Repairs & Maintenance

“FINE JEWELRY”

Like everything else, a ring is subject to the normal wear and tear of daily activities. Some people may handle their jewelry more roughly, while others may be more gentle. Over time, a prong may loosen, metal may scratch, or a ring may receive a deep dent from a heavy blow, etc. These are not due to poor craftsmanship but are expected over time as normal wear and tear. Shinegloria does not cover repair costs resulting from accidents.

*For tips on how to properly care for your precious jewelry, please refer to the Cleaning and Care instructions.

PRECIOUS METALS

All precious metals, whether platinum, palladium, or gold, are susceptible to scratches. Unfortunately, these metals are not completely scratch-proof. The normal abrasive effects of clothing, sheets, seatbelts, papers, and towels can gradually wear away the metal in our jewelry. Rings, especially, should withstand all the wear and tear of our hands. Normal wear on a surface may include superficial scratch marks made with hard leather, wood, and plastic (bags, briefcases, plates, steering wheels, etc.), as well as minor dents made with steel objects (door handles, pots and pans, car doors, etc.).

Did you know that despite its extreme durability, platinum is also malleable? It’s hard to pinpoint the exact event or events that would cause a Platinum ring to change shape. A force needs to be applied to the ring side for it to bend; pressure is applied to the ring during daily activities, either a single pressure or repeated pressure over a period with less force. This can be something as simple as a tight grip on a car steering wheel. Once bending starts and the circle is no longer a circle, it’s much easier for the bending to continue into an oval or triangular shape. Most people don’t remember when something like this happened because they are events that are not significant enough to be noticed at the time. It’s important to note that this is not a quality issue in the metal because most of the time an extreme and unforgettable event is not required to cause damage.

DIAMOND HYBRID

In terms of hardness, Diamond Hybrid® ranks 8.8 on the MOHS scale compared to a natural diamond’s 10. While we have perfected our optical properties, we have not yet perfected our hardness, so our stones have a hardness similar to precious stones like Sapphire and should be treated with equal care. A rating of 8.8 on the MOHS scale means that our Diamond Hybrid® is very hard, but it is not indestructible and is susceptible to the same types of hazards that can damage any precious jewelry. Your ring/stone may crack or break when the appropriate amount of force is applied to the surface, and repeated contact can cause scratching or abrasion. In the event of a Diamond Hybrid® being scratched, you can replace it for $195 per carat under our Complimentary Insurance program.

Please note: While a natural diamond is the hardest known substance, it can still be damaged when struck correctly and against the grain. The crystal structure of a diamond is like that of a wood grain; there are growth lines and a “hard” and “soft” direction. A blow against the grain of a diamond can cause it to crack, chip, split, or even shatter.

ABRASION (DIAMOND HYBRID AND LAB-CREATED GEMSTONES)

Although abrasion is not common and does not happen to everyone, when it does, it is considered normal wear and tear because abrasion occurs only when the stone is rubbed or hit repeatedly against a surface of greater hardness. In the event of a Diamond Hybrid® being scratched, you can replace it for $195 per carat under our Complimentary Insurance program.

LOOSE STONES

The duration and frequency of wearing a ring do not determine whether a stone will loosen or how often it may happen. A diamond mount is made to strike a balance between safety and beauty, so a center stone may occasionally loosen, and this is not an uncommon occurrence.

Please note that when a stone loosens, it is something that needs to be addressed immediately to maintain the stone’s security. We do not recommend touching or moving the stone with your finger, as this can actually worsen the loosening and cause damage to the stone. We tighten loose stones for free, excluding shipping costs.

Checking a loose diamond Typically, when we check if a diamond is loose in the setting, we hold it by the band base close to our ear and gently shake it – if we hear a rattle, the diamond is loose and should be sent in to be tightened.

Most often, if a center stone loosens, it is with Princess cuts; this is a situation that requires “softer” mounting to protect the stone due to the sharp corners of this cut.

Additional information about the main factors contributing to a loose stone:

Wear amount – A ring worn regularly usually requires regular stone tightening/maintenance. Most people generally require stone tightening every six months for a regularly worn ring. Those who wear their rings less frequently usually need it once a year or every two years. Mounting style – Some ring styles may cause stones to loosen more frequently, for example, tension mounting, different prong heads, or high-profile mounts (cases where the center stone sits high above the finger) among others. Size – Center stones larger than 1.0ct (big 1.0ct) usually loosen more often due to the increased likelihood of accidental impact/strike. Often, this happens without even realizing it. Shape – Princess cuts loosen more often than other shapes; this is due to the sharp corners requiring a “softer” mount to protect the stone when you accidentally bump your mount.

LOOSENING OF JEWELRY STONES

Some people may handle their jewelry more roughly, and unfortunately, sometimes they inadvertently cause damage. Jewelry is designed as an ornament, not as an unbreakable object; if we don’t notice the damage we cause, it can be difficult to protect our beautiful jewelry. Most commonly, diamonds fall out of their settings when accidentally bumped. Some mounts are more robust than others, and a stronger impact can dislodge a stone from its mount.

Although mounts are relatively secure, as in prong and bezel mounts, they are not 100% foolproof. Over time, metal wears down, and mounting components become less durable. For example, if the prongs on your ring are heavily worn, they can bend and loosen your stone, which can cause it to fall out the next time you bump it. There is a cost associated with stones falling out, whether the stones fell out as a result of an accident or due to normal wear and tear.

Pavé or Micropavé Mounts Pavé style rings are more delicate designs and can be worn daily, but they should be worn more carefully than less secure prong jewelry. Many pavé mounts rely on less secure cavities instead of more secure prongs; it is natural for stones to occasionally fall out. Pavé style rings may require more maintenance than designs with more secure mounting styles.

RING MOUNT WARRANTY

You receive great warranty coverage for your Diamond Hybrid center stone. However, we do not offer a warranty for the mount itself. Most jewelers offering this type of warranty require you to bring your ring in for maintenance every six months. Since we are 100% web-based, being able to offer the same type of warranty would mean that our customers would have to send their rings to us twice a year, which would cost about $100.00 in shipping alone. Instead of making this a requirement, we found that our customers spend much less by only sending their rings to us ‘when necessary.’

However, we are happy to offer you complimentary cleaning services and center/side stone tightening as long as you cover the shipping costs. Other repairs, such as side stone replacement, resizing, polishing, prong repair, etc., generally incur associated costs and often require evaluation for pricing.