Jewellery Insurance: Repair or Replace?

Jewellery is made to be worn, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. But as we go about our daily activities, prongs snag on clothing, pulling them away from diamonds. Clasps lose their springs, and chain links fall apart.

These incidents can break your heart, especially when the piece holds sentimental meaning to you and your loved ones. Fortunately, jewellers encounter these problems every day. They have the tools, material and skills to fix broken rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings.

But before you rush off to the jeweller, you might be wondering: should I repair or replace my damaged piece? In this article, we’ll look at some of the considerations surrounding this decision.

Missing Diamond

Losing the stone from your diamond engagement ring can be upsetting, to say the least. Despite your best care, diamonds can be knocked loose from their settings and disappear while you’re completely unaware. Loose prongs, a hard knock or even a sudden scrape, can dislodge a stone from the ring.

In this situation, what is the best plan of action?

For most cases, jewellers can match a new, loose diamond to your existing setting. They may need to craft new prongs to match the replacement stone, but this task is easily managed. In fact, for many jewellers, installing new stones is daily work.

Some rings, however, cannot be repaired when they lose their diamonds. Invisibly-set Princess cuts, for example, feature tongue-and-groove-style edges that lock together. Such diamonds are tough to replace. In some cases, the ring must be replaced entirely.

Small old-cut diamonds may also be difficult or impossible to replace. As soon as you suffer a loss, get in touch with us so we can help you explore your options and start the process of restoring your piece of jewellery.

Missing Earring

Nothing’s worse than losing an earring from your favourite pair. They’re so small, and they can fall out anywhere you’ve been. Assuming your earrings are insured, what can you do?

Most jewellers can create a replacement for the lost earring. If they’re diamond studs, the jeweller can find a closely matched stone and create a setting to match the remaining earring. If for some reason, the earring is challenging to match, your insurance may provide a replacement set.

Timing Your Repair

When a piece of jewellery sustains damage, it’s best to repair it as soon as possible before additional links, stones or other decorative elements fall off and are lost. Try to collect as many loose pieces as you can to assist the jeweller in the repair.

What kinds of problems can jewellers fix?

Pearl restringing
Broken links in chains
Clasp replacement
Stone replacement
Ring setting
Prong tightening
Ring prong retipping and replacement
Ring sizing
Polishing and cleaning

Preventive Jewellery Care

Once you’ve lost a diamond or scraped up a treasured bracelet, it’s too late to think about preventive care for that piece. But it’s never too late to consider how you’ll protect the rest of your jewellery (and you’re fully restored piece).

If you have an active lifestyle, choose jewellery styles that can handle the daily demands of your activities. In the summer, take special precautions when you swim, travel and work in the garden.

As soon as you notice a problem with a piece of jewellery, stop wearing it and take it to your jeweller for repair. By keeping your jewellery out of harm’s way and addressing issues early on, you can minimise your chances of catastrophic damage.

Finding a Jeweller

Some jewellery repairs are more complicated than others, and it’s vital that you take your jewellery to a professional you trust. That’s why we ensure that you can return to your family jeweller for repairs and replacement. With Q Report insurance, you’ll have the means to restore your favourite jewellery fully, and you’ll always have access to your chosen jeweller.

If you haven’t yet found a jeweller you know and trust, consider exploring the Q Certified jewellers in your area.

Insuring Your Jewellery

Whether your jewellery is brand new or has been in the family for generations, protect it against theft, damage and loss. With Q Report jewellery insurance, you can wear your jewellery freely, knowing you can always restore it if the unexpected happens.

Learn more about our policy and obtain a free online quote for your favourite piece. And if you have any questions, feel free to give us a call!

1300 882 018

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