Jewelry Repair Glossary

Welcome to our glossary of jewelry repair terms. Please click on any of the terms below to expand and read the descriptions.

The most common types of metal today are silver, gold and platinum. Gold most often is white, yellow or rose colored, although it can be many other colors.

To size a ring, appropriate metal will be added or removed to adjust a ring to the desired size.

The shank, also known as the band, is the part of the ring that is under the finger (palm side) and is connected to the top of the ring.

Rhodium plating is a bright white plating finish added to white gold rings. This is what gives the ring a much whiter appearance but will wear off.

The head is the primary object that holds the diamond or stone. It is usually 14K white gold and is made up of prongs, typically 4 or 6 prongs.

A tip is the very top of the prong. It is bent over the top of the diamond or stone to hold it in place. Tips will wear down and get thin. Tips should be replaced every 7 to 10 years.

The prongs hold the stone in place and usually go from the bottom of the stone to the top. Sometimes prongs are referred to as claws.

V Prongs are sometimes on stones that have a point, like the two points of a marquise shaped stone, or at the four corners of a square shaped stone.

Diamond & gemstone replacement is generally needed due to the loss of a secondary accent on the piece of jewelry. When a ring or bracelet’s prongs or tips are worn out, stones loosen or completely detach.

Channel set diamonds or stones are set in rows with walls holding the stone in place. A channel can hold a single, or multiple stones. Channel set stones are typically round or baguette shaped.

Solder is a low melting alloy used for joining two metals together.

Laser soldering fuses two metals together without a flame or torch, used for delicate repairs.

The bail is the top part of a pendant that the chain slides through.

The chain tip is the flat metal piece with holes that the clasp can attach to.

A jump ring is a plain round wire ring at the end of a chain which will hold the clasp.

To engrave is to cut or scratch into the metal to personalize the piece.

A friction post is a straight post connected to the back of the earring which will pass through the ear lobe and is secured with a push-on back.

A screw post is a straight, threaded post connected to the back of the earring which will pass through the ear lobe and is secured with a nut that will screw onto the post.

Tennis bracelet repair can include joint, link, hinge or clasp repair.