Prongs are the smallest part of a ring and the only thing standing between your diamond and a storm drain. They wear down slowly, invisibly, over years of ordinary contact — and then one day the stone is gone. Retipping rebuilds them before that happens.
What we do
- Prong retipping — rebuilding worn tips with new metal
- Full prong replacement where retipping isn't enough
- Head and setting replacement on badly worn mountings
- Re-tightening stones in loose settings
- Rebuilding bent, snagged, or broken prongs
- Basket and gallery repair beneath the stone
- Antique prong rebuilding on heirloom mountings
- Full inspection under magnification of every stone in the piece
How to tell yours need attention
Prongs that catch on fabric are the earliest warning — a snag means the tip has worn thin and developed an edge. Others: a stone that shifts or rattles when you tap the piece near your ear, prongs that look flattened rather than rounded, or visible gaps between prong and stone. If your ring is worn daily and has never been retipped in ten years, it almost certainly needs it.
The economics here are unusual. Retipping is one of the least expensive repairs we do. Replacing a lost center stone is one of the most expensive things a person can buy. The gap between those two numbers is why we recommend an inspection every six months.
Common questions
How often do prongs need retipping? For a daily-worn ring, roughly every five to seven years, though it depends heavily on your work and lifestyle.
Will you need to remove my stone? Usually not. Laser welding lets us build up prongs with the stone still set, which reduces both risk and cost.
Is retipping cheaper than a new head? Almost always, and it preserves the original mounting — which matters on antique and sentimental pieces.
How long does it take? Many retipping jobs are completed the same day.
More answers in our Jewelry Guide.
Schedule an Appointment
Bring your ring in for a free inspection under magnification. We'll show you exactly what your prongs look like up close and tell you honestly whether they need work now or can wait.
Jewelry Repair of Atlanta · 75 John Portman Blvd NW, Suite 8W356A, Atlanta, GA 30303 · (404) 566-7596 · Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM. Appointment required.