Repairs / Alterations
Jewellery
Shorten or lengthen bracelets & necklaces
In our workshop in Eindhoven, our master goldsmiths can shorten or lengthen gold and silver link bracelets and link chains. Because there are countless types of links, there is no standard solution.
Shortening link bracelets and link chains
We can shorten various link bracelets and link chains for you. The costs depend on factors such as the width of the links, the type of soldering and any vulnerable stones or ornaments. You will always receive a quote in advance.
Extend link bracelets and link chains
Extending a link bracelet or link chain is more difficult than shortening it, because extra links are needed. Due to the large variation in links, it is unlikely that we have exactly the same ones in stock or can order them. Possible solutions are an extra intermediate eye or a different type of lock.
In addition, complications may occur, such as:
- Gemstones that are sensitive to temperature or voltage differences
- Hollow links that make soldering difficult
- Rhodium layers, gold plating or tin solder that make machining more difficult
For some jewelry, such as most bangle or slave bracelets, customization is not possible.
Feel free to visit our store or contact us to discuss the possibilities!
Setting gemstones
In our studio in Eindhoven we can set gemstones in both new and existing jewelry.
Many of our handmade jewelry pieces feature gemstones, from engagement rings with a brilliant cut diamond to alliance rings with colored stones. The setting is matched to the stone and cut:
- Cabochon cut stones (rounded without facets) are often given a closed setting.
- Faceted stones such as brilliant cuts are usually set in an open prong setting.
Do you have a gemstone yourself, for example from an inheritance or a distant journey? Bring it along and discover the possibilities.
We can also set gemstones in existing jewelry, such as:
- A diamond in a wedding ring in honor of a birth
- A colored stone in a pendant
- Replacing a zirconia with a sapphire
The possibilities depend on the piece of jewelry and the desired stone. For example, a ring must be thick enough to set a stone safely.
Feel free to visit our store or contact us to discuss the possibilities!
Engraving
Yes, that is possible!
Custom gold and silver name jewelry
In our studio in Eindhoven we design and make new gold and silver name jewelry, or personalize existing jewelry with an engraving or edit. Think of name necklaces, baby bracelets, dog tags, name plates and memorial plaques.
Engraving and editing
We engrave and process jewelry in various ways, such as needle engraving , laser engraving , laser cutting and manual sawing. You can contact us for:
- Buying or engraving existing jewelry
- Making name jewelry in gold and silver
- Sawing, cutting or casting personalized pendants or plates
Cut out name necklaces
In addition to traditional hand sawing, we can also laser cut name chains for extra precision. We work with gold and silver up to 1 mm thick and can realize both standard fonts and your own design.
Feel free to visit our store or contact us to discuss the possibilities!
Custom ring
In addition to the various repairs that we perform daily, we can also make custom rings. Because many factors influence the customization of rings, we want to see and assess the ring in our studio before we promise a repair. The information below provides a general overview of how customizing rings works in broad terms. The prices are indicative and may vary.
Make rings bigger or smaller
There are several ways to make a ring fit. Temporary solutions, such as a piece of tape or a flexible "ring reducer", can help, but permanent size changes require a goldsmith. There are two common methods: stretching or swaging rings, or shortening or lengthening the ring by sawing and soldering.
Stretching or compressing rings
Stretching or compressing a ring involves heating the ring to soften the material. The ring is then stretched to make it larger or pressed to make it smaller. This method is only suitable for completely smooth, round rings without stones or other weak spots. In the case of straight wedding rings, the shape changes visibly because the right angles are pressed into a narrowing and rounded off slightly. A wide ring can be stretched more than a thin ring, depending on the available material.
Benefits of stretching & compressing:
- Relatively fast
- Ring remains in one piece (no sawing or soldering required)
Disadvantages of stretching & compressing:
- Only suitable for simple rings without stones
- Chance of change of shape
- Limited suitability for large size differences
Adjusting ring size with sawing and soldering
The most common way to make a ring permanently larger or smaller is to extend or shorten the length of the band by sawing and soldering. When reducing, a piece is cut out between the ring and the ends are bent towards each other and soldered. When enlarging, a piece is added and at least two solder joints are needed. The ring is then re-hammered and finished.
This method does not work well with rings with delicate ornaments or stones, such as pavé or micro pavé settings, where the stones may become loose due to the change in size.
Advantages of sawing & soldering:
- More rings can be custom made
- Suitable for rings with gemstones and ornaments
- Larger size differences possible
Disadvantages of sawing & soldering:
- More work to customize
- Not suitable for all rings
Rings that cannot be resized
- Rings with pavé or micro pavé settings, where the stones are close together and the setting can be damaged.
- Rings with rail setting for similar reasons.
- Rings with tin solder, as this makes the ring difficult to solder.
- (Partly) hollow rings, which weaken with dimensional changes and can cause cracks.
Below you see an image of a ring that cannot be resized due to the setting of the stones.
Other complications in sizing rings
- Color differences in alloy may be visible if the color of the alloy differs from the solder.
- Deviating gold grades can present additional challenges.
- Presence of coatings, such as gold plating or rhodium, may be lost during customization.
- Combined materials, such as rings of different metals, can have melting points that are difficult to combine.
- Composite rings, such as 3-in-1 rings, can be difficult to size due to their complex structure.
- Engravings or stamps can become illegible due to soldering or solder flow.
- Continuous patterns can be broken during sizing, causing the pattern to no longer continue.
For more information about customizing rings, please contact us. We are ready to advise you about your ring or other jewelry!
Removing a Ring When Home Methods Don't Work
There are several tricks to remove a stuck ring, such as green soap or a string. However, if the finger is swollen due to an accident, a medical condition or a reaction to medication, these methods often do not work. In that case, the ring must be cut or sawed off to prevent damage to the finger.
Cut open the ring
- Advantage: Fast and effective, especially in medical emergencies
- Disadvantage: the ring is locally flattened, which makes repair more difficult
In an emergency, a ring is usually cut with pliers. This is a quick solution, but the pliers compress the ring around the cutting point. In the event of a repair, the flattened part must be replaced with new gold or silver.
Saw open ring
- Advantage: clean saw cut, easier to solder
- Disadvantage: requires a jeweler's saw, less suitable for emergency situations
If there is no immediate emergency, we advise having the ring sawn by a goldsmith or jeweler. We almost always do this for free. A special jaw under the saw protects the finger and after sawing the ring is carefully bent open so that the finger is released. Thanks to the tight saw cut, the ring can be neatly soldered later. Often an enlargement is also necessary, because the ring was previously too tight.
At least 6 weeks of rest for the finger
After removal, the skin at that location is still dented. We recommend waiting at least 6 weeks before determining the correct size for a possible enlargement. This gives the finger time to recover.
Feel free to visit our store or contact us to discuss the possibilities!
Watches
Replacing a watch battery?
Yes, we replace watch batteries!
How much does it cost?
Replacing a standard watch battery costs €9.95 with us - regardless of the brand. So a battery change for a Cartier does not have to cost €150,-! Only watches with a complex case clasp or multiple internal batteries can be a bit more expensive.
Can I wait for it?
In most cases yes, but it depends on:
- The number of watches you bring
- The way the battery is processed (lots of screws = more time)
- Possible crowds in the store
Water resistance
Few watches are truly waterproof, most are just water resistant. Some manufacturers require a watch to be sent to them for a battery replacement to "guarantee water resistance", but if the watch is not waterproof by nature, what's the point?
On request we can test the water tightness before and/or after under air pressure (at extra cost). Please note that this does not give a 100% guarantee!
Feel free to visit our store or contact us to discuss the possibilities!
