JEWELRY SOLDERING

Once prepared each segment must be connected to form a beautiful and durable piece. Using a torch and a steady hand, jewelers and model makers solder miniature pieces of gold and platinum together with amazing accuracy. The skills needed to freehand support a miniature wire with tweezers, while heating it to the molten point without melting or damaging the areas to which it will be bonded are rare. Steady hands and patience are some of the many skills these artisans possess.

Using gold alloyed from metals that melt at different temperatures, several temperatures of solder are used to create fine jewelry. The first components assembled, are connected by welding or by using hard solders which melt at extremely high temperatures. As additional layers of metals are added, lower temperature solders are used, preventing the prior pieces from coming undone. When the connections are prepared properly, the jeweler who controls heat with authority can solder a seam that is undetectable. If you do not believe this, you need only look at the jewelry you are wearing. Almost every piece of fine gold jewelry you own has been soldered.

STONE SETTING, TIGHTENING & REPLACEMENT

Of all the reasons to visit TimePiece, seeing us for a stone replacement is possibly the most frustrating. With the exception of the person looking to upgrade, most are heartbroken at the thought of replacing a stone that was lost or damaged.

There are few things more distressing than looking down at your hand and seeing an empty setting. Your heart can skip a beat when you notice missing diamonds in an engagement ring or lost gemstones in a family heirloom.

In most cases, it is one of the secondary accent stones that requires replacing. This is most often caused when a ring or a bracelet is continually bumped until the prongs are worn out. During this time stones loosen as prongs become thin and are eroded. When this occurs, our jewelers will assess the wear or damage and prescribe the necessary jewelry repair needed on the item. Once they make their diagnosis, they will show you stones that match others in your piece and provide you with a repair and stone replacement quote.

JEWELRY REPAIR

All jewelry repair is performed in-house at TimePiece by our team of model makers, bench jewelers, stone setters, and master craftsmen. From a cracked ring to a bent or broken prong, our shop will inspect and diagnose the best available options to ensure your jewelry can be worn safely. While standard repairs are completed within a week, ask your consultant about our Express Same Day Service if that is important to you.  The photos to the left demonstrates a full restring of a pearl necklace, as well as a clasp refinishing and professional polishing.

RING RESIZING

Since ring sizing requires cutting your ring to add or remove metal, it will also require connecting the ring by soldering or welding. They will use either a torch or laser, depending on the situation and the capability of your jeweler. Next, a jeweler must properly insulate delicate stones or sensitive materials in your ring from heat. Few gems will endure the heat needed to solder gold and none will endure the heat to needed to weld platinum.

As scary as all this may sound, a skilled jeweler with the right knowledge and equipment will size most rings without leaving a trace of the work that has been done. In the few cases that this is not possible, your jeweler should be able to give you advanced notice of any distortion or inconsistency that may occur before you proceed.

PROFESSIONAL JEWELRY CLEANING

As a customer of TimePiece you will soon find out that our staff does a magnificent job of jewelry cleaning. Not just the “dip in the tank” process that most jewelers offer, but a thorough, professional polishing, conducted by the same experts who create fine jewelry in our shop.

Anytime you visit our location you can take advantage of our jewelry cleaning services and all of the equipment that we use to properly refinish your jewelry, while you wait. During your jewelry cleaning, our staff will provide several stages of polishing along with steam and ultrasonic cleansing. These trained jewelers understand the nature of delicate materials, gemstones, and patinas and how to avoid damaging precious items while working on them. And the best part is we provide this service for free.

CUSTOM JEWELRY AND REPLICATION

If you are the creative type and have a design of your own or have seen a style that has inspired you, we can help you to put your ideas into precious metals and gemstones. Our designers can work through logistics, feasibility, durability, and affordability with you. This is a very rewarding process that results in an original piece of fine jewelry of your own design. The best part is that your concept will be executed by some of the finest jewelers anywhere.

Many of our clients have had family heirlooms replicated. In some cases an additional piece of jewelry is made for another family member. Then there are the favorite jewelry items that were lost or worn-out and need to be replaced. Our team of designers can redesign or replicate most jewelry items for you, as long as there are no trademark or patent violations incurred by reproducing the item.

In other instances, you may want to restore original jewelry if the stones or material of a family heirloom hold sentimental value. If so, you may prefer to have this item inspected for restoration. A knowledgeable jeweler will examine the safest restoration method possible, staying true to the original materials and design, while ensuring safe wear.

WRITTEN APPRAISAL

This is a written jewelry appraisal performed by one of TimePiece’s Certified Gemologists. This may be required by your insurance company, or simply to satisfy your own curiosity. It represents the current market value / cost to replace your jewelry. Your jewelry never has to leave the facility.

VERBAL APPRAISAL

This is an in-person verbal estimate with a qualified TimePiece consultant. This service is best if you have multiple pieces of jewelry and you want to understand their overall worth, without the obligation of an official written appraisal. Your consultant will sit with you at an hourly rate and identify each piece of jewelry with you. This walk-in service is typically available during normal business hours.

ENGRAVING

Why not get them engraved with your own personal message? Engraving is a great way to personalize your wedding rings, so they aren't just wedding rings, they're your wedding rings. Engravings are usually done on the inside of the ring, but can be done on the outside of the ring as well at no extra cost. At TimePiece, we are proud to offer the most engraving options to our customers by having more fonts and symbols than anyone else.

Besides text, we can engrave any symbol, picture or image. Anything that is in electronic format can be engraved. We have had customers ask us to engrave a picture of their loved ones on to their pendant. We have had couples ask us to engrave their fingerprints on to their wedding rings. We can even engrave your own handwriting on to a ring. If you would like custom engraving, please contact us for a quote.