Jewelry Repairs


Master the tools and techniques for jewelry repairs. Our articles cover everything from resizing rings to repairing emerald jewelry with lasers.

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How to Resize a Ring

How to Resize a Ring

Sizing a ring is one of the most requested repairs a jeweler will see. Ganoksin instructor Mechelle Lois teaches you...
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How to Repair a Thin Ring Shank

How to Repair a Thin Ring Shank

Fixing a worn thin shank is an essential repair for rings. Learn how to re-shank a worn or split shank...
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How to Make Sizing Beads to Size a Ring Down

How to Make Sizing Beads to Size a Ring Down

Mechelle Lois demonstrates how to make sizing beads - a perfect solution for difficult to size rings. Mechelle goes over...
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How to Repair a Bezel Using a Jump Ring

How to Repair a Bezel Using a Jump Ring

You can restore a thinning bezel in several ways. In this video, Ganoksin instructor Mechelle Lois shows you how to...
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How to Repair an Ear Wire

How to Repair an Ear Wire

Earrings that dangle or have movement to them are often made with an ear wire. This is the portion of...
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How to Repair a Chain

How to Repair a Chain

Next to ring sizing, chain repairs are the most common jewelry repair you'll see because chains are worn regularly and...
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How to Install a Figure 8 Catch

How to Install a Figure 8 Catch

A figure 8 safety clasp is added to the box clasp of a link or bangle bracelet as a backup...
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How to Repair a Bezel by Patching

How to Repair a Bezel by Patching

Over time, bezels can wear thin, increasing the risk of the stone breaking or coming loose. There are multiple ways...
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How to Add a Safety Chain to a Bracelet

How to Add a Safety Chain to a Bracelet

Safety chains are necessary additions to any high-value bracelets for additional security. They prevent bracelets from falling off when a...
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How to Repair an Earring Post

How to Repair an Earring Post

Earrings with a post can break or bend from too much wear. Ganoksin instructor Mechelle Lois walks you through the...
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How to Repair a Channel on a Channel Set Ring

How to Repair a Channel on a Channel Set Ring

When a channel set ring needs repair, it's almost always because the channel has worn down over time. This creates...
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How to Resize a Ring With a Stone

How to Resize a Ring With a Stone

In part 2 of this series, instructor Mechelle Lois teaches you how to re-size a ring with a stone. Sizing...
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How to Repair a Cuff Bracelet

How to Repair a Cuff Bracelet

Cuff bracelets are squeezed on the wrist for a custom fit every time they're worn. These constant adjustments weaken the...
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How to Repair a Prong

How to Repair a Prong

Repairing a prong is one of the most requested repairs for a jeweler. In this video, Ganoksin instructor Mechelle Lois...
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Protecting Gems While Soldering

Protecting Gems While Soldering

Repair jewelers are frequently called upon to solder close in to a set gemstone. Besides the normal dangers of heating...
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Different Methods on How to Resize Rings

Different Methods on How to Resize Rings

A ring fits well when it is no longer felt on the finger. If in the course of time the...
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Laser Welding Basics – Part 1

Laser Welding Basics – Part 1

This article will run over multiple issues of Bench Magazine. I plan to start with the basics of welding and...
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The Best Jewelry Books: A Comprehensive Reading List For Craftspeople

A selected bibliography list for the jeweler - Metal working, Casting, Plating, Enamelling ,Gem Cutting, Setting, Engraving and Etching, Other...
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Invisible Setting Ring Repairs

Invisible Setting Ring Repairs

The majority of the invisible set styles that are available are the type where the diamonds are pressed in. To...
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Fearless Platinum Repairs

Fearless Platinum Repairs

What does it take to be successful at repairing, customizing, and servicing platinum jewelry? First, an understanding of properties unique...
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Pocket Watch Hinge Repair

Pocket Watch Hinge Repair

This is a beautiful old 14k yellow gold pocket watch. The outside view of the hinge shows bowing at the...
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Repairing a Silver Shank

Repairing a Silver Shank

Your customer brings in a silver colored ring marked 925 with a broken shank for repair. You measure the customer...
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Step-by-Step Guide to Upsizing Rings

Step-by-Step Guide to Upsizing Rings

When I ran a trade shop, time was money, and I often found myself sizing 50 to 60 rings in...
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Laser Welding Basics – Part 3

Laser Welding Basics – Part 3

Back when I was going to school, if I had known I would be writing an article about laser welding...
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Making Silver Wire

Making Silver Wire

Making silver wire
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Jewelers’ Repair Pricing Strategies

Jewelers’ Repair Pricing Strategies

Repair pricing strategies used by three featured jewelers.
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Laser Welders Impacting the Jewelry Industry

Laser Welders Impacting the Jewelry Industry

The one tool that allows each of these jewelers to do their jobs better is a laser welder, a technological...
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Re-tipping Platinum Prongs

Platinum is a very durable metal, so prongs will last a long time. However, it is sometimes necessary to re-tip...
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Bracelet Tongue Replacement

Bracelet Tongue Replacement

With the popularity of tennis bracelets over the last 20 years, replacing broken tongues has become a common repair in...
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Laser Repair: Bangle Bracelet

Laser Repair: Bangle Bracelet

It's an "everyday" kind of repair job. The customer brings in a bangle bracelet that has a broken safety slide....
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Claw Setting – Removing The Fear Factor

Claw Setting – Removing The Fear Factor

As we prepare for the upcoming Christmas season, we will be totally inundated with requests to do some repairs or...
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Installing Sizing Beads

Installing Sizing Beads

Arthritis is a common malady which affects many people as they age. People with arthritis often have enlarged knuckles which...
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Installing an Adjustable Shank

Installing an Adjustable Shank

This ring has become so hard to get on and off, but when it is on, it is loose and...
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Repairing Broken Chains

The difficulty of chain repair lies in the fact that the chain is made up of fine wires. These wires...
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Ring Sizing Tips and Tricks

Ring Sizing Tips and Tricks

Ask a seasoned bench jeweler how many rings he or she has sized and they'll probably give you a figure...
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Restoring a Hollow Link Bracelet

Restoring a Hollow Link Bracelet

This 14 karat white and yellow gold two tone bracelet has hollow wire links. The link near the clasp which...
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Bracelet Shortening and Reassembling

Bracelet Shortening and Reassembling

This Charles and Colvard created moissanite (hereafter referred to as moissanite) and two-tone karat gold in-line bracelet requires shortening by...
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Profitable Jewelry Design and Repair

A few years ago, Jewelers Circular Magazine reported that over 75% of all retail jewelers in America lose money on...
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Tips for Repairing Pearl Jewelry

Tips for Repairing Pearl Jewelry

When taking in a piece of pearl jewelry for repair, it may be necessary to remove the pearl to avoid...
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What Causes Casting Marks?

What Causes Casting Marks?

In the Spring 2003 Issue we asked the question "What causes these marks on this casting?" Around 100 readers responded...
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Fit to be Sized

Before sizing any ring, examine it carefully and compare it to the information on the job envelope. If you see...
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Repairing a Sterling Silver Shell Cameo Pin

Repairing a Sterling Silver Shell Cameo Pin

Repairs and alterations of jewelry that has been in families for generations is an ongoing request at retail service departments....
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Macaroni Bracelet Repair

Macaroni Bracelet Repair

Last time a customer brought a San Marco bracelet to you for repair, what did you do with it? Commonly...
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Repairing an Omega Earring Clip

Repairing an Omega Earring Clip

This project shows a challenging repair and reconstruction of earrings with a broken Omega clip and heat sensitive gemstones.
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Safely removing SK Cobalt / BioBlu 27 ring

Safely removing SK Cobalt / BioBlu 27 ring

Scott Kay Inc. has a tool that will successfully remove any SK Cobalt(TM) / BioBlu 27(TM) band from a consumer's...
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Pulse-Arc-Welder: Box Clasp Tongue Repair

Pulse-Arc-Welder: Box Clasp Tongue Repair

This 14-karat yellow gold heavy bracelet chain has a broken tongue at its critical springy location. An ideal method for...
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Laser Welding Basics – Part 2

In my last article I wrote about the various adjustable parameters, and the effects of changing those parameters. In this...
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Laser Repair: Emerald & Diamond Ring

Laser Repair: Emerald & Diamond Ring

It seems like a lot of laser repairs involve emeralds. I recall the Indiana Jones movies where "Indy" comes face...
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Laser Welding Channel Repair

Laser Welding Channel Repair

In previous articles we have looked into the "art" of prong repair using the laser (Full Prong Replacement and Tipping...
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Laser Welding Tipping Prongs

Laser Welding Tipping Prongs

Last issue we installed a new full prong on an opal and emerald pendant. This issue was supposed to be...
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Lapis ring repair

Lapis ring repair

Cutting, fitting and polishing a replacement Lapis Lazuli inlay for a ring repair job
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Pearl Earring Repair Using Mini Pulse III

Pearl Earring Repair Using Mini Pulse III

14-karat yellow gold cultured freshwater pearl and diamond earrings will be repaired as a demonstration of the new Mini Pulse...
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Platinum Ring Sizing and Torch Welding

Platinum Ring Sizing and Torch Welding

Sizing and torch welding a platinum ring with diamonds channel set down the shank could be risky to the diamonds....
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Overcoming Bench Mistakes

Overcoming Bench Mistakes

From the Editor: It’s happened to everyone. You’re working on a project and everything is going along well until…. Oops....
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Laser welding jewellery with Rofin Performance

Laser welding jewellery with Rofin Performance

Short video showing examples of what can be achieved, repairing jewellery items with a manual laser welder - the StarWeld...
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Superfit’s Hinge and Latch System

Superfit’s Hinge and Latch System

Getting a superior fit on your next custom ring order could be just a few mouse clicks away. Superfit Inc.,...
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Installing and Repairing Hinge Rivets

Installing and Repairing Hinge Rivets

Installing or repairing hinge rivets can be difficult with a torch. Flooding a hinge with solder and permanently joining a...
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Tackling Chain and Finding Repair

Tackling Chain and Finding Repair

Ask most jewelers about repairing a chain or finding and they’re likely to offer you their best Charlie Brown impression:...
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Special Repair Work

It is not uncommon for moving parts to wear out. This is to be expected because of increased friction as...
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Laser Welding Full Prong Replacement

Laser Welding Full Prong Replacement

One of the most frequent repair jobs involving the laser is prong repair. This is the first in a series...
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Jewellery Repair

Repairing jewellery is an extremely tricky job. Work often pretends to be something else, metal is not what it is...
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Jewelry Welding – Jewelry Repair: Rings

Jewelry Welding – Jewelry Repair: Rings

Rio Grande carries the Orion Jewelry Welder - an affordable laser welding alternative for all jewelers. These welders provide three...
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Chain Repair Paste Solder Method

Repairing broken chains is one of the two most often preformed jobs in the shop. (Sizing rings is the other)...
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Reducing to Half-Size

Reducing to Half-Size

At the counter, you remove the tape with a sharp blade and then slide the ring up a man-drel. Next,...
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Reconstructing Earrings Using Welding Technology

Reconstructing Earrings Using Welding Technology

These fashion drop earrings contain oval diamonds weighing 1.78 carats. The customer is concerned about loss because of the open...
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Laser Welding Prong Repairs

Laser Welding Prong Repairs

This article provides a step by step procedure on how to do laser welding prong repairs on a ring.  Laser...
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Laser Welding Plique a Jour Owl Brooch

Laser Welding Plique a Jour Owl Brooch

Laser welders, it seems, have as many applications as there are imaginations and types of jewelry. This laser welding project...
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Pulse-Arc-Welder: Ring Prong Replacement

Pulse-Arc-Welder: Ring Prong Replacement

This 14-karat yellow gold, emerald and diamond ring has a broken prong requiring prong replacement. Steece Hermanson will replace the...
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Colored Gemstone Jewelry Design and Repair

An experienced bench jeweler will often be able to create almost any design that doesn't actually violate the laws of...
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Laser Welding Sizing a Two-Tone Band

Laser Welding Sizing a Two-Tone Band

Sometimes you get a job like this one. Your customer has a platinum and 18k yellow gold wedding band that...
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Jewelry Repairs with ABI Mini Pulse Arc III

Jewelry Repairs with ABI Mini Pulse Arc III

This article covers routine repair and assembly projects accomplished using Mini Pulse Arc III. Tack-, fusion- and pulse-arc equipment settings...
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Resizing Damaged Rings

Resizing Damaged Rings

This page provides some helpful tips when it comes to resizing damaged rings with stones. Read on for more. When...
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Sizing a Silver Ring using the PUK Welder

Sizing a Silver Ring using the PUK Welder

www.BenchJewelersNetwork.com How To Size a Silver Ring with the PUK Welder. For more videos, and articles on jewelry repair and...
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Laser Repair: Emerald and Diamond Bracelet

Laser Repair: Emerald and Diamond Bracelet

This article by Steve Satow describes the procedure for repairing an emerald and diamond bracelet using laser technology. Top view...
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Jewelry Welding – Prong Re-Tipping

Jewelry Welding – Prong Re-Tipping

Rio Grande carries the Orion Jewelry Welder - an affordable laser welding alternative for all jewelers. These welders provide three...
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Bench Mag Favorite Tips 2002

Bench Mag Favorite Tips 2002

This article page is from a section "Favorite Tips" from BENCH Magazine 2002 submitted by readers and BENCH Magazine Staff...
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Jewelry Welding – Ring Resizing

Jewelry Welding – Ring Resizing

Rio Grande carries the Orion Jewelry Welder - an affordable laser welding alternative for all jewelers. These welders provide three...
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Sizing a ring

Sizing a ring

Did you ever wonder what it takes to size a ring? Well, here is your answer. I take a ring...
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Moissanite Necklace Repair with Welding Technology

Moissanite Necklace Repair with Welding Technology

This necklace contains Charles ' Colvard created moissanite. It has been mistakenly pulled and a few links have broken. Repairing...
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Specialty Repairs – The Platinum Expert – Episode 4

Specialty Repairs – The Platinum Expert – Episode 4

The Platinum Expret - Part 4: This video is designed to bring you practical tips and information on platinum repairs...
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Jewelry Welding – Fix Porosity

Jewelry Welding – Fix Porosity

Rio Grande carries the Orion Jewelry Welder - an affordable laser welding alternative for all jewelers. These welders provide three...
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Filigree Remake

Filigree Remake

This article "Filigree Remake" provides step by step instructions on resizing a pre-existing ring mounting to make way for a...
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Cutting Down Repair Costs

Much of my business comes from re-cutting colored gems that have been chipped, scratched and broken (not always by the...
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Bench Mag Favorite Tips 2002 Part 4

Bench Mag Favorite Tips 2002 Part 4

This article page is from a section "Favorite Tips" from BENCH Magazine 2002 submitted by readers and BENCH Magazine Staff...
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Inlaid pendant with Black Onyx & MOP

Inlaid pendant with Black Onyx & MOP

Stylised Harpsichord keyboard Pendant is inlaid with black Onyx and Mother of Pearl keys
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Book Review – At the Bench

Book Review – At the Bench

This soft back book is a practical guide intended for practising goldsmiths and is developed from a number of articles...
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Working on the Chain Gang

Working on the Chain Gang

Chain repair is a set of fundamental skills and techniques every goldsmith needs to master, but the structure and design...
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Bench Mag Favorite Tips 2002 Part 2

Bench Mag Favorite Tips 2002 Part 2

This article page is from a section "Favorite Tips" from BENCH Magazine 2002 submitted by readers and BENCH Magazine Staff...
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Custom Garnet replacement

Custom Garnet replacement

A 25 carat Tanzanian Garnet is faceted to replace a broken stone
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Jewelry Welding – Custom Welding

Jewelry Welding – Custom Welding

Rio Grande carries the Orion Jewelry Welder - an affordable laser welding alternative for all jewelers. These welders provide three...
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Saving Money on Common Repairs

Every penny mattered-and that was in the 1980s when gold was $300 an ounce. These days, when $1,100 is the...
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#30 Keyless chuck

#30 Keyless chuck

How to open and close a #30 hand piece without using the chuck key.
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FRUITS

FRUITS

HOW TO MAKE A FRUITS SET
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Sizing Stone Set Rings

Sizing Stone Set Rings

Sizing silver rings with heat sensitive stones can be difficult. This video demonstrates a tip to make it easier. For...
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