QuestionHi
My wife has several pieces that were broken while moving. Can they be repaired? If so where would I take them and how mich would it cost?
Answer Hello Bud,
Provided they are jewelry and are broken , yes; Repairing them and replacing stones is easy and straight forward. If they are vessels, ornaments, or other objects d'art then the best anyone can do to repair them.
If not crushed ( that is just a piece broken off or a chip sustained) the best one can do to repair is to glue it with a cement intended for the jewelry and watchmaking trades ( GS brand cements are the most commonly used and available). Some brands of cyanoacrylate gels ( superglue type products) will fill in any gaps and become crystal clear upon thorough curing, but upon turning the piece diferent ways optically one can see the repairs- though not generally if viewed straight on.
The chips or nicks can be polished out with cerium oxide and/or different lapidary rouges and compounds ( Ebersoles on the www sells a number of these compounds at a very reasonable price) . A Dremel tool and an assortment of mounted shaped felt or leather bobs ( 3/32" will fit most Dremel type tools) are all that is needed and to remember that it is the rotation of rotary tools that accomplishes the task, not pressure!.
Unfortunately if badly damaged, they can't be repaired without spending near the cost of the object's replacement. Many times Swarovski items are limited and a replacement will not be easy to find.Though not comforting information- I hope that your wife's prized pieces are jewelry items and can be repaired easily and swiftly- mother's day is coming up..perhaps you can surprise her with restored items!
Best regards,Ari
