How to Replace Practically Anything

Lost an earring? A Scrabble tile? Here’s how to replace it.

China, Crystal, and Silver

What to know: You can usually find the name or number of a china pattern on the back of a plate. Before you approach a manufacturer or a replacement service about matching a piece of cut or etched crystal, take a photo or wrap a sheet of lightweight paper around a glass and make a rubbing of the design with a soft pencil. For silver, take a photo or make a photocopy of both sides of a fork (the back may bear a trademark or other info). Your insurance company may also offer replacement services for these items.

Where to go: Replacements, Ltd. (replacements.com), which offers free searches, claims it has the world’s largest selection of dinnerware―10 million pieces, some more than 100 years old, in 200,000 patterns, all at market prices. If this service doesn’t have what you need, it will notify you if your missing piece is found.