I am so frustrated with the lack of jewelers

[RRfromR]

In my town who want to touch antiques. I understand it's a liability issue but they won't do even basic things and they are pushing for "custom" rings using stuller, which is not my style, and super expensive too. I'm willing to send them out. Do you have any trusted recommendations?
I want to put a bale on this brooch to wear it as a pendant too. What are those things in the back? TIA!

 

[newtojewels]

Stunning brooch!

It looks very similar to this one at JbG that can be converted into a hair pin: https://jewelsbygrace.com/products/3-31ctw-victorian-convertible-hair-pin-brooch maybe those little loops are for some kind of conversion? I feel like you could attach a chain to both loops to use it as a clasp. Or does the piece unscrew like in the JbG one?

 

[Bron357]

Stunning brooch.
Most jewellers are just a shop and don’t have “a bench” themselves ie they don’t do the work themselves.
Do you have any stores nearby that sell antique jewellery? Those types of places are more likely to have a contact / bench who does repairs / work for them.

 

[Lookinagain]

Victorian Diamond Star Pendant/brooch, From About 1900 - Etsy

This Pendant Necklaces item by KarenDeakinAntiques has 139 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Australia. Listed on Jul 14, 2024

www.etsy.com

This seems to look similar so yours may already a pendant. I wonder if yours unscrews too?

 

[Slickk]

If you’re in the US (maybe Canada), send it to David Klass. Ask him for a label for shipping if you’re hesitant.
Lovely piece and I think adding a bale to be able to wear as a pendant would be amazing.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

If you are in the US David Klass has done excellent repairs on my vintage and antique jewelry. I sure others will chime in.

 

[MiniMinerva]

I wanted to commiserate about this same experience with jewelers not wanting to take on the liability for even basic work on antiques!! I had a similar experience if you saw my recent thread. I got the impression that some here were skeptical, so I just wanted to validate your experience because what you described was the same vibe I got from multiple jewelers. It’s not just you!

For what it’s worth, some suggestions made to me in that thread were Sako, DK as already mentioned above, Singlestone, Gary Roe. Lang was also suggested but they will only work on their own pieces.