Before the Bench: Documenting a Jewel for Repair
A disciplined intake record protects the object, the owner, and the craftsperson before any intervention begins.
Record the jewel from multiple angles with scale, weight, measurements, stone count, marks, and existing damage. Loose components and unstable settings deserve explicit notation.
Separate observation from recommendation. A worn claw, old solder, replaced clasp, and chipped stone may relate to different repair episodes and require different decisions.
The treatment plan should define scope, reversible steps where possible, replacement materials, finish, and the evidence that must remain visible after work.