QuestionQUESTION: In December last year I had a 9 carat, 3 colour gold bracelet repaired locally. The catch was broken. It was returned intact, but recently, when I retrieved the bracelet from my jewellery roll when on holiday, the repaired clasp and body of the clasp mechanism had completely shattered, leaving miniscule specks of gold and larger pieces with jagged edges. I haver never seen anything like it. I took it back to the jewellers today and they agreed they'd never come across such a bizarre thing. They asked if I'd broken a thermometer and possibly got mercury on it, but of course I haven't. They are trying to find out what may be the cause and are looking for replacement clasps, which is likely to be difficult as the bracelet was bought in the UK., but deny any responsibility for the damage. Is it possible they may have got mercury on the bracelet in the workshop or some other corrosive material? They pointed out that the last gold link next to where the shattering happened is a dull colour, a bit like a bloom, different to the rest. I would really like to know if you have any ideas about the cause of this damage in the hope it might be of help with my negotiations with the jewellery repairers.
Many thanks
Sue de Wreede (France)
ANSWER: Dear Sue,
Some key facts and questions.
1- Your bracelet was returned "intact". Whatever occurred was post-repair.
2- Damage seems to only have been to the clasp, not the rest of the bracelet.
3- Other than mercury, was the bracelet exposed to other chemicals - possibly chlorine from a pool or spa?
4- You have not indicated what the clasp was made of. Was it supposed to be gold as well?
It seems unlikely that your clasp clasp was a chemical time-bomb which went off in your jewelry roll. It is more likely that your bracelet was exposed to some outside agent. The answer to the mystery likely lies within your memory.
Best of luck,
Rich
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks Rich for your comments.
The clasp was also made of gold, yellow gold. The bracelet has never been exposed to any chemicals, especially chlorine. I don't have a pool/spa, rarely swim in one and have never worn the bracelet whilst swimming. I have only ever worn it on special occasions, usually for an evening out etc., after which it has always been replaced in my jewellery box. All I know is that there was nothing wrong with the bracelet when I packed to go on holiday, but on tipping my jewellery out, the entire clasp was shattered.
Thanks Sue
AnswerDear Sue,
Your situation is quite a mystery. If your description of the situation is accurate the only thing I can think of is that when the new clasp was installed some sort of corrosive agent such as mercury was present - perhaps out of view on the inside of the clasp.
Rich
