How to Repair a High-School Class Ring
A high-school ring typically has a stone and an engraved identifier, such as your school's name and year of graduation. A side panel can display a sports or academic club affiliation. Rings come in a number of different metals from gold to silver and gold or silver-plated metal alloy. After decades of wear and tear, or decades of neglect, even the most durable piece of jewelry can become dented, scratched and cracked. Fortunately, short of total destruction, most rings can be restored to their original condition.
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Instructions
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How to repair your high-school ring
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Check your warranty. Getting your ring repaired, resized or replacing a birthstone could be fully or partially covered under your warranty. Call the company you purchased your ring from to file your claim.
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Replace the stone. A cracked or missing stone can easily be replaced at your local jewelry store or a website that specializes in repairing high-school rings. Some online stores sell and repair high-school rings.
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Ask a jeweler to smooth out dents and scratches. A dremel can smooth out nicks and imperfections and improve the appearance of your ring. Anyone who makes jewelry will have this tool. Look online for a jewelry designer in your area. For a small fee she may make these repairs for you. If a local jewelry store does not have this tool on-site, they'll be able to send it out for repair.
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Go to your local jewelry store to have the ring reshaped. Rings can become misshapen after years of use or being poorly stored. Every jewelry shop has a ring mandrel. For a few dollars, you can have a perfectly fitting ring in just a few minutes.
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Clean your ring. Silver can tarnish and a gold ring can lose its glow. Buy silver or gold cleaner. For a longer-lasting result, have the ring professionally polished. An expert will buff the ring with a special tool that actually gently resurfaces the metal.
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Tips & Warnings
Having your ring professionally cleaned is better than doing it yourself. Polish only temporarily masks tarnish. An expert will remove debris that gets stuck in the ridges, bezel and grooves.
You shouldn't polish imitation gold or silver. You can strip the plating and reveal the color beneath the surface.
