Services at Tom Tivol Jewels

Tom offers his professional expertise for:

Resale Pre-Worn Jewelry

Lab Services

Jewelry Refining

Repairs

Appraisals

Speaking and Teaching

Jewelry Repair

Tom Tivol Jewels is a highly respected center for the repair and restoration of jewelry and timepieces, whether purchased from stores, on the Internet, at auction, from individuals or acquired through inheritance. Our jewelers excel in the simplest repairs to the most complex restoration work.

• We can repair all types of jewelry from antique and estate to modern styles — from costume jewelry to exceptional pieces with important gemstones.
• We can also repair all types of metals, including silver, all colors and karats of gold, the platinum family of metals, gold-filled and gold-plated pieces and costume jewelry.
• Most simple repairs require 1 to 4 days; complex repairs can take from 4 days to 2 weeks.
• In certain instances, repair costs may be provided by phone, although it’s important that we see the item before determining the exact repair cost. The total charge will always be written on your receipt.
• Each item is thoroughly examined while you observe, and we provide a detailed receipt with full descriptions of each item and any gemstones. Upon completion, Tom will personally review the repair with each client before delivery.

• We can restore estate and antique watches from the United States, Europe, and Russia, as well as modern watches from Switzerland, the United States, Japan, and China.
• The types of watches we service include wristwatches, pocket watches, ring watches, pendant watches, and these may be constructed with costume metals, gold-filled and gold-plated metals, silver, gold or platinum with quartz, automatic or manual wind mechanical movements.
• Although repair times may vary, simple battery replacements and water resistance and timing checks may be completed in as little as one business day. Many jewelers offer battery replacement while you wait. I do not. Why? The reason is that in order to replace a battery properly, I open the case, remove the current battery, test it, and then clean the wires that connect the battery to the movement, then install a new battery, close the case, then test the water resistance of the watch if appropriate, and then let the watch run for half to a full day, to make certain the battery and the watch are both working properly. While I respect the interest of the public having their watch batteries changed quickly, more is at stake with this simple repair that merely removing and snapping in a new battery. This is especially true of expensive branded Swiss wrist watches.
• Completion dates are always provided for each restoration.
• Estimated repair costs are provided during your initial appointment, and are always confirmed in writing on your receipt. When requested, watchmaker cost estimates are usually available within 2-3 business days, and no work will be done until we receive your permission to proceed. Payment is due upon delivery.

Tom Tivol Jewels repairs broken beaded necklaces and can re-string necklaces for routine maintenance. Repairs can include supplying missing beads, clasp repair, re-stringing to different lengths and/or re-positioning beads to create a new design.

• Re-stringing services for pearl bracelets and necklaces include a thorough cleaning of drill holes before the pearls are re-strung, usually with knots.
• Tom Tivol Jewels uses only high-grade heavy nylon string for this process.
• Often, pearl necklaces that have been worn for many years are “stretched,” leaving some visible spaces between beads. Before re-stringing, we estimate the shorter length of the necklace that will result once the repair is completed, and confirm with you your approval of the new length.
• Pearls are always counted, the length of the necklace is noted, and the cost is written on your receipt.
• Re-stringing of necklaces can generally be completed in about one week.

Clients frequently bring us chipped gemstones and occasionally jewelry that has been damaged in an accident. We are often requested to prepare a damage report for the client and or his insurance company, if a claim is to be made. The damage report includes the following:

• Origin and description of damage
• Cost to restore; or, if restoration is not possible, cost to replace the stone or item
• Quality of the gemstone before and after repair
• Carat weight and dimension of the gemstone before and after repair
• Value of the gemstone before and after repair
• Time to repair or replace gemstone, once permission is provided by the adjuster

Once we complete repair and or restoration, we provide an appraisal so the newly restored item may be re-insured on the client’s fine arts policy. Please visit our Appraisal section for more information about the various types of appraisals Tom Tivol offers.

The restyling process can proceed in several ways, including the presentation of finished jewelry as models, creation of original designs and/or the use of wax or silver to make models to try on.

Once we determine precisely how to create the new piece, we provide you with a written cost and due date. When completed, we present you with a professionally written insurance appraisal along with your new jewel.

• Gemstone identification and quality analysis
• Analysis of potential enhancements to diamonds, colored gemstones and pearls
• Identification of gemstone geographic origin
• Authentication of timepieces, including date of manufacture
• Damage reports for gemstones and jewelry to help clients resolve claims with their insurance adjustors
• Identification of hallmarks on silver place settings and serving pieces
• Identification of metals, including karat content of gold
• Estimates of carat weight of mounted gemstones
• Confirming accuracy of laboratory documents; adding important information not contained in those reports
• Plotting of flaws in diamonds and inclusions in colored gemstones

Jewelry Refining

Refining is one way to capture the dollar value of old jewelry. It should be considered only after the owner has determined there are no other options available to sell for more dollars. Most jewelry is made of precious metals and alloys. Alloys provide color and strength to jewelry. The refining process separates the precious metals from the alloys. Here are examples. 14k gold contain about 58.5% pure 24k gold and 41.5% alloy. The refining process separates the gold, determines its weight and then determines its value on a day to day basis. 18k gold contains 75% gold and 25% alloy. Sterling silver contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloy. An iridium-platinum wedding band contains about 90% pure platinum and 10% iridium alloy.

While most jewelry made around the world is stamped with a metal identification, it is impossible to know the accuracy of the stamping until the piece is refined. For most jewelry manufactured in the United States, the stamp is accurate. However, even in America, there are exceptions. These include counterfeit stamps as well as stamps that indicate a certain karat content, like 14k, but when refined, the amount of pure gold turns out to be 12 karat.

Tom Tivol has been refining jewelry for the public since the beginning of his practice. The most important feature of Tom’s refinery service is his transparency with his client. There is only one way to be 100% certain of the value of precious metals contained within jewelry, and that is to take the jewelry to a credible refinery and receive a written statement from the refinery as to its content and value. The refinery must comply with the strict rules and regulations promulgated under federal law.

After giving his clients a detailed receipt, Tom refines the jewelry within 24 hours. He then presents a copy of the refinery report to his client. The report lists the breakdown of precious metals obtained through the process, the refinery fee and finally what the refinery is paying for those metals. Tom then provides a check to his clients for the amount paid by the refinery less a small fee for his service. Unlike most jewelers and gold buying businesses, Tom’s fee is not based on a percentage of the refined value of his clients’ old jewelry. Instead, Tom charges a simple appraisal fee, regardless of the number of pieces and or their refined value.

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