What to Do When a Diamond Falls Out of Its Setting

It happens more often than you'd think — you look down and your diamond is gone.

Before you panic, here's what to do.

First, stop wearing the piece immediately. A loose or empty setting can scratch or damage surrounding stones, and the prongs that held your diamond may be sharp enough to snag fabric or skin.

Second, check where you were. Diamonds are surprisingly easy to find because they reflect light. Look on floors, in carpet, in sink drains, and in the folds of clothing you were wearing. A flashlight helps.

Third, bring the piece — and the stone if you found it — to a jeweler as soon as possible. Do not attempt to push the stone back in yourself. The prongs need to be properly retipped or rebuilt before the stone is reset, otherwise it will fall out again.

At Facets Fine Jewelry in Park Slope, Brooklyn, we reset loose and fallen stones every day. We examine the setting under magnification, rebuild any worn prongs, and reset the stone securely. Every repair comes with a one-year warranty.