What To Do About Loose Stones in Jewelry

“The stones in my Ring are Loose; Does that mean my Jewelry is Broken, or Poorly Made? “

A question I had submitted recently asked about loose stones in a ring.  How is it possible the stones could come loose?  What  can be done about it, and does it mean the ring is poorly made?

The short answer is this is NOT unusual. 

When we’re talking about diamonds, this is actually fairly common, and for good reason.  Diamonds are among the hardest substances on earth.  They are much, much harder than metals like silver or gold. Diamonds can work their way into the metal because of their hardness, and create room where there was none before, simply through pressure and wear. That loosens the setting, and the stone may rock, jiggle or rattle. Sapphire and ruby are the next step down in hardness from a diamond, so they too can wriggle free of their mountings. But truth be told, many stones are harder than metals like silver and gold.  If we look at the standard Mohs Scale of Mineral hardness (which technically only measures minerals or crystals) , metals like silver and gold would only fall around a 2 or a 3 if measured on this scale.  So you can see how easily many a stone would be able to push them around.

Stones can also be knocked loose from general wear and tear, or a hard blow.  Our hands are mighty tools, we use and abuse them, and often forget we’re wearing precious metal and gemstones on them.  Constant knocking against car doors, cupboards, keyboards, taps etc can take a toll over years.  And giving a ring one good hard blow even inadvertently, can move the metal enough to loosen the stone.

Some setting types are also more prone to coming loose.  Diamonds in a channel setting can loosen more easily, for example.

 

What Should I Do if I Notice a Loose Stone?
First, take it off, immiediately.  No matter where you are.  Wrap it in tissue, or paper and put it in your wallet.  Your stone could pop out at any time, and if it’s a diamond, ruby, sapphire or emerald, replacing it will be very expensive.  Protect your investment at all costs.

Second, take it to a qualified jeweler to have it looked at.  Repairs of this kind don’t have to be expensive.  Find out what’s causing the stone to be loose, and then you’ll know if and how it can be fixed.  Some things it might need: Re-tipping of prongs, or tightening of the setting. Don’t be afraid of the repair bill.  It’ll be cheaper than replacing your stone, that probably has a great amount of sentimental value.

Got a loose stone (horror?) story to share?  Or did you catch it in time?  Share in Comments, below.