Enamelled Jewelry Repair: Restoring Your Cherished Pieces

Question
My mother has a pair of square renoir-matisse earrings.  One is in perfect condition and the other has a chunk of enamelling missing.  Can this be repaired?  If so how and where??  I'm not interested in trying to sell them in the future, I'd just like to wear them.

Thanks

Answer
Dear Maryellen,

I do not do enamel work, at least not enough to consider myself a qualified enamel worker..  However, depending somewhat on the actual portion of the earring enamel which is missing, I have two suggestions for repair of your Renoir Matisse earrings.

First, I would look for a local person who does good enamel work.  You are more apt to find a hobbyist doing fine artistic enamel work than a professional resource for repair.  Much of the so-called enamel in jewelry today is actually a form of epoxy or plastic resin compound and not genuine glass enamel. Sure, higher quality items should have fired glass enamel but some do and some do not.

Where to find such a hobbyist?  Craft shows are excellent if for no reason other than you can see the sort of work done and speak with the craftsperson.    Are there local art guilds or schools of arts and crafts? Check there.  We have an art center in the small city in which I work and I could fine someone who does good enamel work through the center.  If not there, I would try the local and community colleges, making inquiry to the arts departments.   You might also try a local rock and gem club since people who are in the clubs always include a few jewelry makers and perhaps, perhaps an enamel worker who does work fine enough to repair the broken earring.

The second choice is to take the earring to a better jewelry store, one which would likely cater to more exclusive tastes as well as other items.  That store may have the contacts with manufacturers who will repair enameled items.  The process is generally to send the item for a quote, with you paying shipping.

Please keep in mind, matching color may not be an exact process and to reproduce a design segment may have to be passed for a section which will fill in and not be noticed.

Maryellen, I surely hope these suggestions will help you.  Except for a very few manufacturers, enameling has become to large extent the field of non-professionals, many of whom are the best at artistic work.

God Bless and Peace.  Thomas.