Repairs & Maintenance
At Charles Koll, we offer several different repairs to meet your needs including: ring resizing, chain repair, watch bracelet refurbishing, and stone tightening.
Same Day Resizing
Ring Resizing
Often times that perfect ring you just purchased isn’t the right size. With four highly skilled goldsmiths on staff we can often get you fitted same day.
Find out more
Stone Tightening
Today, prong settings are the most popular method for securing stones in jewelry, although bezel settings, which completely surround the stone, were once favored. Modern techniques have made prong settings both fashionable and functional, but they are more prone to loosening, especially in rings that can easily get bumped. If you notice a loose stone, it's important to have it professionally reset to ensure your jewelry remains safe and wearable. Our independent jewelry repair facility, staffed by experienced craftsmen, offers affordable stone tightening, often completed while you wait, regardless of whether your piece was purchased from us. Don’t risk losing your jewelry; address loose stones promptly.
Watch Bracelet Refurbishing
Watch bracelets for both men and women can become dull, scratched, or damaged over time, especially with daily wear. The springs that keep the bracelet snug may wear out, and clasps can become loose or difficult to operate. Our expert jewelry service department specializes in refurbishing these bracelets by replacing worn springs, tightening clasps, straightening bent links, and polishing out scratches to restore their original shine. This service is especially valuable for heirlooms and classic brands like Rolex, Omega, or Tag Heuer, providing a cost-effective alternative to replacement. Additionally, while sapphire crystals can be buffed to restore clarity, non-sapphire materials cannot be repaired in the same way.
Rhodium Plating
Rhodium dipping, also known as rhodium plating, is a process where expert technicians coat one metal surface with a thin layer of rhodium using an electric current to bond it. This technique is commonly applied to white gold jewelry to enhance its brightness and sparkle while extending its lifespan by providing a protective layer. Rhodium plating can rejuvenate dull, worn pieces, making them shiny and appealing. While it can also be used on yellow gold, the effects wear off more quickly, making it ideal for jewelry that isn't worn daily. Additionally, rhodium creates a hypoallergenic barrier, benefiting those with metal allergies. However, rhodium plating is not permanent, particularly for rings, which tend to wear down faster due to daily impact. If your white gold jewelry appears dull, it's a good time to consider rhodium dipping, as it offers an affordable way to refresh its look.
Prong Retipping
When you own a cherished piece of jewelry, ensuring its integrity and security is vital for future generations to enjoy it. Prong retipping is an effective way to secure gemstones in their settings, particularly in popular prong settings where metal claws hold the stone in place, such as in solitaire engagement rings. If the prongs begin to flatten or bend, retipping is necessary, which involves adding a new tip to the prong using advanced laser welding techniques. However, it's important to note that a replacement tip may not be as strong as the original, so regular inspections by a jewelry professional are recommended, ideally every six months, to ensure the setting remains secure.
Jewelry Cleaning
Restore the Sparkle
Do you have jewelry you’re afraid to clean because it has fragile gemstones or designs? Maybe you’ve noticed lately that your ring just doesn’t have the same sparkle it once did. Whatever your reason, we offer professional jewelry cleaning services that will give your jewelry its original sparkle back without damaging it in the process. We use a range of different cleaning techniques depending on the type of jewelry and gemstones being cleaned.
Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaning
Ultrasonic jewelry cleaning techniques are fairly common and involve using water or a liquid solution and ultrasonic sound waves to create tiny bubbles that remove small particles of dirt and oil. When your jewelry is submerged in this liquid, the bubbles attack the dirt and oil on your jewelry, cleaning it in areas that would not otherwise be easily accessible. This cleaning technique is the most common way to clean fine jewelry, including precious metals and a variety of gemstones including diamonds and an assortment of naturally-colored gemstones, and takes only a few minutes at our store.
Other Cleaning Techniques
Ultrasonic cleaning isn’t for all jewelry, though. Delicate designs, pieces that have been antiqued and some porous or treated gemstones, including pearls, amber, opals, onyx, emeralds and colored topaz can be damaged in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaning machine. Glued gemstones and loose stones can also come loose in this type of machine. There are a variety of techniques that can be used on these gemstones that jewelers learn about during their education and can help educate you on the care these special gemstones require to look their best.When you need to have your fine jewelry professionally cleaned, our jewelers have the skills and training needed to get the job done without causing damage to your beautiful and cherished pieces. We recommend you have your jewelry professionally cleaned on a regular basis to help maintain its natural beauty and sparkle.You can also come by our store for a free bottle of Charles Koll jewelry cleaner that has a cleaning solution and a fine brush that you can use at home to give your jewelry that extra sparkle before you wear it.
Do you have jewelry you’re afraid to clean because it has fragile gemstones or designs? Maybe you’ve noticed lately that your ring just doesn’t have the same sparkle it once did. Whatever your reason, we offer professional jewelry cleaning services that will give your jewelry its original sparkle back without damaging it in the process. We use a range of different cleaning techniques depending on the type of jewelry and gemstones being cleaned.
Ultrasonic jewelry cleaning techniques are fairly common and involve using water or a liquid solution and ultrasonic sound waves to create tiny bubbles that remove small particles of dirt and oil. When your jewelry is submerged in this liquid, the bubbles attack the dirt and oil on your jewelry, cleaning it in areas that would not otherwise be easily accessible. This cleaning technique is the most common way to clean fine jewelry, including precious metals and a variety of gemstones including diamonds and an assortment of naturally-colored gemstones, and takes only a few minutes at our store.
Ultrasonic cleaning isn’t for all jewelry, though. Delicate designs, pieces that have been antiqued and some porous or treated gemstones, including pearls, amber, opals, onyx, emeralds and colored topaz can be damaged in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaning machine. Glued gemstones and loose stones can also come loose in this type of machine. There are a variety of techniques that can be used on these gemstones that jewelers learn about during their education and can help educate you on the care these special gemstones require to look their best.When you need to have your fine jewelry professionally cleaned, our jewelers have the skills and training needed to get the job done without causing damage to your beautiful and cherished pieces. We recommend you have your jewelry professionally cleaned on a regular basis to help maintain its natural beauty and sparkle.You can also come by our store for a free bottle of Charles Koll jewelry cleaner that has a cleaning solution and a fine brush that you can use at home to give your jewelry that extra sparkle before you wear it.
Jewlery Soldering or Laser Welding
What is Soldering
When a piece of jewelry is broken, we have a variety of techniques we can use to repair the break, including soldering and laser welding. But what is soldering? Soldering means to “join or unite” and in the jewelry craft, soldering means that we are using melted metal to join or unite one part of your jewelry with another part. Then what is laser welding? Instead of joining metals using solder often times laser welding can be used. Welding joins two pieces by melting both sides into a homogenous form creating a strong bond between the two sides.
Preparation
When we receive your piece we access the proper technique for your unique repair. We then do necessary preparation work to create a good seam to apply solder or to weld the sides together. We will remove any gemstones that can be damaged in the process because soldering requires heat and heat can damage some stones or embellishment. Many times it’s more appropriate to use a laser to prevent unnecessary damage that removing gemstones causes. If the piece has bends along the break, we will straighten them out and may file or otherwise augment the edges to create a good seam. We will clean the edges to be soldered or welded to help ensure they bond well because skin oils, dirt or other debris can prevent metal from joining where it needs to.
Soldering Techniques
There are a number of techniques that can be used to do the actual soldering, the laser soldering tool has an extremely precise focal point so that we don’t damage any surrounding areas and to form an extra strong bond. Often times necessary when tradition soldering is too close to a gemstone and may cause damage.
There are also traditional soldering techniques where the edges to be soldered are lined up, flux is placed on the seam, followed by a solder appropriate for the metal. Flux lowers the heat required to melt the solder and allows it to flow between the pieces to be joined. Unlike laser soldering, which uses a high pulse of energy, a jeweler’s delicate touch adds a fine flame to heat the joint. Trained jewelers know how much heat to apply to which pieces to get the solder to flow well and join the pieces while protecting the surrounding area.
Clean Up
After soldering is complete, the piece may be cleaned using a fluid to remove any remaining marks from the torch. All gem stones are returned to their settings, the jewelry is polished to a high luster, cleaned using an ultrasonic cleaner and high powered steam and then piece is checked for any remaining repair signs. Now it’s time for you to enjoy your jewelry with the satisfaction that your it was repaired properly the first time by a true artisan.
When a piece of jewelry is broken, we have a variety of techniques we can use to repair the break, including soldering and laser welding. But what is soldering? Soldering means to “join or unite” and in the jewelry craft, soldering means that we are using melted metal to join or unite one part of your jewelry with another part. Then what is laser welding? Instead of joining metals using solder often times laser welding can be used. Welding joins two pieces by melting both sides into a homogenous form creating a strong bond between the two sides.
When we receive your piece we access the proper technique for your unique repair. We then do necessary preparation work to create a good seam to apply solder or to weld the sides together. We will remove any gemstones that can be damaged in the process because soldering requires heat and heat can damage some stones or embellishment. Many times it’s more appropriate to use a laser to prevent unnecessary damage that removing gemstones causes. If the piece has bends along the break, we will straighten them out and may file or otherwise augment the edges to create a good seam. We will clean the edges to be soldered or welded to help ensure they bond well because skin oils, dirt or other debris can prevent metal from joining where it needs to.
There are a number of techniques that can be used to do the actual soldering, the laser soldering tool has an extremely precise focal point so that we don’t damage any surrounding areas and to form an extra strong bond. Often times necessary when tradition soldering is too close to a gemstone and may cause damage.
There are also traditional soldering techniques where the edges to be soldered are lined up, flux is placed on the seam, followed by a solder appropriate for the metal. Flux lowers the heat required to melt the solder and allows it to flow between the pieces to be joined. Unlike laser soldering, which uses a high pulse of energy, a jeweler’s delicate touch adds a fine flame to heat the joint. Trained jewelers know how much heat to apply to which pieces to get the solder to flow well and join the pieces while protecting the surrounding area.
After soldering is complete, the piece may be cleaned using a fluid to remove any remaining marks from the torch. All gem stones are returned to their settings, the jewelry is polished to a high luster, cleaned using an ultrasonic cleaner and high powered steam and then piece is checked for any remaining repair signs. Now it’s time for you to enjoy your jewelry with the satisfaction that your it was repaired properly the first time by a true artisan.
Chain Repair
Repair A Broken Link
It’s also entirely possible to repair a link that has been broken. This involves using a small amount of solder and a fine touch to heat the broken link just enough to melt the solder into place and without melting the surrounding links. Our experienced and well-trained jewelers have spent years doing repairs such as this that require a delicate touch. By using state of the art laser welders our artisans have perfected this process.
Add or Replace A Link
If you have lost, broken or need to increase the size of an existing chain we can do that by replicating links to match. Depending on the type of chain, the replacement link may need to be created out of specially shaped wire or be shaped in a specific fashion to match the remaining links in the chain. By using both hand fabrication and CAD/CAM methods we guarantee a beautifully matched link on every chain, bracelet or necklace. If the chain has been antiqued or had other processes done to change the surface appearance, we will need to replicate that process on that link so that it matches the rest of the chain. Often times refurbishing the entire chain is necessary and gives your chain a near new appearance.
How To Prevent A Broken Chain
Don’t put too much weight on it; if you have a specific pendant you like to wear, talk to one of our jewelers about finding a suitable chain to wear it on that will bear the weight better. If you are engaged in activities where it may be snagged or pulled, tuck it under your clothing or take it off entirely to prevent any accidental breakage. The best way to keep your chain flawless is by not breaking it in the first place.
It’s also entirely possible to repair a link that has been broken. This involves using a small amount of solder and a fine touch to heat the broken link just enough to melt the solder into place and without melting the surrounding links. Our experienced and well-trained jewelers have spent years doing repairs such as this that require a delicate touch. By using state of the art laser welders our artisans have perfected this process.
If you have lost, broken or need to increase the size of an existing chain we can do that by replicating links to match. Depending on the type of chain, the replacement link may need to be created out of specially shaped wire or be shaped in a specific fashion to match the remaining links in the chain. By using both hand fabrication and CAD/CAM methods we guarantee a beautifully matched link on every chain, bracelet or necklace. If the chain has been antiqued or had other processes done to change the surface appearance, we will need to replicate that process on that link so that it matches the rest of the chain. Often times refurbishing the entire chain is necessary and gives your chain a near new appearance.
Don’t put too much weight on it; if you have a specific pendant you like to wear, talk to one of our jewelers about finding a suitable chain to wear it on that will bear the weight better. If you are engaged in activities where it may be snagged or pulled, tuck it under your clothing or take it off entirely to prevent any accidental breakage. The best way to keep your chain flawless is by not breaking it in the first place.