Cindy wrote: “I have had to re-enamel my Hawaiian bracelet three times in two years with another company. Did they just do a poor job of enameling or is there something I can do that will make it stay longer?”

Hi Cindy,

There may be several reasons why the enamel did not stay in very long.

If your bracelet is very thin and flexes a lot then the enamel will not stay in it very long. There is not much you can do except be more conscious of not bending the bracelet.

If the bracelet is thick enough and does not bend readily then it may be the letters are not cut deep enough to hold the enamel very well. The letters should then be recut to solve the problem.

There are also two types of enamel that is in current use. One is epoxy resin which is easier to apply, is not as hard, does not adhere as well and will not last as long as glass enamel. Epoxy is used more commonly. Glass enamel is a more lengthy process of melting glass powder into the cut letters. It must be applied in layers before the whole letter is filled. It will last longer than the epoxy.

The length of time the enamel stays in a bracelet will vary depending on the activity of the wearer and the flexibility of the bracelet.

Epoxy enamel cost less to apply about and will cost about $2-$5 a letter depending on who does it. Glass enamel is a labor intensive method and will cost between $5 -$10 a letter.

I hope this helps to answer your question.

Russell Oshita, the diamonddude

The Diamond Specialists, Inc.

Diamonds Hawaii