Broken platinum prongs

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hello, All! I’m enjoying everyone’s postings. Being new, I have so
many questions.

Here’s my problem. I have a platinum engagement ring, which was my
Grandmothers - c1910 or so. It had a single round diamond, I’m
guessing it was about 1/3 to 1/2 carat. At some point, the diamond was
removed, and rather “violently”. The result is that of the 6 prongs, 2
are nearly missing, and at least one other is mostly gone. It’s a
lovely ring with all kinds of carvings, and it is engraved inside
with all kinds of verbiage. I do not want to compromise the shank.
About 10 years ago, I brought it to my Brother in Law, a jeweler I
respect highly, and asked about having a stone put back in - maybe a
diamond, or perhaps another stone. He told me the prongs were
damaged beyond repair, and that the only option he could think of was
to have all the prongs removed, and perhaps add a plate of another
metal, turning it into a signet style ring.

I’m thinking that he might have told me this because new prongs
could not be guaranteed, or might not be secure - although perhaps it
was *possible. ( much like if you had a cracked engine head, a
mechanic would tell you it could not be repaired, tho technically it
probably *could be repaired - tho not the best idea) Or maybe it
cannot be soldered, or perhaps it is just too cost prohibitive.

Thoughts? Ideas?
I’d sure appreciate it.
Thank you,
-Mary Beth

2

Hi Mary Beth,

He told me the prongs were damaged beyond repair, and that the
only option he could think of was to have all the prongs removed,
and perhaps add a plate of another metal, turning it into a signet
style ring.

I think I’d get a second opinion!

A good bench jeweler with a laser should be able to replace the
prongs. Depending on the design of the ring & how severe the damage
is, all of the prongs may need to be replaced. It also may be more
advantageous to replace all the prongs to give a more consistant
look.

Dave

3 
    A good bench jeweler with a laser should be able to replace
the prongs.

A good jeweler with a torch, a file and a saw could do it. A good
jeweler won’t need a $25,000 machine to replace a few prongs.

4

Find a jeweler who has a laser welding machine. The prongs can be
rebuilt from platinum wire without any problem.

Steve
Steven D. MacDiarmid
Director of Public Relations and Trade Shows
Stuller, Inc.

5

Mary Beth, The jeweler must not have bbeen very good. period… I am
going to assume that there was only one stone in this ring and it is
the one that fell out or whatever… Platinum is very easy to work
with and all new prongs should have and could have been soldered
on… And soldered on with platinum solder (if there are no other non
removeable stones in the piece)… Or like Dave said, a jeweler with
a laser could do the same… MY basic point is this… Platinum is
an incredible metal that stands up to serious punishment when it
comes to working on it. it is extremely resiliant… Any jeweler who
knows what they are doing could do this repair for you no doubt…
I agree with Dave… get another opinion… (somewhere else… :slight_smile:
) Marc