Watch a video demonstration above to see how a thin shank is repaired. Continue reading below to learn more about the process!
After a wedding ring has been worn for many years, the metal will start to wear down. Once the ring becomes thin enough to the point where it might break, it’s time to do a repair called a shank.
A rink shank repair is done by cutting out the old thin section of the ring and replacing it with a new thicker piece of gold.
BEFORE
This bridal set had been worn for many years and the gold on the bottom of the ring (the shank) had worn very thin.
Step one: Cut out the thin portion of the ring.
Using a jewelers saw, cut out the thinnest section of the ring. In this particular case I am doing a “half shank” and will cut about half way down the sides…a bit lower than my pose here.
Thinnest section removed! This will be replaced by thicker 14kt gold stock. When ordering or rolling your gold stock, make sure it is the same width as the original shank, and at least 1.25mm thick.
Step Two: Measure the distance needed for the new piece of gold and then cut that new piece with the jewelers saw.
As you can see, the new piece that was cut is at least twice as thick as the original. There is a good chance the ring started out as this thickness, but due to gold being soft and worn over many years, the shank starts to thin out.
[Read more…] about Ring Restoration: How To Repair A Thin Shank