PRACTICAL VIEW : Listen Up if You Need Earring Aid
A lost or damaged earring is not always a wastebasket case. Many companies and retailers will exchange defective earrings, make repairs and even replace a missing mate for half the price of a set.
A random sampling of major manufacturers and local retailers indicates there are ways to protect and salvage ear ornaments.
* Ciro and Kenneth Jay Lane: Will repair all jewelry purchased in their stores, often at no charge. Will replace lost mates and make style changes, such as converting posts to clips, or vice versa, and adding loops to base earrings so they can also be worn as drops.
* Monet: Provides customers with care information. Offers a hint: “Cleanse pieces individually with a mild liquid soap. Rinse in warm, running water. Dry with a soft, clean cloth.”
* Neiman Marcus: Fashion director Debra Gunn says: “Care for your costume jewelry and it should last a lifetime.” To prevent tarnished finishes, remove earrings before applying hair spray or perfume. To prevent chipped surfaces or lost stones, store each earring in a pouch or plastic bag or wrap in facial tissue; clip-ons, however, can be clipped together. The Beverly Hills store will do minor repairs for customers on the spot at no charge. Some major repairs also are free.
* Pepi, Beverly Hills: Will repair fine jewelry purchased there. Will duplicate a lost earring or turn a single into a new piece, such as a pendant or ring.
* XIV Karats Ltd., Beverly Hills: General repairs on costume and fine jewelry. Will duplicate earrings made of precious metals or recycle the loner into a new design.
* Designs by M, Brentwood: Fine jewelry repairs only. Back conversions run $65 for post-to-clip, $25 for clip-to-post.
* Regency Jewelry Co., Los Angeles: General repairs, including back conversions in gold-fill or sterling for $25 to $35 a pair. An ounce of prevention: Periodically check the prongs around stones and the loops that hold drops to ensure they are secure.
And a suggestion from our files: Clip off the tip of a pencil eraser to use as an emergency back for a pierced earring.
