What sterling actually is
925 sterling is silver with a little copper in it for strength. The copper is what tarnishes, which is why a silver chain goes dark and a fine silver wire does not. Tarnish comes off. It is a cleaning job, not a repair.
What comes in most
- Broken chains — silver links open more easily than gold, so they give at the weakest point.
- Rings sized up or down, including wide and textured bands.
- Bangles reshaped after being sat on or caught.
- Clasps replaced, in silver rather than a plated substitute.
- Earring posts and backs.
- Tarnish taken off properly, including in the places a cloth cannot reach.
Silver is softer, and that cuts both ways
It bends back rather than cracking, which makes a reshaped bangle a realistic job. It also means a thin silver chain that has stretched will keep stretching, and a heavier chain is sometimes the honest answer. We will tell you which yours is.
Cleaning it properly
A polishing cloth works on a flat surface and does nothing in a chain link or behind a stone. On a bench we can get the tarnish out of the places that actually make a piece look dull, and do it evenly instead of leaving bright patches.
Bring it in and we will look at it
Every piece is different and silver especially so. Put it on the counter, tell us what has happened, and we will tell you what we see and what we would do about it. You decide from there, before anything is agreed.
Questions we get asked
Can sterling silver be repaired?
Yes, all of it — chains, rings, bracelets, earrings. Bring it in.
My silver has gone black. Is it ruined?
No. That is tarnish and it cleans off. Bring it in and we will do it properly.
Can a silver ring be sized?
Yes, up or down, including wide and textured bands.
Can a bent silver bangle be straightened?
Usually, yes. Silver reshapes rather than cracking. Bring it in and we will look.
Will you tell me what you find before doing any work?
Always. We look at it with you at the counter, tell you what we see, and you decide.
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.