweler with many years of experience will be confident in their skills and have the necessary experience to ask the right questions in order to better understand exactly what you are looking for with your repair. They should have the necessary tools to evaluate your ring for any problems and convey them to you clearly, along with pricing.

Start by researching local jewelers and reading online reviews. Look for jewelers with a good reputation or ask a friend or family member for a recommendation. Also, if you take your ring back to the jeweler who you purchased the jewelry from, they will often have warranties to cover their work (such as manufacturer's defect. Otherwise, at least they'll be familiar with their own work and can repair the ring accordingly.

Don't forget your jewelry insurance

If you have an insurance policy on your engagement ring, make sure to bring that information to your consultation appointment with your jeweler. If you would like to file an insurance claim, you or the jeweler would need to submit an estimate to the insurance company to get it approved before any work is done for the repair. Some policies cover repairs up front, while others may offer reimbursement only.

No matter how careful you are with your jewelry, inevitably it will require occasional repair, especially your engagement ring since it’s worn so often. Understanding common repairs and the repair process can help you be better prepared to get your engagement ring back in shape. Common repairs include resizing, prong work, stone replacement, shank repair, and cleaning and polishing, but no matter what needs to be fixed, as long as you communicate clearly with your jeweler, they can guide you in the right direction.