Common Queries
You Asked, We Answered
Do you send your repairs out?
All jewelry repairs are done in-house. Our team has over 50 years of experience to serve you. Most quartz watch repairs are done in our shop as well. We do contract with an offsite casting company to make exact replicas of your jewelry if needed.
Can you melt my old jewelry to make something new?
Unfortunately, old gold can't be melted down and cast in to a new piece because the melting process causes the gold alloys to separate. This causes the casted piece to have porosity, creating a pitted, grainy finish and brittle structure. If there is a specific attribute from a piece you own, we can incorporate that in to a new finished product.
How long will my repair take?
Most jewelry repairs are scheduled for a week. At times, extra materials must be ordered which can affect the turn-around time. Watch repairs take 1-2 weeks if no special parts need to be ordered.Express service is available for an additional charge. We give a courtesy call to all customers when their repairs are completed.
What is the difference between synthetic and lab created gemstones?
Synthetic stones are look-alike stones that are not chemically identical to the genuine stones they imitate. Lab created stones are man-made stones that consist of the same checmical structure as natural earth-mined stones.
How long does custom work take to complete?
Custom work can take anywhere from 10 days to 6 weeks or more to complete. This timeframe is dependent on the amount of work that must be done and the materials needed to complete each project. Contact us and speak with a designer to determine possibilities for your custom piece today!
Do you do appraisals?
Yes, we do insurance appraisals. They are itemized and list the retail replacement cost for materials and labor according to current market values, but this does not give you a fair market value if you would like to sell an item that you have. Our appraisals are to give your insurance company an idea of what it would cost to replace what you have with a brand new item of the same quality, were you to experience a loss.
Can you help me sell my jewelry?
We recommend having your jewelry cleaned and checked every 6 months. Typical life of standard size prongs is 7-10 years, depending on how the jewelry is worn and the abuse it takes. Halo rings should be checked every 3-4 months, as they have smaller prongs that wear down faster.
Inspiredesign Jewelry is strictly a jewelry design, retail, and repair shop. We do not specialize in consignment or reselling any jewelry for customers. We would recommend finding a jewelry appraiser that can give you a fair market value appraisal. Inspiredesign Jewelry only offers insurance appraisals.
Do you buy jewelry or loose stones?
We do not buy jewelry to resell, but we do buy scrap gold to send to the refiner. If you have gold jewelry that you no longer want, we will weigh it and write you a check for the amount the refiner will reimburse us for. Alternatively, we can apply that amount towards the cost of your bill. We do not purchase loose gemstones.
How often should I have my prongs checked?
We recommend having your jewelry cleaned and checked every 6 months. Typical life of standard size prongs is 7-10 years, depending on how the jewelry is worn and the abuse it takes. Halo rings should be checked every 3-4 months, as they have smaller prongs that wear down faster.
Is it OK to never take my jewelry off?
You can wear your jewelry however you like, but we advise taking it off before sleeping, getting in to a pool/hot tub, and when working with chemicals (even household cleaners). Chains get tangled and break while sleeping and the chemicals in pools/hot tubs and household cleaners break down the alloys in your jewelry.
Do you cut stones?
We recommend having your jewelry cleaned and checked every 6 months. Typical life of standard size prongs is 7-10 years, depending on how the jewelry is worn and the abuse it takes. Halo rings should be checked every 3-4 months, as they have smaller prongs that wear down faster.
Cutting and faceting gemstones requires a completely different type of expertise and equipment than the work we do at Inspiredesign Jewelry.
What is the difference between the karats of gold?
Pure gold is 24k, which is too soft to wear as jewelry. To make gold suitable for wearing, other metals are alloyed with pure gold to make it stronger. The amount of other metals added is what determines the karat of gold. For example, 14k gold is 14 parts pure gold and 10 parts other metals.