Sometimes, you'll need to take your jewerly to a jeweler for repair. It's an expensive investment and should be taken care of properly, but not all jewelers know how to repair jewelry well. Here are some ways to take good care of your jewelry and avoid the need for expensive repairs. In most cases, it's possible to fix most types of damage yourself. Metal fatigue and oxidation can also damage your diamonds and chain.
Metal fatigue
When you are looking to repair a piece of jewelry, you will most likely need to repair metal fatigue. It can be difficult to detect because the cracks develop without warning. However, when the metal fatigue crack becomes a full fracture, you will be in for a surprise. There are several ways to tell if your jewel has metal fatigue. Follow these tips to help you detect it as early as possible. If you find it in your jewel, you can contact a jewelry repair specialist and have it repaired in no time.
The main difference between metal fatigue and normal wear and tear is that metals are more likely to show signs of deterioration when they experience high levels of stress. A metal's fatigue limit depends on several factors, including the type of material. The limit will be somewhere between 25 and 75 percent of its tensile strength. However, it's important to note that this is only a general guide and it depends on individual circumstances.
Metal erode
When metals corrode, color transfer from the jewelry to the skin occurs. Pure gold does not corrode, but it is too soft to wear as jewelry and is used more as a trading commodity. Because gold corrodes easily, gold jewelry is usually alloyed with other metals to keep it from tarnishing. The alloyed gold is darker in color. Some people have an allergy to certain metals, so it is important to replace their jewelry as frequently as possible.
Metal fatigue on diamonds
There's nothing more frustrating than a repeat customer entering your store with a ring that is missing a gemstone or prong. The gemstone or prong has not cracked as a result of metal fatigue, but the surface has a grainy, porous appearance. While metal fatigue is not an uncommon cause of diamonds being lost from jewelry, most of the time it's too small to notice until the crack has progressed to full fracture.
Even the most seasoned jeweler can't stop time from wearing down jewelry. The constant contact with a hard surface will eventually weaken the gold or platinum in the setting or on the prongs or clasps. This is what causes metal fatigue on diamonds in jewerly repair. The reason for this phenomenon is the constant knocking, bending, and depression of spring clasps. Metal fatigue on diamonds in jewerly repair is a serious issue, and a jewelry specialist can help you determine the best course of action.
Metal fatigue on chain
The failure of a necklace chain or an expensive necklace pendant may be due to the wear and tear of the precious metal. In general, the precious metal will become weakened by continuous contact with other, harder surfaces, such as glass, metal, and concrete. This wear and tear may also affect gold settings, clasps, and joints. Constant knocking or depression of a bracelet spring clasp are both examples of wear and tear that may cause metal fatigue.
There are four basic steps to the metal fatigue process. The first step is the initial crack formation. Once the metal reaches a threshold stress level, it develops cell structures. As the load increases, the material hardens and develops a crack in response. The subsequent formation of persistent slip bands results in a breakdown of the newly formed cell structures. This exaggerated slip acts as a stress concentrator.
Metal fatigue on prongs
The prongs of many types of jewelry can fail due to metal fatigue. While this type of failure is difficult to detect visually, metallurgical examinations conducted under extreme magnification have proven that the prongs are prone to premature failure due to residual stress. Residual stress is a condition within the metal that leads to cracking, bending, and eventual failure of the prong.
Often, the problem is subtle. A repeat customer comes into the store with a jewel that has one of the prong tips missing and a gemstone missing. This piece of jewelry does not exhibit typical fractures, but the surface is porous and grainy. This infrequent failure type can be mistaken for bad metal or casting. There is no need to panic. There is a way to detect the early signs of metal fatigue and prevent it from happening.
Laser jewelry repair
The benefits of laser jewelry repair machines are numerous. Laser welding allows jewelers to work on pieces that are delicate and require very small amounts of heat to melt. This is especially important for antique and sentimental pieces. This process also eliminates multiple steps that usually need to be done to repair a piece of jewelry. As Pawn Shop Philadelphia , laser jewelry repair machines are highly versatile. The benefits of laser jewelry repair machines include the ability to work with extremely sensitive gemstones and metals, such as gold and platinum.
Unlike traditional methods, lasers can fix just about any piece, no matter the size. Even rings that have undergone centuries-old repair techniques can be repaired. Lasers can resize them and restore their stone settings. They can also laser weld tiny posts to earrings. Antique enamel pieces can be repaired without damaging the enamel. In addition to jewelry, lasers can even refill the porosity of eyeglass frames. This means that jewelry with delicate metals can look as good as new again.
How to Avoid Having to Take Your jewerly to a Jeweler
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