Removing a Ring Stuck on the Finger

This summer, we at Handiwork have seen a good number of ladies arriving at our store in Memphis with quite a dilemma on hand, literally. These very faithful women have worn their wedding ring every day and night since they got married, and anywhere from five to fifty years later, bodies and hands have changed while their ring remained the same size. Other times, a pregnancy or hospital trip results in water retention, making your hands swell.

A panic phone call starts off with a, "My ring is stuck on my finger, and I have tried everything! Can you cut it off?" After trying to remove the now too small ring with lotion, petroleum jelly, butter, and even oil, they are now desperate to restore the circulation in their fingers. Also be sure to try soaking your hand in ice water since our hands sometimes swell in warmer conditions. I also found this nifty but doubtful ring removal trick with string online here.

When all else fails, you can come to a local jeweler like Handiwork, and we can remove the ring while you keep your finger. I do know that hospitals will also be able to do a similar thing, but I have seen their efficient work, which destroys the ring's shank (band) more than necessary.

We use a ring cutter remover very similar to the one found here on Ebay and available at a pretty good deal (under $15 with shipping).

This handheld tool has a blunted hook that fits under the band between the ring and the finger. A small rounded saw rotated by hand (the extended bar with round disk pictured above) slowly and gently grinds away a thin line into the gold or silver. Once we hear a snap, we remove the ring cutter and take two pairs of pliers to slowly pull apart the band to minimize damage to the ring. Having this done at Handiwork is no charge if you then decide to have it re-sized, otherwise it costs $25.

In order to prevent this from happening, we recommend taking your rings off at night, as well as taking them off to be cleaned at home or at a local jewelers (free jewelry cleaning at Handiwork Jewelry!). Additionally, if you are pregnant or entering a hospital, remove your jewelry and keep it at home for safekeeping. We have unfortunately heard many stories of jewelry being lost or stolen at the hospital.

Jewelry Repair

Many of our customers know Handiwork Jewelry for our jewelry repair services. We repair necklaces and rings, as well as size rings and make bracelets and necklaces longer with added extensions. Have you ever lost one earring? If we are unable to make a match, we can transform the remaining earring into a pendant or ring for continued wear.

Here is a price list of a few jewelry repair services offered at Handiwork Jewelry in Memphis:
$5 Sterling silver jump rings (small)
$6 Watch battery replacement
$10 Watch bracelet adjustment (adding or removing watch links)
$10 Sterling silver clasps
$10 Cut and remove a ring too small from finger
$15 Solder (welding) small necklaces and thin bands
$15 Starting price for ring sizing
$2 per inch Pearl re-stringing with knots in between each

We have a jewelers bench on site at Handiwork for a quick turnaround of 2-3 days. Our jeweler rotates between our two other locations (Crown Jewelry and Star Jewelry), so we can sometimes offer same day service. Watch services can be provided while you wait (10 to 15 minutes).

Many customers also ask if we repair eyeglass frames. We unfortunately only work with gold, platinum, or sterling silver. We recommend your local Fast Fix. In Memphis, there is one location in the Wolfchase Mall.

Cashing in Gold

In the past ten years, the price of gold has tripled in value. When we say gold, however, we should clarify this is the price for pure gold (24 Karat). A lot of fashion jewelry we see is made of gold and other alloys resulting in 10 Karat (41.7% pure gold), 14 Karat (58.5% pure gold), or 18 Karat (75% pure gold). As seen in the Kitco 10 Year Gold graph below, pure gold was priced at under $300 per ounce (31.1 grams) and today gold is at $932 per ounce.

I recommend live market quotes on precious metals here: http://www.kitco.com/market/

There are many televised and radio commercials advertising they buy gold, but I can not see myself mailing an envelope of my valuables. It is true that the price of gold has increased, and if you do not wear your jewelry or it is broken, I recommend you visit your local jewelry store to get a quote.

At Handiwork Jewelry, we have helped clients sort through their jewelry inherited from a grandmother (lover of both costume jewelry and authentic pieces!), as well as transform an heirloom into something a bit more modern. So if you are looking for a place to sell your gold or repair jewelry, please consider Handiwork in Memphis.

Replacing Watch Straps

We get a fair number of customers at Handiwork Jewelry asking us for replacement watch straps, and I have usually been unable to provide concrete assistance, besides suggesting Target or Macy's. Today I found a great site with reasonable prices and selection. It is called www.voguestrap.com, and I was able to find an elusive 6mm leather band!

They teach you how to properly measure the width of the watch strap you will need to order here. Just take a ruler or measuring tape and find the distance between the two lugs, the point where the strap meets the edge of the watch.

Installation is relatively easy, because there is a spring loaded pin which can be depressed into the pin hole of the lug. I find the small tip of eyeglass screws helpful.

Straps, especially leather ones, are susceptible to daily wear, tear, and believe it or not, stink! Some people like to buy different colored watch straps for the different seasons, white for spring and black for winter, etc. More commonly, the leather simply cracks and breaks. Metal straps sometimes have to be replaced if an important piece like the buckle or connector between the lug and strap is lost or broken. I have also seen folks come in with expansion or flexible watch straps that are too big, and these can not be adjusted, but you can buy a smaller expansion strap. Be sure to check out voguestraps.com! They're officially for original Timex replacement straps, but it fit my non-Timex watch just fine.

For specific replacement straps by brands, try watchbands.com.

Good luck!

Re-stringing Pearls

Most pearl necklaces will need to be re-strung every few years, depending upon wear and tear. The heavier the pearls (often of higher quality and larger) have a much more noticeable wearing effect on the string, resulting in frayed strands. The worst case scenario is when the pearl strand breaks. If your pearl necklace was strung properly with knots in between, you will not lose your pearls when the pearl strand breaks.

If you are up for learning to do this on your own, then your best luck may be at a craft store. Look for thin silk thread, small wire/beading needles, a pair of small sharp scissors (pointed tips), and super glue.

The next item is not necessary but it definitely makes knotting easier, faster, and tighter. You can find such knotting tools on Amazon or here.

Here is a small box of French wire (silver colored) that is often used to prevent the string from fraying after prolonged contact with the jump ring of the clasp.

After cutting your pearls or beads, place them onto a piece of cloth so they will not roll around. Take care to keep them in the correct order if they are different sizes or have a specific pattern. If your pearls need some cleaning, take a damp cloth and gently rub off any dirt.

Here are some guiding steps:
1. Measure your necklace or bracelet and multiply this length by four (4). For example, you will need 28" of silk thread for a standard 7" bracelet. Once you become more accustomed to stringing, you can be more conservative. In the beginning, however, the extra thread will be useful and allows room for knots.

2. Thread the silk through the eye of the beading needle.

3. Double the thread and knot the end.


4. String two (2) pearls onto the thread.


5. Cut a small piece of French wire (either gold or silver color) and thread this small piece onto the thread.


6. Thread the jump ring of the clasp onto the thread.

7. Loop the needle back into the nearest pearl, pull until the French wire becomes a small loop. No thread should be seen closest to the clasp.




8. Tie a knot as close as possible to first pearl.

9. Loop the needle through the second pearl and knot as close as possible. There should be a small piece of thread left with the very first knot. Do NOT cut this piece of thread yet.



10. Continue stringing all pearls onto the thread.


11. Use a beading tool like the one below to help tie knots as close as possible to the pearl.







12. STOP knotting when you have two (2) pearls left to finish.

13. Repeat steps 5 to 7, but this time you will need to carefully push the last two pearls together to avoid seeing any of the silk thread.


14. Tie a knot by hand.

15. Now you can close the knots by either (1) carefully super gluing or (2) burning the thread together. I usually super glue using the tip of an old needle or safety pin. Avoid excess super glue because it will make the knot large and unsightly.

Remove Watch Links

After purchasing a new watch, many people find that the watch is either too big or too small for their wrists. A jeweler will be able to remove or add links for around $10, but for those who want to save a little money or learn a new trick, this post is for you. The following directions are for the most popular watch bracelet links, the split pin bracelet. Another good source for other type of watch bracelets are available here or here.

The first step is to determine how many links you need to add or remove to your watch bracelet. This is a bit of a guessing game, but you should factor in how snug or loose you like to wear your watch.

Once again, the fun begins at the back. You will notice the small arrow indicating the direction the pin should be removed. In this case, the pin will be pushed down and out.

You will start at the top of the arrow, and push the pin down and out with either a watch pin remover (pictured below) or a thumb tack and small hammer.

A watch pin remover like the one below costs $5 to $10 and can be found at sites like this one or even on Amazon.com.

Place one side of the watch band on the remover, and align the pin to the hole and push in the direction of the arrow. With the watch pin remover, you need only screw it gently until the pin comes out. If you are removing links, you will need to take out another pin. If you are adding links, now is the time to connect the spare links often provided with your watch. NOTE: If you are removing a total of four (4) links, be sure to take two (2) from each side so the watch bracelet remains even.

Remove the pin, using your fingers, a pair of needle nosed pliers, or a pair of tweezers. Take care not to loose these small split pins. Notice how the split side of the pin is slightly larger. The larger, split side should NOT go in first when re-inserting the split pin.

When re-inserting the pin, be sure to go against the arrow. The non-split, smaller side of the pin will go in first. The split, larger side of the pin is touching the watch link remover.

Voila!
You should be ready to wear your well fitted watch now.

It would be great to get feedback on other ways of doing this without a watch link remover. Also please let me know if you have questions about removing other types of watch bracelet links. The links above may answer some questions.

Replace a Watch Battery

At Handiwork Jewelry, replacing a battery costs $6 and takes 5 to 10 minutes. Some people, however, may be more adventurous and want to learn how to do this at home. If you feel like you are going to damage the watch, however, it is best to simply take it to your local jeweler. Cheap or non-sentimental watches would be okay to experiment on. While we mostly take a look at the front of a watch, the real action starts at the back of the watch.

Let's start with this lady's, stainless steel Fossil watch.

First, place the watch on a soft towel so the crystal does not scratch.
When we look at the back of this watch, we see there is a small lip.

Second, if you are at home, take a thin, blunt edge to the lip and with some pressure, lift the case back off. Jewelers usually use a case knife, which is made for this purpose. You will hear a small "pop" as the case back releases.

Once the case back is off, you will see where the small round battery is located. This particular lady's watch has two batteries. Each battery is held in place by a small lever. Sometimes a small spring keeps the battery in place.

After pushing the lever aside, you can easily remove the watch battery with your fingers or a small tweezer. Once the battery is removed, look for rust or dirt as other possible causes of the watch stopping. Rust is a sure sign that water is the culprit. You will probably need to visit a watchmaker or contact the watch company to replace the entire watch movement.

Once you remove the battery, you will see a three digit number or a a seven digit alphanumeric code. In this case, the battery number is 319 (or SR527SW) and it was made by Energizer. You will also notice a positive (+) sign on the battery. This (+) side should be visible once the battery is replaced.

You can buy batteries from Walgreens, RadioShack, or even online. They usually are sold in packs of five and are quite economical if you can get the case back off.

The last step - replacing the case back - is usually the easiest, but it can also pose some difficulties. If you are having problems pressing the case back onto the watch, try laying the watch face down on a soft towel on a hard surface and pressing with your thumbs till you hear it "snap" into place. If you are truly in a conundrum, take it to your local jeweler where he or she can use a device that clamps the case back into place.

Other watches have different case backs. Some have a small depression, while others have an arrow on the case back showing where to start. Other case backs have small screws at each corner. You will need miniature screwdrivers, similar to the ones used for repairing eyeglasses. Some watches, like a Swiss Army watch, have a more complicated watch case back. You may need a tool that fits into 3 of the 5 notches, like the one pictured here:

You will need to rotate counter-clockwise to screw the case off.
If you want to try this at home with other tools, take a look here.

If your watch doesn't fit in the above category, you may have an automatic watch that does not need a battery! Authentic Rolex watches and Seiko Kinetic watches, for example, will continue running as long as they are worn. After two or three days of no motion, however, they will stop ticking and need to be re-set.

After taking the case back off, you may notice a thin strip of black rubber, also known as a gasket. This is used to prevent water from entering the watch. When you take off the case back, be careful to not break the gasket so it will remain water resistant when you place the case back.

Please feel free to offer suggestions or pose other questions you may have! If you have replaced a watch battery at home by yourself, it would be great to hear your thoughts on how easy or difficult it was for you.