Instructions For Getting Your Inlay Jewelry Repaired

Before shipping your inlay jewelry to us, closely inspect it for damage.  Gently scrub it with mild soap and water and a soft toothbrush to remove any caked on lotion, creams or oils.  This will allow you to clearly assess the damage to the inlay.  If your eyes aren't very good, buy a magnifying glass to get a closer look or take the jewelry to a local jeweler  and have them examine the jewelry for you.  We just want you to have a good idea of the extent of the damages before shipping to avoid any surprises.

If possible, take a photo of your damaged inlay jewelry to make discussing your repairs easier.  If the photo is good enough, we might be able to give you an estimate for repair before shipping the jewelry.  Set your camera to "macro" and click away!  Email us the photo.

If you are sending us a ring for sizing it is important that you are certain that the ring size is correct.  Your finger size 5 years ago when you got married might not be the same today.  The paper finger sizers you can print off the internet are not accurate and should not be used.  Go to a local jeweler and get sized properly.  Sizing inlay rings does involve the risk of stone breakage and if we are successful the first time we don't want to do it again because of a sizing error.  We will charge for resizing if the error is not our fault.

When you ship your jewelry to us please include all your information such as name, address, phone number, email address, description of your jewelry, value and if you need an estimate before we begin repairs.  Please insure the package for the purchase price of the jewelry with the shipper you select.  We prefer UPS.

Upon receipt of your package, we will inspect your jewelry for damage and provide you with an estimate for repair.  Please indicate if you would like to be contacted by phone or email in your contact information.  In some cases of extensive damage, we will give the customer a choice on the level of restoration we can perform and give several cost estimates.  Pieces with hairline cracks may not need to be replaced if it is not in your budget or not detracting from the beauty of the jewelry.

After receiving customer approval we will repair the jewelry and then collect payment before shipping.  We accept all major credit cards, PayPal payments, money orders and cashier's checks only.

Your package will be shipped via UPS.  If you have provided us with an email address, you will receive a notification from us or UPS that your package has been shipped and a tracking number for you to check its progress.

Please inspect your completed repair or ring sizing immediately after receiving your package.  Notify us if you are not satisfied with your repair or have any questions.  We cannot be responsible for damage sustained after you receive the jewelry and wear it.

                                                              
                                                               Caring For Your Inlay Jewelry

Here are some simple instructions to keep your inlay jewelry looking great.

First, never clean inlay jewelry in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner.  Chemicals and heat may negatively affect the epoxy over a period of time.  Also, avoid contact with household cleaners and solvents, as they may breakdown the epoxy as well.  If your inlay jewelry is accented by diamonds or other faceted stones, simply brush the stones with a soft toothbrush and mild soap from the top and the bottom.  Prolonged exposure to water or oils may weaken the bond between the stones and the epoxy used to hold them in the channel.  Remove any tarnish with a polishing cloth and never dip any inlaid jewelry in a tarnish removal liquid.

Second, wear your jewelry with care and common sense.  Remove your jewelry before performing any activity that might damage the jewelry, such as exercising, yard work, swimming, dishwashing, etc.  When not wearing your jewelry, store your  jewelry in a cloth bag or box where your other jewelry cannot ding or scratch it.  Doing so will prolong the life of your jewelry and extend the period you can go before needing to be refinished.

Third, apply hairspray, perfume, lotions and other personal products before putting on your jewelry.  This will help to keep your jewelry clean and avoid any harmful chemicals coming in contact with the jewelry.

Finally, when the surface of the stones or the metal loses its luster, return the piece for refinishing.  If you have an accident and break a stone, we can drill it out and replace it without a problem.  It is important that you only allow a jeweler experienced in lapidary and inlay work to preform repairs on your jewelry.  Most jewelers are not experienced with inlay methods and do not have stones to match the ones in your jewelry.  Many of the the repairs we receive are requests to correct poor quality inlay work by jewelers with little or no experience with inlay.  Send your inlay repairs to us and get it done right the first time.  Shipping information.




Here are some repair examples-

 
This Mark Hileman ring was previously repaired by another jeweler.   A piece of light colored opal was used instead of a matching blue green piece.  We drilled out the bad piece and replaced it with a matching one.  Good as new!

        
Mark Hileman ring with 3 pieces of chipped or cracked opal.  We drilled out the damaged opals and replaced  them with perfectly matching fiery red Australian opal, restoring the ring to new condition.