Take 2 quick photos with your phone and get a prong-by-prong report in about 30 seconds.

Check Your Ring's Prongs Now (Free · Beta)

Prong Health Check — Nashville Prong Repair & Laser Prong Reshape

Your diamond is only as secure as the small metal prongs holding it. At Belle Meade Jewelry & Repair on Harding Pike, we check, rebuild, and reshape prongs in-house with a laser welder, so small problems get fixed long before they turn into a lost stone.

Why Prongs Wear

Prongs are thin tips of gold or platinum doing a big job. Every day they brush against desks, steering wheels, car doors, pockets, and purses. Over months and years, that contact slowly wears the tips down, flattens them, or nudges them away from the stone. It happens to careful wearers too, and rings worn daily, like engagement rings and wedding sets, tend to show it first.

Warning Signs Your Prongs Need Attention

The #1 sign: your ring catches on clothing. If your ring snags on sweaters, catches in your hair, or pulls threads, you almost always have a sharp or lifted prong. A sharp prong can scratch your skin (honestly, it can be like a little weapon on your finger) and it will keep snagging fabric. A lifted prong is also loosening its grip on your stone. This is worth having us look at in person.

Quick prong checklist:

  • Your ring catches on clothes, sweaters, hair, or bedding

  • Your ring scratches your skin

  • Prong tips look flat, thin, or worn down

  • The stone moves, spins, or rattles when gently tapped

  • You can see a gap between a prong and the stone

  • A prong looks bent or sits higher than the others

If any of these sound familiar, this is the perfect time to book a prong check.

Book an Appointment

What Happens If Prong Problems Are Ignored

Prong problems don't fix themselves. Each snag pulls a lifted prong a little farther from the stone, and worn tips keep getting thinner until they can no longer hold. Eventually the stone loosens and can fall out, often without anyone noticing until the setting is empty. The good news is that when prong wear is caught early, it's usually a straightforward repair.

On-Site Jeweler — See Your Ring the Way We Do

Belle Meade Jewelry & Repair is an on-site jeweler. Your ring is repaired right here in our shop, in-house, and never sent out.

At your drop-off appointment, we inspect your ring together. We put it under magnification and show it on our 85-inch monitor, so you can see the condition of every prong for yourself: which tips are worn, which have lifted, and which are still doing their job. You'll know exactly what we see and what we recommend before any work begins.

Laser welding station at Belle Meade Jewelry with the large viewing monitor

Our in-house laser station — we show your ring magnified on the big screen during your appointment.

Laser Prong Reshape: Why the Laser Is Better Near Stones

Our Laser Prong Reshape service rebuilds worn prongs by adding new metal exactly where it's needed, then shaping each prong so it holds the stone securely and feels smooth to the touch, with no more snagging.

We do this work in-house with a laser welder. A laser delivers precise, pinpoint heat to a tiny spot, so we can rebuild a prong while keeping heat away from the stone and the rest of the setting. That control is what makes the laser the better tool for working right next to a stone.

Estate and Antique Ring Restoration

Fine, estate, and antique jewelry deserves extra care. Older pieces often have delicate settings, thin prongs worn by decades of wear, and earlier repairs that need to be respected. The laser lets us rebuild and restore prongs carefully while preserving the original character of the piece, whether it's a family heirloom or a vintage find.

The Experience Behind Our Bench

Owner Scott Isaacs grew up in the jewelry trade at Berry's Jewelry & Loan, founded by his grandfather, Sol Berry, in 1941.

Scott is the founder of the Bench Jewelers Laser and Technology Conference, and he regularly presents seminars on getting the most out of the laser welder in the jewelry shop, and on prong rebuilding and the restoration of fine, estate, and antique jewelry. When you bring your ring to Belle Meade Jewelry & Repair, it's handled with the same techniques Scott teaches to fellow jewelers.

How Often Should You Check Your Prongs?

We recommend a prong check once a year for any ring with a set stone. For rings you wear every day, check more often; every six months is a good habit. And don't wait for your next check if you notice a warning sign. A ring that catches on clothing should be seen right away.

Try Our Virtual Prong Health Check (Beta)

Want a quick first look from home? Our new Virtual Prong Health Check walks you through two photos of your ring (plus an optional third), asks whether it catches on clothing or has a loose stone, and gives you a prong-by-prong report. It's in beta, and the final assessment is always done in person at our bench.

Start Your Virtual Prong Health Check (Beta)

Prong Repair FAQ

Why does my ring keep catching on my clothes?

A ring that catches on clothing, hair, or sweaters usually has a sharp or lifted prong. Besides snagging fabric and scratching skin, a lifted prong is a sign it's loosening its hold on the stone. Bring it in so we can see it in person.

My diamond feels loose. What should I do?

Stop wearing the ring, keep it somewhere safe, and bring it in as soon as you can. A loose diamond means the prongs aren't holding the stone securely, and the next bump could be the one that knocks it out.

What is Laser Prong Reshape?

It's our name for rebuilding worn prongs with a laser welder. We add new metal to the worn or flattened tips and reshape each prong so it holds the stone securely and feels smooth.

Can you repair prongs on antique or estate rings?

Yes. Prong rebuilding and restoration of fine, estate, and antique jewelry is a specialty. Scott presents seminars on exactly this to other jewelers.

Will I get to see what's wrong with my prongs?

Yes. We're an on-site jeweler, so your repair is done in-house. At drop-off we inspect your ring with you and show it magnified on our 85-inch monitor, so you can see each prong's condition before any work begins.

Can the Virtual Prong Health Check replace an in-person visit?

No. The virtual check is a helpful first look, but the final assessment is always made in person at our bench.

Schedule Your Prong Check

Don't wait for a snag to become a lost stone. Bring your ring to Belle Meade Jewelry & Repair for an in-person prong check. We'll look at it together, magnified on our 85-inch monitor, and every repair is done right here in our shop.

Call or Text 615-269-3288 | Book an Appointment | Virtual Prong Health Check (Beta)