Sometimes the most important project isn’t a redesign, it’s preserving a piece that holds a lifetime of memories. I have had the pleasure of working with this client and her family for many years. She is an extraordinary person whose generosity and commitment to her community are truly inspiring, making it especially meaningful to help care for jewelry that means so much to her. While volunteering one day, she felt something catch on her hand. Looking down, she realized with great alarm that the center diamond from her engagement ring was gone. Even more concerning, one of the prongs had broken away. She immediately retraced her steps and, remarkably, found the diamond. She brought the ring to the shop along with several other pieces in need of repair, but restoring her engagement ring was understandably our highest priority. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the damage extended beyond the missing prong. Several of the crown prongs had developed cracks, as shown in the accompanying photographs. Damage of this nature can occur for a variety of reasons and often remains hidden until a failure occurs. Exposure to chlorine, for example, can weaken the alloys used in gold over time. Other possible causes include metal fatigue or imperfections created during the original casting process, such as trapped air or rapid cooling. These issues are typically impossible to detect until they become visible and are not necessarily the result of poor craftsmanship. This wedding set represented important milestones in her life. The engagement setting had been created to commemorate her tenth wedding anniversary, and the wedding band was added to celebrate her fifteenth. Together, the rings told the story of her marriage and held tremendous sentimental value. The damaged components are not repairable so we chose a solution that would provide greater long-term durability. The pear-shaped brilliant-cut center diamond was reset into a new platinum crown designed in a similar style, incorporating protective chevron prongs to better safeguard the delicate tip of the diamond. To complete the restoration, the wedding set was carefully separated so the engagement ring could be repaired. The new platinum crown was hand assembled, the diamond securely reset, and the rings were then precisely welded back together. The result is a beautifully restored wedding set that honors its history while providing the strength and security needed to be enjoyed for many years to come.
- Materials: Natural diamonds, platinum, white gold
- Client location: Simsbury, CT
