A beautiful piece of jewelry is something that can be admired for decades—maybe even centuries. A missing stone can make even the most stunning pieces look unfinished. What causes stones to fall out of their settings, and how can your jeweler ensure that it doesn’t keep happening?
At Noe’s Jewelry, our expert jewelers can identify the causes of missing stones and repair any jewelry to keep stones in their rightful homes.
Why Do Stones Fall Out of Their Settings?
Setting diamonds and other gemstones are found in rings, necklaces bracelets, earrings, bracelets, and bracelets. The settings are designed to keep the stones in their place. However, damage to the settings can lead to missing gemstones.
The most common cause of stones falling out of their settings is normal wear and tear, especially for rings since they see a lot of action on hands. Ring settings can be very delicate, and they are holding very precious stones, so when they are damaged, you could be looking at a lost stone worth hundreds—even thousands—of dollars.
Prongs and metal mountings can become weaker over time. The prongs can catch on clothes and fabrics, making it easy for stones to fall out or become loose. If you are an avid jewelry wearer, it’s a lot easier for stones to become loose, especially as mounting prongs may bend or break over time.
Another reason that stones fall out of settings is that they weren’t set correctly in the first place. While it is rare for gems or diamonds to be improperly set, they do happen occasionally. Many jewelers have the ability to repair settings and can check the jewelry carefully to ensure the stone is securely set correctly.
What To Do If a Stone Falls Out of Its Setting
A missing stone is like a missing tooth—it’s hard not to notice when a piece of jewelry is missing a key component. This will leave many pieces of jewelry to sit in jewelry boxes, which is a shame. Instead of dropping that ring or necklace into your jewelry box, take it to a jeweler!
Bring the gemstone with you to the jeweler, if it is still in its original form. The process usually involves putting the gemstone back into its original setting.
You might need to replace stones that have disappeared without a trace. Keep reading to learn how insurance can help you avoid buying new stones. It is possible to replace the stone once it has been fixed.
You can find loose gems in most jewelry stores that will fit into the area where your previous stone was. This is especially true if it was a faceted diamond. If you need other gems, your jeweler will likely have to find a suitable stone. This might take a little extra time, but finding the perfect fit shouldn’t take too long.
You might ask for a replacement stone that matches the rest of the pieces. For example, you want all the diamonds to have similar coloration, which means that their 4 C’s need to be similar. A new diamond needs to be “matched” to the existing diamonds for the piece to look right. This is also true for gemstones.
What can insurance do for you?
Insurance policies can be a godsend when stones fall out of their settings. You can get your jewelry insured when you buy it, so you’re covered if it’s lost, stolen, or damaged. There are jewelry-specific insurance companies, or you can even list the jewelry with your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.
To receive compensation for any jewelry damaged, you will need to file a claim. If you aren’t insured, you can always contact the jewelry store you bought from to see what their options are for repair. They may not offer a warranty but will work with you to ensure the stones are able to be reset and the jewelry is repaired.
Having insurance on jewelry pieces like rings is a good investment upfront at the time of purchase, especially for something that’s so expensive and sentimental. But if you have a tight budget, or you didn’t think to insure your jewelry initially when you got it, it’s even more important to be extra vigilant about regularly checking for loose stones.
Preventing Future Issues
Paying close attention to the settings on all of your jewelry can help prevent lost stones. While it isn’t always possible to prevent damage to settings, it is a good idea to regularly look over your jewelry to see if anything looks off.
There are several methods to check for any loose stones in your jewelry. To check for loose stones, hold the jewelry between two fingers. Place it beside your ear and lightly tap your index finger. You can also feel around the edges of the stone, or try gently pushing the stone or rotating it. Wear the piece immediately if it starts to rattle or moves.
You can also hold the stone up to a light and use a pair of tweezers or a small pin to push down gently onto the top of the stone. If the light reflecting off of it shifts in any way, then that means that the stone is able to move in its setting.
It’s also a good idea to get jewelry serviced periodically, even if there isn’t anything loose or broken. Rings are a good example of this. A professional should inspect them at least once per year to determine if any need for adjustment or repair.
You should also take off any piece of jewelry that may get damaged while doing housework, chores, or playing sports, and regularly clean your jewelry to delay wear and tear.
Many pieces of jewelry have sentimental value, and if taken care of correctly, they can be timeless. If you have a loose stone or a gem that fell out of its setting, there are plenty of options for repair and ways to prevent it from happening again in the future.
As your trusted Kansas City jewelry store, Noe’s Jewelry is here for all of your setting needs. We can help with everything, from jewelry design to repairs. Call us at Raymore Missouri today to see what we can do for you!