I have clients come in sometimes with a bracelet they inherited or had gotten as a gift,   and unfortunantly was made for a smaller wrist.  The question of can it be made longer has several directions. The first is to buy or get another identical bracelet and remove the necessary length from it and make earring to match out of the remainder.  Option two if the bracelet has a hidden clasp, I can add a new box catch to the end of the bracelet and this extends it normally about 3/8" or so.  Option three is to cast and create individual links  that match,  this can be an expensive and time consuming option.  The last option is to hand make an extension bar  as wide and deep as the bracelet.  Depending on the bracelet this option can contain a large amount of gold.  Which ever option you choose though, it is possible to make your bracelet fit correctly so that you can enjoy your new treasure.

I had a customer bring in a gold rope chain,  that had broken on one end of the catch.  He wanted it soldered back together.  He had worn it through on one end,  and I pointed out that it was weak on the other end as well.  Customers do not always realize that the treasured piece of gold jewelry does wear.  Gold is a soft metal and therefore does not last as long on a joint or hinge as do stainless, platinum or other metals.  Platinum is a very soft, maluable metal,  but will not wear as fast as gold, due to it being much denser than gold.  I see alot of tennis bracelets and other link bracelets that break and customers are sad when I cannot guarantee a hinge repair on them.  But when I point out that if you have one break, then you will begin to have the rest of them break as well,  due to the other hinges weraing thin as well! They understand why.  It becomes expensive to replace all of the hinges at the same time.  I advise customers to keep and eye on the bracelet and fix them as they break,  until they no longer want to mess with it.  I have a couple of customers that own diamond tennis bracelets that love them,  and they fix them everytime they break.  I have replaced every hinge several times over in these bracelets.    So do not be afraid to wear them; but, know what will happen to this treasured bracelet.

President Bush signed an import ban on Burmese Rubies and Jadite from the country of Myanmar.  The Military rulers their are using the gemstones to finance their degredation of its people.  The ban does not pertain to stones that are already here, just those that are coming in from Myanmar or through other countries like Thailand.  This ban is going to make Rubies more rare and consequently raise thier prices.