An emotional moment unfolded on The Repair Shop: Beyond the Barn when goldsmith Richard Talman took on a fragile signet ring, prompting Dominic Chinea to issue an apology to the grieving owner.
During Wednesday's episode of the BBC programme, Mark Stuckey restored a family's portable record player, radio and tape deck purchased in Uganda in 1972, while camera expert Pierro Pozella investigated a 1950s Rolleiflex camera once owned by royal photographer Jack Barker.
A ring with limitless sentimental value
Richard Talman met with Joe Riley from Kent, who brought a piece of jewellery of great sentimental value. Joe explained the importance of his grandad's signet ring.
"So, it was originally his dad's ring. My great-grandmother had it made for him on their wedding day in 1932. It's got her initials, Mary Cummings, MC," Joe said.
Joe's grandad, Tom, played an important role in his life growing up. The guest shared: "My parents divorced when I was 11 or 12. My grandad, unknowing to me, kind of took that responsibility of, like, a father figure role.
"I'd go and see him every Saturday morning without fail. We'd go and play snooker at his working men's club. He'd come and pick me up from my house. As he got older, he gave the car to me and I'd pick him up."
"He was incredibly funny, mischievous, wicked sense of humour. It was just like two mates going down to the pub. And I learnt things from him that I didn't realise I was learning - most prominently was how to love your family."
Joe then shared sad news: "My grandad sadly passed away in March, and now I obviously have the ring." Dominic Chinea was quick to apologise, saying: "I'm sorry."
Risky restoration challenges
Joe explained that he wanted to wear the ring like his grandfather did, so it could last a lifetime. He had tried to get it restored before, but "people won't touch it" due to how fragile it was.
Dom shared his concerns with Richard: "It always makes me a bit nervous when people have tried to get things fixed and everyone has said no. I'm scared! Are you not?" Richard admitted: "A little bit, but I'm not letting on."
After a closer look, Richard spotted a "concerning" detail. He said: "That is the presence of dents all on the underside on the inside of the ring. That causes me to believe only one thing, that what we've got is a hollow head of that ring."
"When it comes to working on any piece of jewellery, though, that is hollow, it is a goldsmith's worst nightmare, because they don't take too kindly to heat. And I'm going to need to put heat on it."
Richard noticed parts of the ring had different thicknesses. "It's quite concerning and it's going to pose some further risks," he admitted.
Emotional outcome for Joe
Despite the challenges, Richard managed to restore the ring to Joe's size, while engraver Sam Marsden restored great-grandmother Mary's delicate initials. Richard later visited Joe in Ashford, Kent, to inspect his work.
Joe revealed he had been wearing the ring every day to honour his grandad. "Being able to wear it every day, I mean, is quite emotional. You know, I look at it and I think of him, and I have him with me now," he told Richard.
"I wish I could show him. It's something that I'll now be able to pass down to my children, and that means a lot, you know. An awful lot."
The Repair Shop: Beyond the Barn is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
