Repairing a well loved diamond ring

Repairing a well loved diamond ring

By Heidi Kjeldsen - 12th April 2017
A well loved diamond ring which needs repairing by Heidi

At Heidi Kjeldsen we are often asked to repair treasured pieces of jewellery and make them look as new. This month among others we have been asked to repair a beautiful diamond ring which had become worn over time and suffered a break at a weak point in the shank of the ring. 

There was a marked indent where the ring had sat lovingly against a wedding ring for many years and the setting had become tarnished and dull.

So here is how we went about transforming this well loved ring back into something beautiful and wearable once more.

The shank is cut away from the ring to be repaired

First the original shank was removed

The shaft of the gold ring is placed into a small groove in a heat resistant charcoal block

The pieces were then placed on a charcoal heat resistant block with a small groove ready to receive the molten metal once heated.

A ball of 18ct gold is added to the groove on the heat resistant charcoal block

A ball of 18ct gold was added to the groove along with the original pieces.

the original ring gold and a new ball of 18ct gold are heated together

All the gold was then heated until molten.

The molten 18ct gold glows starts to cool down

The gold glowed and melted down

Solid 18ct gold bar after the original ring material is melted down

The result – a solid bar of 18ct gold

New 18ct gold ring shaft is milled to required length

The bar was milled to length

New ring shank hand forged to shape

Then the shank hand forged to shape

New shank ready to be joined to existing stone setting

The shank  then fitted exactly to the setting

Ring refurbishment - new shank soldered to existing stone setting

Once the shank and the original ring were soldered , the shank, being slightly bigger required filing and polishing to achieve a seamless join and a perfect finish.

Ring refurbishment - almost a perfect fit

Almost a perfect fit

Ring refurbishment - hard edges will be buffed and polished

Perfect fit!

Diamond ring refurbishment - before polishing

The sharp edges were buffed and the whole surface then polished.

Diamond ring refurbishment

Once polished up it began to look like a new ring again.

The ring after polishing

All polished, refurbished – almost ready

The ring after polishing

The finished piece.

The finished ring ready for the client

Ready for the client, who was delighted with the results.

If you have a treasured piece of jewellery which has seen better days then visit us at our Mill Street, Oakham showroom.

Gifts under
£500
Heidi Kjeldsen

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