loose diamond

A Loose Diamond in Your Ring? How to Fix and Prevent

Your diamond rings experience a lot of wear and tear.

This is especially true of engagement rings.

Repeat wear and tear can sometimes lead to a loose diamond.

Discovering that your diamond is loose can result in a great deal of stress. The last thing you ever want is to lose your precious gemstone while you are going about your day.

However, if it happens, you’ll want to know what to do.

Read on to learn how you can prevent and fix a loose diamond in your ring.

A Loose Diamond: How Does it Happen?

Loose diamond in ring
Image CC0, by Pexels, via Pixabay

It takes less effort than most people think to loosen or weaken prongs on rings.

It may come as a surprise to know that a simple bump can bend a prong. Anything ranging from catching a prong on a sweater, zipper or seat belt to dropping or bumping a ring on a hard surface can cause prongs to bend ever so slightly.

Why?

The small gold or platinum prongs holding the diamond are simply not as hard.

A diamond may also become loose if the prongs holding it are worn down from years of wear, so be sure to have the prongs frequently checked (every six months) by a jeweler.

Eventually, most rings will need their prongs replaced due to the sheer amount of wear they get throughout the years.

What to do when you notice a loose diamond

Fortunately, tightening prongs on settings is a fix that is

  • fast
  • simple
  • and reasonably priced

Once you see a diamond loose on your ring, it is best to take care of it as soon as possible. Take it to the store it was purchased (or any reputable jewelry store) and they will be able to give you a quote and time frame of how many days it will take.

Depending on how busy the jeweler is that day, you might be able to get it tightened while you wait.

Insist on a reputable jeweler tighten the prongs. Unreputable jewelers can cause even more damage to the stones and ring.

Also, check to see homeowner’s insurance policy covers your diamond ring. Insurance will often cover a missing stone and even some repair costs.

How to prevent a loose diamond in a ring

While there is always going to be some normal wear and tear on frequently worn jewelry, one of the best ways to prevent a diamond from getting loose in its prongs is to remove the ring while doing activities like housework, washing dishes, gardening, and sports.

You may have to pay a little to have the prongs re-tipped with gold once in a while. However, the extra expense will be well worth it. Prongs can also break or weaken with normal wear, and it would be unfortunate to lose your precious diamond.

Loose Diamond: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Loose diamond in ring
Image CC0, by LoveToTakePhotos, via Pixabay
  • I have a micro pave setting with hundreds of small diamonds. How can I know if any of them are loose?

You can inspect your small diamonds and the setting by using a pin or sewing needle to touch the sides of each stone. If any of the stones are loose, you will be able to detect some movement. Pave settings are very delicate and notorious for loose stones. Take extra precautions if you have this type of setting.

  • After tightening the prongs on a loose diamond, will it happen again?

The odds are the same as with any other stone in a setting. Once your jeweler tightens your prongs correctly, they should be at the same level of strength as before.

  • If I have my ring with side stones on the band re-sized, will that cause stones to pop out or loosen?

A size up or down will not usually cause any problems. Making the ring bigger than one size, loosening or popping out of stones most likely to occur.

  • Can diamonds wear out the prongs in my setting?

Technically, yes, but only when a diamond is loose in a prong setting and spins back and forth for a considerable length of time.

  • Do princess cut stones require more care while its the prongs tightened?

Princess cut diamonds have very sharp, pointed corners that can get chipped. You can break your diamonds, despite a common misconception. This is more likely to happen to a princess cut stone when tightening the prongs if the jeweler isn’t careful.

  • How much does it cost to have prongs tightened? How long does it take?

Some jewelry stores offer free repairs as part of their warranty, while others may need to charge for the labor and any materials used (averaging $25 per prong). The jeweler may be able to take care of it while you wait if they are not busy.

Diamond rings are a beautiful part of every wedding and engagement, but they do get a great deal of wear and tear.

By keeping your ring inspected and taking the proper precautions when performing daily activities, your diamond ring can last a lifetime and be a daily reminder of the love that it symbolizes.

Featured image: CC0, by Lukas, via Pexels

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