Our Services
At Juvelér Langaard, decades of experience and skilled craftsmanship are at the heart of the services we offer. We provide personal guidance on everything from care and repairs to bespoke jewellery, redesigning inherited pieces and jewellery with sentimental value, engraving, family crests and signet rings.
Every piece is considered individually, with respect for its history, materials and character. Together, we find the right solution, preserving what matters while adapting the piece to the person who wears it.
Care
Gold and platinum are relatively soft metals, so jewellery should be worn and handled with care. We recommend removing rings, bracelets and other jewellery before exercising, swimming, gardening or doing housework, particularly when there is a risk of knocks, scratches or excessive wear.
Minor scratches and marks can often be removed in our workshop, where surfaces can be refinished and polished to restore a smooth, even finish. Some signs of wear, however, are a natural part of a piece’s history. Over time, these develop into a patina that reflects how the jewellery has been worn and enjoyed.
White gold jewellery is often rhodium-plated to give it its bright white finish. With wear, this layer gradually becomes thinner, particularly on rings. The surface can then be refinished and polished before a new layer of rhodium is applied.
Diamond jewellery should be checked regularly to ensure that the stones remain secure. On pieces worn frequently, particularly engagement rings, the claws securing the stones may occasionally need to be reinforced.
Care and Repairs
Jewellery set with diamonds and other gemstones should be inspected regularly to ensure that the stones remain secure. We also check the settings, claws and metal for signs of wear, helping to identify anything that may need attention.
Pearl necklaces should ideally be restrung once a year, or more frequently if worn often. Regular restringing helps keep the silk thread and the knots between each pearl secure and in good condition.
Over time, jewellery will naturally show signs of wear. White gold in particular may occasionally need refinishing, polishing and rhodium plating to restore its original finish.
You are always welcome to bring your jewellery to our store for a complimentary cleaning and inspection. If any repairs are needed, we will provide a no-obligation quotation before any work begins.
Bespoke Jewellery
We create bespoke jewellery in our Oslo workshop, working closely with each client to bring their ideas to life. Some come to us with a clear vision, while others develop the design together with our designer, Melanie. Once the design has taken shape, we prepare a drawing and provide a no-obligation quotation before deciding on the next steps together.
We can also create variations of existing Langaard designs. An engagement ring, for example, can be made in yellow gold rather than white gold, or individual details can be adapted to create something more personal.
The jewellery at Langaard is either designed and made in our Oslo workshop or created by carefully selected international partners. Many pieces are one of a kind, including creations from our Exclusive Collection.
Redesigning Jewellery
Inherited jewellery and pieces with sentimental value often carry stories worth preserving, even when they are no longer worn.
We can adapt an existing piece or use its stones as the starting point for a new design. Older jewellery may have become thin or worn over time, while gemstones may be damaged, broken or missing. We consider each piece individually and work with you to find the right solution, whether that means carefully altering the original or creating something new around the stones.
Most of this work is carried out in our Oslo workshop. When specialist expertise is required, we may also work with one of our international partners.
Please note that we do not purchase gold or gemstones from private individuals. We also do not melt down old gold for use in new jewellery, as its composition and quality can vary. Instead, we work with refined gold and platinum, including precious metals recovered from old jewellery and production remnants, which are refined before being used again. We also use finished components from selected suppliers.
If you leave gold with us as part of a redesign, its value can be credited towards the cost of the new piece.
Engraving and Family Crests
In Norway, anyone can create a family crest, even if there is no existing tradition in the family. A family crest is designed according to established heraldic principles and can become a personal symbol passed down through generations.
Our heraldic specialist can help you design your first family crest or update an existing one. Family crests can be engraved on jewellery or used to seal documents, with each design reflecting the history and identity of the family.
A family crest can also make a meaningful gift to mark a confirmation, wedding or other important milestone. At Juvelér Langaard, we have extensive experience creating jewellery engraved with family crests, including signet rings and cufflinks.
Before meeting with us, it can be helpful to explore your family history across a few generations.
Signet Rings
The quality of the engraving is important to ensure that every detail of the family crest is clearly defined. This technique is known as deep engraving, where the design is engraved into metal or a suitable gemstone.
For a single-colour design, a single stone is used. To create a family crest in a contrasting colour, a layered stone consisting of two different layers is used. The design is engraved through the upper layer to reveal the colour of the stone beneath, allowing the family crest to stand out clearly.
Engraving a design into a gemstone is known as intaglio. When the design is carved in relief so that it rises from the surface of the stone, the technique is known as cameo.
A less costly alternative is surface engraving directly into metal. This method is also recognised within heraldic tradition and takes less time because the engraving is not as deep. Unlike deep engraving, however, it cannot be used for sealing.
Unless otherwise specified, a signet ring with a family crest is traditionally deep-engraved and in reverse, so that the crest appears the correct way around when impressed into a seal.
Traditionally, both women and men wear a signet ring on the little finger of the left hand, although today it is also common to wear one on other fingers.
You are always welcome to contact us for guidance on family crests and engraving.
