Family heirlooms are very important to many people. They are a sentimental reminder of the loved one who passed the item down, as well as a piece of family history that you will want to be able to treasure forever.
However, as time goes on and the piece of jewellery is passed on and worn, more often than not, the piece will fall victim to wear and tear – something that can be quite damaging, not only to the jewellery itself, but the current owner of the heirloom.
However, it’s not the end of the world if you notice your family jewellery experiencing signs of wear. As experienced jewellers in Glasgow who specialise in watch and jewellery repairs, we know how important it is for some people to have their heirlooms restored to their former glory. Here are just some of the ways that experienced jewellers can help you achieve just that!
Give the Piece a Professional Clean
Due to the nature of jewellery being worn, it is often the case that the pieces will need to be cleaned. Getting rid of dirt build up is one of the first things that you will want to look into if you want to restore the look of your heirloom jewellery.
Not only will this make the jewellery look much shinier, brighter and cleaner, it may also highlight other areas which will need attending to, such as the stones needing to be re-cut to give it even more of a sparkle, or an area which needs repairing to make the piece as strong and durable as possible.
It can be incredible what a good clean can flag up!
Securing or Replacing Stones
Along with wear and tear, you may notice that the precious stones in your jewellery become loose or even fall out completely.
This can be very distressing for some, as it will greatly affect the look of the piece. However, there are ways in which jewellers can prevent the loss of jewels, and can even replace those which have been lost to match the rest of the piece seamlessly.
The setting in which the stone is placed can be tightened to reduce the chance of the existing stones falling out, and new settings can be added to house new gemstones if required. New gems can also be cut to replicate those already in the piece to replace any lost gems.
Preventative Care
Many heirlooms are incredibly delicate and more often than not need some form of support with regards to how they are worn or function.
This could include the restringing of necklaces, the replacement of clasps, thickening of ring material to avoid metal thinning or even re-engraving unique details that may have been lost during the jewellery’s long life.
Preventing further wear and tear – for the near future at least – is a great, cost effective way of keeping your heirloom jewellery looking wonderful, as well as allowing the owner to continue to wear them at the same time!
If you’d like to find out how Martins of Glasgow can help you restore your family heirloom jewellery or watches to their former glory, don’t hesitate to get in touch with ustoday – we’ll be glad to help you in any way possible.