For Your Ears Only
Alterations
Although I am reluctant to modify the original design of collectible costume jewelry, it was made and designed to be worn! The experience of designing and fabricating jewelry creations enables me to make adjustments/convert pieces to a more wearable piece of jewelry. Unfortunately, because of time constraints, I can only offer alterations on items purchased from my web site.
Read this before deciding: When making the decision to convert you must realize the alteration may decrease the collectible value of your piece. Many times pieces are marked with the designer's name on the back of the earring clip, or on another finding involved in altering the piece. This may be the only place the mark exists. Removing this piece, or altering it may make it difficult to prove your piece of jewelry was made by a certain company. This may decrease the collectibility of your piece, and decrease it's value. Custom alterations may limit the number of people you can resell your piece to. For instance, the vast majority of people's bracelet size is 7 inches. Should you lengthen your bracelet to 8 inches, there will be less people who want to buy that bracelet. The decision to convert or alter a piece must be your decision. Once you have decided to do this, the item is not returnable!
Should you decide to have a piece altered, I will send you all the original parts removed from your jewelry piece and a jpeg showing the original piece prior to alterations. You may want to print this out and save for future reference or resale.
General earring alterations. As pieces differ in design and construction, there are often options available to converting. There are some earrings that just cannot be converted to pierced product without destroying the design of the original piece.
Clips to post - Most clips can be easily converted to pierced without altering the look of the original design. The new ear post will be glued or soft soldered onto the back of the earring.
Screw back- This conversion can be a bit more complicated. The screw piece must be removed. Some pieces can be made into dangles, by soldering a jump wire to the top piece. If the jewelry piece contains many stones, the heat caused to the metal during soldering may damage the stones piece. If their is a chance of this happening, I have to use glue on an earpost and remove the old screw clip completely. The quality of today's glue products make gluing almost as strong as soft soldering. There are several options, depending on the construction of the earring. We will carefully discuss them and you will choose how the conversion is done. In some instances, when it may be difficult to understand what the alteration may look like, I can scan and send a jpeg to you to help you decide.
Necklaces/Chokers - Many 40's through 60's necklaces were made in a short choker style. They range in size between 14 and 16 inches. If they are made using links with extending chain attached to the clasp, the chain can be often be replaced or added to, using similar chain from pieces I have on their way to jewelry heaven. Or, I may be able to add a compatible extension to the necklace. Whenever possible, I will retain the original findings and as much of the original piece as possible in the alteration.
Extensions - Another alternative to lengthening necklaces is buying a custom made extension. I can make them using used chain in gold, silver and rhinestone. The extenders available in jewelry shops today are normally made of much thinner chain than older pieces and do not match or blend with older pieces. If you buy an extension, you have the flexibility to use it on other necklaces that may be too short.
Remember that in altering jewelry, you decrease it's collectible value. If you decide to have a piece altered, the item is non refundable. Only you can decide if the piece is more valuable to you if it's wearable, or as an investment. The decision is yours, and I am not responsible for loss of value. There is always a risk that during the alteration process your jewelry may be damaged. Working with older jewelry is very unpredictable, and some times, even with the greatest of care and skill, pieces are damaged. If this happens, you will be given a full refund.
Prices Price for alterations are dependent on the difficulty of the task, the extent of the alterations, and the cost of replacement findings. If you are considering alterations, the following base prices are outlined to give you an idea of cost. The cost of altering your piece may be more. You will be given an exact price prior to the work being done.
Clip to post, glued - $5.00, soft solder $7.00 and up
Screw back conversion to pierced - $7.00 and up
Necklace lengthening - dependent on length - $7.00
Bracelet lengthening - $5.00
Extensions - $5.00 and up
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Modified 9/8/97, G. W. Foggin