Vintage Jewelry Repair and Restoration Services

I am Professionally trained Jeweler and Designer. I studied Jewelry Manufacturing and Design at Pratt Institute in New York City and worked as a Manufacturing Jeweler on 47th Street in Manhattan. I have also have had my own Jewelry Stores, selling Fine Jewelry as well as my Vintage and Antique Jewelry Collection. I now sell at Antique Shows in the Northeast as well as Texas and Florida.

I specialize in working on the pieces that most jewelers will not do as they are more accustomed to working with Fine Gold and Silver Jewelry. Most are not familiar with the diverse materials used in Costume and early plastic jewelry.

I have my own repair shop and can also custom make fine jewelry as well as set diamonds. There is not much that I cannot do when it comes to fabrication of jewelry and repair.

My practice is restricted to the repair and restoration of the more spectacular pieces, and I do not take on many projects under one hundred dollars. I do not size rings, however I have extensive experience with soldering and can set diamonds of any size and I also retip diamonds.

Please refer to the photos above to see my latest project, a Bakelite Bead Necklace that was presented to me poorly wired together as a double strand that could not be worn due to the many disconnected wires that were holding the necklace together. The top photo shows what the piece looked like before I started.

The pendant was at one time a Belt Buckle and the beads were wired onto it, this is called a "married" piece as the parts are Vintage but the pieces were not original to each other.

My first thought was to make a longer necklace and a bracelet with the parts, however, the Client requested that I make earrings instead of a bracelet. I removed the two square beads as they did not relate to the rest of the necklace and made pierced earrings out of them.

The buckle was wired together so that it would not come apart while the necklace was being worn. A more expensive alternative would be to make a frame for the Bakelite and remove the old metal findings, however, I had a deadline since this necklace was to be presented as a gift at a party, so the buckle was wired together instead.

I mounted the earrings on a large pin-stem and added vintage gold earwires. The necklace is strung on heavy silk cord. It is now spectacular as it should be as these Bakelite beads are very rare, hard to find, and valuable.

Please contact me for your special jewelry projects. I am located in the New Milford area of Connecticut, just north of Danbury.

Diane

BFA Pratt Institute

M.S. Florida Atlantic University

PLEASE NOTE: This Necklace is NOT for sale. It is used to illustrate my services. Please do not try to buy it.

Item ID: RepairAndRestoration