Compiled by Shawna Kulpa and Tina Wojtkielo Snyder

Prongs get damaged or worn out regularly, providing a steady stream of setting repair work for most bench jewelers. Setting repair may entail retipping or repairing prongs, or replacing the entire stone setting. When possible, jewelers usually opt for retipping, as it doesn’t require hearing the entire piece, resulting in fewer potential problems. For example, you don’t have to worry about potentially disturbing solder joints from previous repairs, or doing harm to delicate stones that are easily damaged by the heat of the torch. Retipping is also ideal in situations where the setting was cast as part of the piece, as well as for assembled pieces where removing the setting would be difficult or impossible.