While this story may not be yours, we hear similar renditions way too often! The culprit for this issue? Worn prongs and settings for your precious and semi-precious stones. It is no secret that diamonds are one of the hardest materials around. Gold is much softer - this is why we create alloys to strengthen it and why it is wonderful to work with in creatinging intricate details.
Unfortunately, this means that as your ring is banged around during daily wear and tear, your prongs are worn away while your diamond stays in great condition. To make sure all of your jewels stay where they belong, it is important to know what a solid and secure prong looks like and what it looks like when a prong needs to be rebuilt.
Prongs tend to be on the tiny side - they are meant to hold the stones but not act as a distraction, so you might want to use a magnifying glass to help you.
This first image is of a secure prong. Notice how far it rises above the stone:
These next images are of a worn prongs - one worn from the top, the other from the side. Notice how thin they have become:
You also want to look out for the posibility that your prongs are lifting - this means that they are no longer in full contact with the surface of the stone and have higher likelihood on catching on your surroundings and breaking off.
If you do notice any of these issues, I highly recommend contacting your jeweler immediately and scheduling a time in the next two weeks for repair. If at all possible, refrain from wearing the worn jewelry until it has been repaired. I know you might feel naked without it, but it is more important to make sure you keep those stunning stones in place.
Photos are a courtesy of madebycustom.com.
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