How to repair a bracelet?
It is no happy news to find out that your favorite bracelet is broken and you cannot wear it anymore. No piece of jewelry is protected from damages, of course, it depends on the material that is used for the piece of an accessory as some might be more durable than others. Or maybe, your bracelet isn’t broken but needs some adjustments, such as resizing. You can take your bracelet to a repair store or do it yourself if you have the basic repair kit. It is not that hard to repair a bracelet you just have to have the right tools!
Does Your Bracelet Need Repairs?
What does it mean to repair a bracelet? How do you know you need to repair your bracelet? It is quite simple. Bracelet repair involves restoring the bracelet to its mint luster and appearance or resizing it for a better fit.
There are only five issues that will cause you to see a jeweler for your bracelet repair or take tools in your own hands to fix the problem:
- The bracelet is too tight or too loose
- The stones are not fit, or they have come loose
- The bracelet chain has broken
- Faulty clasps
- The bracelet luster is lost or uneven in certain areas
If your bracelet has any of these issues, you need a bracelet repair. Hold the bracelet under bright light and examine every link and part for chips, scratches, and uneven color. You don’t need any unique tool to discover the other four issues.
Types of Repairs for a Bracelet You Can Make Yourself
Elastic bracelet
Beaded bracelets are mostly made using the elastic band, therefore these are the bracelets that are very fragile and could break easily. When the elastic bracelet breaks, you will need to remove all the detail from the broken elastic and put them onto a new one. There is no way to repair a bracelet with the old elastic band, you will have to replace it inevitably. When repairing an elastic bracelet with the new band, you can make it more durable than the previous one.
Broken clasp
It is one of the most common repairs that have to be done for jewelry, especially bracelets, as that is an accessory that is often put on and taken off. The clasp is the element that gets the most use in the bracelet, therefore it will be useful to learn how to repair it by yourself. You will need to buy a new clasp and open jump rings (the detail to which you attach the clasp) and pliers. It might be useful to get two pairs of pliers, as it will be easier to open jump rings. Pliers are also used to close the jump rings.
Tools for bracelet repair
Pliers
There are numerous types of pliers that can turn out to be useful when you want to repair a bracelet.
- Flat-nose pliers for gripping details.
- Chain-nose pliers – for gripping details without leaving traces or damaging the details.
- Round-nose pliers – for creating loops or round forms.
Wire cutters
These are useful not only for repairing jewelry and bracelets but also for making different types of accessories. This tool is mandatory not only for making bracelets but also necklaces, earrings and maybe even rings if they include headpins as ornaments. This tool might not be mandatory to repair a bracelet, especially if they are elastic bracelets, however, it is a must for all jewelry makers.
Crimping tool
Also, this tool, the same as wire cutters, is useful not only to repair a bracelet but also to make them. Crimping tools allows you to put beads on the wire, by ensuring a strong grip of the bead. It is easier to use a crimping tool than to hold a bead in your fingers, however, this tool is not mandatory in repairing jewelry.
How Do You Find A Trustworthy Repair Shop?
Once you have identified the more serious problem, the next step is to look for a jeweler you can trust (if you cannot repair it yourself!). You must have confidence in your jeweler’s skill if you want him to repair a bracelet correctly. Of course, before considering expertise, you must first find the jeweler. Below are a few tips to get you started.
- Ask your friends and neighbors Friends and neighbors living around you have likely repaired their bracelets in the past. If the jeweler performed excellently with them, they would not hesitate to recommend the shop to you.
- Ask the seller. In most scenarios, the place you got your bracelet can recommend where you can get it repaired. So, don’t be shy to ask them to recommend someone.
- Try Google Map. It seems obvious because it is obvious. Google Maps includes an extensive list of services, one of which allows you to finetune your search to specific businesses. Type jeweler into your search bar and Google Map will show you exactly where to find any that is close by.
- Google Search Is Your Friend. By including your location (zip code, street, city, LGA) into your “bracelet repair” search, Google will return the closest results to you. You can also combine Google search with google map by googling the results of your map search.
Should You Read the Reviews?
A thorough internet search about the jeweler of your choice will teach help you a lot about his/her policy. While you shouldn’t put too much trust in online reviews, don’t dismiss them out of hand either.
What to Do When You Find A Bracelet Repair Shop?
- Credibility and Certificates. If you’re in the US, ensure your jeweler has any of JOA, AGS, GIA, and AWA certification. If not, ensure they have the relevant and equivalent ones. These certificates the jeweler as capable of the standards of the association that gives it.
- Value Your Bracelet. The value of your bracelet will influence the repair shops insurance offers, so know its value. It will also affect the cost of your repair alongside the type of repair.
- Know When to Come Back. Ensure you get the exact time the bracelet repair will be finished.
- Your Permission Is Important. No work will be done on the bracelet without your express permission.
What Will the Repair Shop Do to Your Bracelet?
Cutting, Soldering, sizing beads, recreating old clasps, restoring spoilt clasps, replacing and re-tipping prongs, and more. The things that happen and can happen in a bracelet repair shop are many. Excellent jewelry repair work will be completely invisible to the naked eye while correcting all old flaws. The bracelet will retain a uniform luster and appearance as before the repair. With bracelet repair, finding a jeweler isn’t the problem, the problem is finding a jeweler you can trust.
Most of the bracelets that you own, you probably can repair by yourself, especially those that are elastic or made with wire. If it is from sterling silver or gold, not stainless steel, you might want to take your bracelet to a repair store, but if you feel competent enough, of course, you can do it yourself. Just remember about having the right tools because it is not possible if you don’t have any tool to repair with.
