Submitted by L. Jeanette Strole Parks for Kluh Jewelers
Last summer, Thurston Talk featured a story on Kluh Jeweler’s in-house goldsmith, Steve Hawkins, and the outstanding work he does right there within their four walls. His services include creating custom pieces, as well as repairing old heirlooms. Taking your jewelry to Kluh’s not only keeps your jewelry in a local facility (safeguarding that your family heirlooms are not being sent off to some other shop via mail) but it also means a quicker turn-around time, and the high quality of work you have come to expect from this third generation Olympia jeweler.
Hopefully reading this article will serve as a reminder to sift through some of the pieces in your own collection that you have forgotten to take care of, and locate those items that could use some TLC.
A critical first thing to look for is any jewelry with gems that are set into prongs. Those prongs wear down over time, and if you have ever discovered, to your horror, that you have lost a diamond or ruby when you were out and about, you’ll know how important those prongs are for keeping your gems safely anchored. A good way to check is to run your fingertip over the surface of your stones, and if you notice that the prongs do not feel raised (like Braille writing on a paper) then it is a critical opportunity to have your prongs re-tipped before you lose a precious gem.
Maybe you have that one bracelet in your jewelry box that has a broken clasp, or a necklace that has some mangled links in the chain. If you simply never remember to take them in for repairs, well, here is your gentle nudge.
Another service that can make your jewelry items look brand new is getting them buffed, or re-plated. White gold has a thin coating of rhodium metal that is electroplated on top of the white gold underneath. This gives 
it a bright white finish. However, because it’s just a thin reflective coating, it tends to wear off over time leaving your white gold ring, dull with a slight tint of yellow. Having new rhodium plating applied to your jewelry is quite affordable and worth doing periodically. The friendly staff at Kluh’s would be happy to take a look at your pieces, and recommend updates and upgrades.
Sometimes you also just have jewelry that looks a little sad – maybe that setting you picked out for your diamond jewelry in 1982 now looks a little outdated. The helpful folks at Kluh’s can show you new settings or suggest ways to spruce up what you already have, perhaps by melting down the metal and making a whole new setting or just tweaking it a little bit.
Lest we forget, while you’re sorting through your jewelry box, you should also grab some of those wrist watches that need new batteries. Wouldn’t it be nice to finally get some use out of your watches again if they have just been cluttering up a drawer in your dresser for the last few years.
Right now is as good a time as any to go through your jewelry box, gather the things that you think might need some attention, and bring them all into Kluh’s. Even if you just think some of the items are questionable, they can look at them and give you an honest answer about which ones need repairs or new tips, and which ones are fine.
Last but not least, you can also have your jewelry cleaned for free, and that alone is worth the trip. Nothing is as satisfying as putting on your jewelry with a bright, gleaming sparkle, after grime, dust and lint has been washed off.
Steve Hawkins and the rest of the staff are eager to help add life and durability to your jewelry. Stop in today and make it part of your “Spring Cleaning” chore list.
