Take it off until it is fixed
This is the one piece of advice on this page that matters more than the rest. A stone on three prongs instead of four is not sitting safely. Put the ring somewhere safe and bring it in rather than wearing it while you get round to it.
What we do
The prong is rebuilt — new metal added, shaped, and laid back over the stone — or, if the head has generally had its day, the whole head is replaced. Which one depends on the state of the other prongs, and that is the thing we check first.
Why it broke
Usually wear. A prong thins over years until what is left snaps at a knock. Sometimes it is a single hard impact. Occasionally it is a previous repair that was soldered rather than properly rebuilt.
Whichever it was, the same forces have been acting on the prongs next to it, and we will tell you what we find.
Replacing the head
When several prongs are thin, rebuilding one at a time is a treadmill. A new head is a single job that leaves the stone properly held again, and on a ring you wear daily it is usually the better value even though it sounds like more.
Questions we get asked
Can I wear it until it is fixed?
We would not. A stone held by fewer prongs than it was designed for is a stone waiting to go. Put it somewhere safe and bring it in.
Can one prong be rebuilt on its own?
Often, yes, if the others are sound. We check them all before deciding, because rebuilding one thin prong among five is not a real fix.
How long does it take?
Most are same day. A new head may take longer and you will get a date on your ticket.
Will the repair be visible?
It should not be. The rebuilt prong is shaped and polished to match the others.
Not sure we can fix it?
Send a couple of details and we will call you back. Or just walk in — it is quicker, and we can actually look at the piece.
Drop it off, shop the mall, wear it tonight
We are inside Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. Walk in during mall hours, no appointment. Most repairs are finished the same day and a good number while you wait.
Where we are
Julio's Jewelry, 800 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462 — inside Orland Square Mall. Mon–Thu 10am–8pm · Fri–Sat 10am–9pm · Sun 11am–6pm. We are also at North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 W Cermak Rd, North Riverside, IL 60546.