Re-tipping is a jewelry repair technique where a jeweler adds a small amount of metal to the worn or broken tip of a prong. Prong tips are the thin points of metal that fold over a gemstone to hold it in place. Over time, daily wear, cleaning, and contact with surfaces gradually erodes these tips until the stone becomes loose or at risk of falling out.
The process involves using a laser welder or traditional torch to deposit fresh metal onto the damaged tip, then reshaping it to cup the stone correctly. Re-tipping is one of the most common preventive maintenance services in jewelry repair – catching worn prongs early is far less costly than replacing a lost stone.
Not every worn prong can be re-tipped. If the prong is cracked at the base, bent repeatedly, or worn down past the point of structural integrity, a full prong rebuild is the correct repair. A jeweler will inspect each prong individually to determine which approach is appropriate.