How To Repair A Sterling Silver Chain

4 Unlike Types of Difficult Chains To Repair

Annabelle / September 30, 2022

Not all jewelry is created equal…and not all jewelry is repaired equally either! If you lot accept a cleaved necklace or bracelet in need of chain repair, you might be experiencing mixed results with some jewelers in getting it fixed. Worse yet, they might be turning you down- but why? Read on to learn more almost why your jeweler is maxim no to chain repair.

How are Bondage Repaired?

Bondage are usually pretty easy to fix, if they're inside a standard thickness effectually ane.4mm. Depending on the type of chain, the jeweler can cut a link open at 1 of the two broken ends, thread it through some other link, and fuse the gap shut with solder, an easily melted metal alloy that functions similar a gum.

Other types of chains aren't every bit straightforward, all the same. For example, information technology's difficult to repair a rope concatenation and maintain its original integrity due to the way information technology'southward constructed; the expanse of work will have a visible difference in comparison to the rest of the chain. Certain chains will never await the same even after repair. Here are a few scenarios every bit to why a jeweler might turn a chain repair down:

i. The concatenation is hollow

Rope chains are notorious for this construction: the design of the chain is empty on the within of the links. This is to reduce metallic weight and make the piece cheaper for sale. While it means you can purchase the concatenation for a lower price, it also means that the item volition be "crushed" at the spot where the jeweler works on it. In addition, the repair is not strong and may non withstand daily article of clothing over fourth dimension. As a result, some jewelers will turn the item down to avert any potential issues with their customers.

This rope chain was fixed by weaving one single link through the area of repair.

two. The chain's pattern can't be stock-still

Herringbone chains and other custom designed bondage are almost done for if they are broken. Because these chains are constructed via a serial of fluid, interlocking apartment links, if the concatenation is snagged it "unravels" the entire structure. The links are usually very thin slices of metal, and once they're bent information technology'south near-impossible to hammer them dorsum to an acceptable state.
Most jewelers volition not even attempt the repair with these pieces; however, we will take them and permit the client know that the areas of piece of work will be very visible. Our jeweler gently bends and moves the chain back into identify with several probes; he so tacks sure locations in less-visible areas (such as the dorsum) to make the links stay.

This herringbone chain was snagged and torn. Our jeweler "unfolded" the links to the best of his power.

3. The metal is strange

If your chain is made from an unconventional base metal such as brass, bronze, or copper, the jewelers may not adventure on it. This is particularly mutual if your chain has other components on it such every bit stones, charms, and pendants. Unknown metals can react very strangely to rut, and the soldering process requires exposure to a laser or a flame. When the metal heats up, information technology could potentially melt or burn, causing damage to the concatenation and anything attached to information technology.

Additionally, the area of repair won't match the rest of the chain. Nigh jewelers do not have base of operations metal solder, so they will default to using argent solder. This disrupts the overall color of the chain.

At Quick Jewelry Repairs, to avoid these issues, we test the chain with a little heat first. If it reacts badly, we will inform the customer that we cannot perform the repair. If it seems to take heat well, nosotros'll remove any components from the chain that may fire in the repair process as an actress precaution before we continue. The chain is then polished and re-plated if necessary to make the colour uniform.

This contumely chain had a lot of plastic beads and stones. Our jeweler added links in a similar metal and minimized the amount of soldering needed.

four. The concatenation is plated

Some chains are plated with gold or rhodium in order to requite it a sure color. The repair piece of work removes that plating, exposing the original colour of the metal underneath. As some jewelers may not have the power to gold plate the chain, they will turn it down to avoid whatever issues with their customers.

An boosted factor is the original metal of the chain. If the chain is sterling silverish plated with gold, well-nigh jewelers should exist able to re-plate that. Strange metals, nevertheless, cannot be plated easily and if the jeweler determines that it's not readily conducive to the gold plating process, they volition not have the job.

Our jewelers tin can work with atypical jewelry metals that need plating. We exercise this by nickel plating the concatenation to make information technology chemically compatible with the gold plating process, and then nosotros continue to identify it in our gilt-plating tank for the final coloration.

This citrine pendant was gold-plated to restore its original color.

Now you're up to date on reasons why your jeweler won't perform the chain repair! If you're experiencing this consequence, hit us upwardly in the comments below and we can assist you out.

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Source: https://quickjewelryrepairs.com/articles/difficult-chain-repairs/

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