The little things ....

[Circe]

Adding milgrain ... or changing a clasp ... or getting a piece cleaned professionally - dude, sometimes the "little" things can be so incredibly satisfying!

Case in point (well, two of them) - I just swapped my sidestones and got a new, superlong chain. BEST MONEY I'VE SPENT THIS YEAR. Seriously, a small purchase that perfects a bigger one is a much better application of funds then just about anything else you can do with the money (I resisted the temptation to get another stacker, and am quite pleased with the decision). Now when I look at my anniversary ring, there's no niggle of dissatisfaction, no background buzz of concern about how I need to get it reset, pronto - just pure, gloat-y satisfaction. And my pendant? It's like falling in love all over again!

I like my chains long in general, and spent ... what, two and a half years? Three and a half? Wearing it on a 20" chain. That was juuuuuuuuuust long enough for me to see it if I looked down, but not quite long enough to fiddle with it. But, dudes! I am a fiddly, fiddly lady! Which is why I got another 36" of chain in the same gauge, with a jump ring at the 28" mark. So it's perfect to wear doubled with the clasp through the end-piece and the jump-ring to keep it steady falling at a length of 28" when I want to play with it, or tripled at a length of 17.5" on days when I want to show it off.

SO pleased here that it made me wonder - what are your little joy-creating jewelry fixes?

 

[ame]

A fresh polish! And obviously a "clean" louping. Also what's this about new sidestones....?

 

[Jennifer W]

I love how my rings look when they are just cleaned and polished. To the point where I got a bench polisher to have at home.

By the way, would it kill ya to put some photographs up? Really?

 

[zoebartlett]

So far, just getting my rings cleaned at the jeweler's makes me happy. I'd love to get new side stones someday, but I think that might lead to an upgrade overall. Hopefully.

 

[mrs jam]

Not necessarily a jewelry fix, but it does involve jewelry, so I guess it's relevant. I have a weird compulsion to jazz up the zipper pulls on my wallet and bags. I don't like charm bracelets, but I do like charms. Very contrary of me. I have a yellow gold Tiffany diamond heart tag charm that I have put on the zipper pull of my wallet, and it gives me a mental smile every time I pull out my wallet throughout the day. I also use an old charm bracelet as a strap extender on one of my wristlet clutches so that it will fit over my shoulder. My 4th grade nephew cracked me up while he was showing off his recently acquired vocabulary words to my DH. He said his aunt sure loves to "embellish" stuff. That's me. I am a stuff-embellisher!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Being patient and find almost exactly what I was looking for on pre-loved rather than paying double to have something custom made...in my case, a platinum DBY 18" necklace made by WF. I wanted one to use as a pendant chain and was very lucky to find it on pre-loved! I've found a couple of other bargains, too, and those items give me a lot of pleasure!

 

[Circe]

A fresh polish! And obviously a "clean" louping. Also what's this about new sidestones....?

Heheh - I posted pics in my original SMTB thread. But, yeah, I have to admit, I've been steam-cleaning with far greater frequency since ...

I love how my rings look when they are just cleaned and polished. To the point where I got a bench polisher to have at home.

By the way, would it kill ya to put some photographs up? Really?

I have been too scared to use mine on my "bought" pieces as opposed to my "made" pieces (not least of all because the closest I've come to working with platinum is ... nickel). But you intrigue me mightily ....

I did post pics of the sidestones, but if I post pics of the chain, given where it hangs, it really is going to be DF's long-cherished transition from Show Me the Bling to Show Me the Boobs. Nuh-uh!

So far, just getting my rings cleaned at the jeweler's makes me happy. I'd love to get new side stones someday, but I think that might lead to an upgrade overall. Hopefully.

I can see sidestones being a gateway drug. But your center is perfect! How could temptation strike?

Not necessarily a jewelry fix, but it does involve jewelry, so I guess it's relevant. I have a weird compulsion to jazz up the zipper pulls on my wallet and bags. I don't like charm bracelets, but I do like charms. Very contrary of me. I have a yellow gold Tiffany diamond heart tag charm that I have put on the zipper pull of my wallet, and it gives me a mental smile every time I pull out my wallet throughout the day. I also use an old charm bracelet as a strap extender on one of my wristlet clutches so that it will fit over my shoulder. My 4th grade nephew cracked me up while he was showing off his recently acquired vocabulary words to my DH. He said his aunt sure loves to "embellish" stuff. That's me. I am a stuff-embellisher!

Okay, this is GENIUS. I succumbed to those little bag charms from Juicy Couture when some of the zipper pulls on my older but still otherwise-in-good-shape bags gave up the ghost, but how much more would I love them with DIAMONDS?

Being patient and find almost exactly what I was looking for on pre-loved rather than paying double to have something custom made...in my case, a platinum DBY 18" necklace made by WF. I wanted one to use as a pendant chain and was very lucky to find it on pre-loved! I've found a couple of other bargains, too, and those items give me a lot of pleasure!

DS, yay for Pre-Loved!! SO many good finds there ....

 

[Jennifer W]

LOL! Ok, don't show me the boobs. Not that I don't think they'll be magnificent but well, yes. Let's focus on the bling here...

I have no qualms about polishing platinum now that I've had some instruction from my tutor, and since I don't have anything really delicate. My platinum rings are substantial, and don't have pave, so I'm happy enough to polish them carefully.

I have only worked on platinum once so far - last weekend, when DH handed me a twisted pile of platinum wire pieces, then identified it as the remains of his wedding band. Something about a roofing ladder and a drain rod, and I think some sort of power tool was mentioned.

I don't know whether he just has complete and breathtaking faith in me, or if there is just nothing I can do to impress this man. When I gave him back a nice, round, unbroken ring with a lovely polish on it (several hours later), he just said "oh, great. Thanks for that" and went about his day.