Why it always wears at the bottom
That part sits against your palm and takes every steering wheel, every shopping bag, every counter you lean on. The top is protected by the setting; the bottom is not. Twenty or thirty years of that and the band goes from round to flat to thin.
Catch it before it cracks
A thin shank does not usually snap dramatically. It bends out of round, then cracks, then opens. If you catch it at thin, it is a planned repair. If you catch it at open, it is often a bent ring with loosened stones as well.
Re-shanking
The worn section is cut away and a new piece of matching metal is fitted, soldered, shaped and polished. Same karat, same colour, same profile. Done properly it is invisible and the ring is genuinely as strong as it was when it was made.
A half shank replaces the bottom section. A full shank replaces the whole band up to the setting. Which one yours needs depends on how far the wear has travelled.
Worth doing at the same time
- Prongs, which will have worn on a similar timescale.
- Sizing, if the ring has not fitted properly for a while. Doing both at once saves a second job.
- Rhodium, if it is white gold and the colour has gone warm.
Questions we get asked
How do I know if my ring needs re-shanking?
Feel the inside. If the bottom is noticeably thinner than the top, or the ring has gone oval rather than round, it is time.
Is re-shanking better than just soldering the crack?
Yes. Soldering a crack in thin metal puts a joint into a band that is already failing. Re-shanking replaces the worn metal.
Will it match the rest of the ring?
It should. Same karat, same colour, shaped and polished to the original profile.
How long does it take?
Longer than a resize. You will get a collection date on your ticket when you drop it off.
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.