AboutThomas Expertise Have a question about jewelry repair or working with gold or silver jewelry and gemstones? I am a working professional bench jeweler, involved everyday with setting stones in mountings, designing and making jewelry, repairing and some custom manufacture. Over 30 years experience. If you work with jewelry as a hobby or as a profession, I might be able to help. I deal with the retail business, not mass production. Ask privately if you wish. See the box for that: It keeps your question between us. Please DO NOT ask MAKER'S MARKS, but metal quality marks are fine to ask. Please DO NOT ask diamond prices. See a gemologist for that.
Experience Education is English/Physics!Started in human resources, to advertising, to jewelry...wow, what a road. Now a jeweler for many years. I have had formal training in jewelry work and many shared experiences with top grade jewelers. We just never know were we will go or be. Follow your best, your dreams, with some discretion!
Expert: Thomas Date: 6/26/2008 Subject: resetting tennis bracelet
Question I have an old tennis bracelet and one of the links recently broke. I would like to
reset all the diamonds because I think that the links will start failing now. Does
this have to be custom work or is there somewhere you can purchase blank
settings?
Thanks.
Answer Hi Kirstin. Thanks for this question. The simple answer to being able to purchase blank tennis bracelets is yes.
I do not recommend you try to find the unset bracelet yourself for two main reasons. First, it will be difficult to find a good quality bracelet from a seller who is willing to sell to individuals. Second, the odds are if you purchase the bracelet yourself and then have a jeweler set the stones, if unforeseen problems arise with the construction of the bracelet you may have great difficulty in gaining proper recourse.
I recommend you try local jewelry stores, generally not the chain stores in malls but the higher quality locally owned businesses. Many mall chain stores sell a set line of items and blank or unset items are not in the menu. There is a possibility of a chain such as Jared having vendors to supply the bracelet and they do have a staff of bench jewelers in the stores to do the work. A better quality local store will most likely have a supplier or two who can send blank tennis bracelets. The local jeweler can set your stones. The idea of having the same jeweler sell you the bracelet and do the stone setting puts responsibility of any defective workmanship on the jeweler or the original supplier and that is a good thing.
You need to ask the store if the stone setting is done in the store. If possible, ask if the jeweler can tell give you advice on setting styles in bracelets types you like since some are more secure than others. Tennis bracelets are not generally difficult in stone setting but are tedious with so many stones! Believe me, when the jeweler nears the end of the bracelet with only a few stones to go, it is a certain relief. Been there. : )
There is a chance the store will be able to get more than one style in for you to see. Most will not keep blank bracelets in stock since that is not practical, considering the differences in number of stones and sizes of stones and length of bracelet needed.
You simply need to ask if they can get more than one style in for you to use for your selection. This request is legitimate since the bracelet will likely be seen only in a catalog in the first place.
Depending on the blank bracelet chosen, you may have to add a stone or delete a stone to make it all fit the bracelet.
Kirstin, I certainly hope this answer helps you. Yes, there is a way to do it. And, your thought of a new bracelet is a good one. I have seen some in my business repaired over and over again from new breaks. Often due to construction of the bracelets, it is difficult or almost impossible to see the wear on pins and other part which may lead to a future break. Generally, breaks start near the clasp ends but be assured wear is happening all along the bracelet and once a break happens under normal wear, you can generally expect another down the road in time.
Thanks for this question. This is the first of this sort I have received. The question is appreciated.
