Jewelry is a very personal and sentimental possession for many people, and it’s something that you’ve probably spent a lot of money on.
So, when it becomes damaged, you want to do everything you can to repair it. But how much does jewelry repair cost?
And what is the process like?
Most jewelry repairs cost between $50 and $200, depending on the type of repair. The most common type of jewelry repair is ring sizing. This involves adding or removing metal from the band to make it smaller or larger.
However, there are a lot of important factors that affect the price of jewelry repair, such as the type of damage or stone replacement.
In this article, we’ll explore all of the different factors that affect the cost of jewelry repair.
Table of Contents
The Most Common Problems That Can Happen With Jewelry
If you are going to invest in jewelry, there are some things that you should know.
While the vast majority of it is made out of different types of metals and gemstones, it is nevertheless, simply not indestructible!
It can be cracked, crushed, broken, scratched, or just over time and use, it will show wear and tear.
We often like to contrast jewelry with a nice new car to make our point that both need to be taken proper care of in order to get the maximum use out of it, as well as to preserve it for the greatest length of time possible.
Rather than taking good care of their jewelry, some people get nervous and simply choose to keep it inside a jewelry box at home or inside a safe rather than wear it regularly.
That, supposedly is an option, but why not instead, take it out to thoroughly enjoy it once in a while too?
Just as you need to do regular maintenance on a car to keep it in good condition, you also need to realize that at some point, your nice jewelry will begin to gradually show use if you want to wear it too.
And that’s okay.
Because the most common problems that can happen with jewelry are not that difficult or expensive to repair, thanks to the skills of a qualified and experienced jeweler.
Scratches and Dings
The first thing to realize is that just like your car, normal wear and tear will happen over time with your jewelry. If you wear it every day, you will get scratches on the surface of the metal from contact with other surfaces.
You may also accidentally ding it or dent it if you hit it against something hard.
The good news is that these are all cosmetic damage that does not affect the structural integrity of your jewelry. And, they can all be easily and affordably repaired by a qualified jeweler.
All you need to do is take it in and they will buff out the scratches and dings, leaving your jewelry looking like new again.
Broken Clasps and Beads
If you have a bracelet or necklace, it’s not uncommon for the clasp to become damaged or broken. The good news is that this is also an easy and affordable fix.
Clasps break all the time due to children playing with them or getting them caught on something. And, beads can also break off if they are hit against something hard.
Many jewelers have a box full of clasps and beads that they can quickly and easily replace while you wait. In most cases, you won’t even be able to tell that the clasp or bead has been replaced.
Broken Chains
Another common type of jewelry repair are issues with broken chains. Because these are often worn daily and put under a lot of stress from movement, it is not surprising that they will occasionally break.
The most common cause of chain breaks is simply because the clasp has become worn down over time and can no longer hold the weight of the entire necklace.
This is an easy fix that can be done quickly and affordably by a qualified jeweler.
Tarnished and Faded Jewelry
Over time, even the best quality jewelry will begin to tarnish and fade.
This is simply due to exposure to the air and elements, as well as the natural oils in your skin. Faded jewelry is often the result of exposure to chemicals, such as chlorine in swimming pools. It can also be caused by not storing your jewelry properly.
Tarnished jewelry can often be cleaned with a simple solution of TarnX but may be polished out just like dings and scratches.
Worn-Out Prongs
The most common type of jewelry repair are problems regarding prongs that hold the stones in place.
This is because these are on the top most surface area of most stones and are the first line of defense when your piece of jewelry comes into contact with the outside world of bumps, scrapes, scratches, and falls.
Prongs take the brunt of most jewelry mishaps, second only to totally losing or having an item stolen.
Take heart! If you catch (literally and figuratively) a problem with prongs, simply stop wearing the piece and bring it to your trusted local jewelers who will have a goldsmith on hand to repair it and make it like new again.
Better yet, bring your jewelry to a friendly jewelry store every 6 months to have them checked for any signs of wear and tear.
While some prongs can become broken or loosened because they were not initially pressed into place tight enough against the stone, others can simply be worn down by constant rubbing and everyday use.
Gemstones
Gemstones, although not as often as the metal that holds them in place, can be damaged from use.
It is not uncommon to eventually scratch or wear down a softer gemstone, such as a garnet or an amethyst, while chipping or cracking other more susceptible stones such as an emerald or an opal.
Some of these injuries can be fixed, while at other times, it may be best to replace them depending on severity.
Diamonds, rubies, and sapphires are the least likely to suffer damage because of their hardness, but it can happen.
Most of these harder gemstones are damaged when the edges are accidently smacked against hard objects creating a chip on the outermost edge.
These, if not too serious, can often be recut and polished out to save an otherwise valuable or sentimental stone.
Gemstones can also sustain damage from the heat of a repair attempted by a novice bench jeweler, or by using harsh chemicals if the stones are porous. In this case, sometimes they can also be professionally polished out if the surface warrants.
There are gemstones that will need extra care and protection such as emeralds, opals, and pearls.
These cannot be subjected to heat, vibration such as ultrasonic cleaners, or chemicals.
These stones are created in nature having layers and fishers that can easily crack, split or will craze. While you should not resist buying one of these types of pieces of jewelry, be sure to ask specifically about how to care for them.
How To Know If It’s Time To Repair Your Jewelry
Most people have certain pieces of jewelry that they wear on a regular basis, and other pieces that they reserve for special occasions.
We will give you some information regarding those pieces that are getting regular use so that you will be mindful about when it is time for a check up or when it is in need of maintenance.
- You notice a stone that wiggles, turns or is looser than when you first bought the item.
- You notice that when you wear a piece, it easily gets caught or snagged on things such as sweaters or even in your hair.
- You notice that suddenly there is a gaping hole where a stone used to be.
- You notice that it is dull or appears to be scratched or even cracked.
- You notice that the fine design and/or tooling seems to be wearing down.
- You notice that a bale or a shank seems to be much thinner over the years.
- You notice that it is bent or out of round.
- You notice a sharp edge or see that a prong is entirely missing.
- You notice a chip in a stone.
- You don’t notice anything at all, but you just want to be certain that all is well.
- You cannot remove it at all.
The Process of Getting A Repair Done On Your Jewelry
Once it begins to dawn on you that your jewelry might be in need of some professional attention, then it is best to ask around among your friends about who they would recommend to have work or inspections done.
You may also want to read reviews done on Yelp or on other social platforms to find out more about a businesses repair ratings and costs.
How It Works
The first step is to bring in your piece or pieces of jewelry to reputable jeweler.
You will most likely be asked to fill out a form that will include all of your contact information as well as a description of the piece or pieces you are wanting to have repaired.
Have them inspect your jewelry and give you their professional opinion about what is wrong and what it will take to fix it.
If you have questions, be sure to ask them at this time so that there are no misunderstandings later on.
You should also get an estimate in writing before any work is done.
You should also ask about their policy on lost or damaged items as well as their estimated time of repair and the cost.
Be sure to get all of this information in writing before you leave the piece with them.
Once you leave your jewelry with them, they will send it to their bench jeweler who will do the work and send it back to the store, usually after polishing and cleaning it.
The store will then contact you to let you know that your piece is ready for pick up.
It is important to remember that not all jewelers are created equal and that you should do your research before entrusting your jewelry to just anyone.
When you go to pick it up, be sure to inspect it thoroughly before you leave the store so you can be certain that the work was done to your satisfaction.
How Long Will It Take To Repair My Jewelry?
Typically, a simple repair of some prongs or a ring sizing will usually take a week to 10 days depending on the current workload that a Goldsmith has.
Also, it depends on whether or not your piece is in need of more extensive attention, such as re-cutting a chipped stone, ordering specialized parts for repair or any type of highly detailed or customized work.
If you ran over your ring with your car or dropped it down the garbage disposal while it was running, it will more than likely take a bit more time to get things reoriented.
Again, if you suddenly decide just before Christmas to take in your pieces to get work done on them…well, we wish you good luck with getting them back in less than 10 days due to the Holiday rush.
How Much It Costs To Fix Broken Jewelry
A good jewelry store will have an itemized price repair sheet available for you to look at so there are no surprises.
Be sure to ask to see it, otherwise, some stores will profile you and set a price based on what they think you can afford to pay, or if you express a high degree of sentimental value.
Most often, the cost of repairs will depend on how extensive the work will be, whether or not the item requires little to a lot of metal that needs to be added such as in a very wide ring sizing that needs to go up several sizes, or if an outside specialized service is needed to complete the work.
Most simple repairs will cost between $50 to $200.For more extensive work, you can expect to pay upwards of $500 or even more.
It all depends on what exactly needs to be done and how much gold, or other precious metals, are required for the piece.
Some stores will require that you leave a deposit before they begin any work on your jewelry.
- If you have a worn out antique ring that has 20 prongs that need to be rebuilt or re-tipped due to extensive wear and tear, be prepared to pay about $20 per prong.
- If you just need to have a ring sized down one size, and therefore are in no need of adding any gold, there will be a much smaller fee that covers the labor cost.
How Much Does It Cost To Repair A Cut Ring?
A ring that has had to be cut off your finger due to being too tight should cost no more to repair than any other sizing would cost.
This will always depend on how wide and thick the shank is and how many sizes up it would take to get the ring to comfortably fit once again.
A ring should not be “stretched” in order to make it larger.
Keep in mind that a goldsmith will need to make a cut in the shank in order to add a piece of gold or silver anyway.
A ring that has been damaged and/or lacerated can usually be fixed, albeit perhaps not exactly the same depending on the style that it was prior to the damage.
Sometimes it will lose an area of the design or tooling, or it will be hard to duplicate depending on how intricate it is.
A good goldsmith will let you know if your expectations will be met or if they are not reasonable before they begin work and also the total cost.
Can All Jewelers Fix Jewelry?
Do not be confused with the sales marketing personnel who are usually the ones that you see standing behind the counter eager to help you, and a trained Goldsmith who may or may not be anywhere seen on site..
One is there to help you find what you want and to facilitate writing your repairs or custom ideas, while the other, the Goldsmith, is the one who actually does the work.
Can Jewelers fix broken chains?
Probably not…but Goldsmiths certainly can! The name “Jeweler” is not synonymous with “Goldsmith”. They are two different professions, albeit either can learn and be trained to do the other.
Broken chains must be soldered, and a goldsmith knows specifically and skillfully about how to do it…whereas, a jeweler may have a lot of head knowledge about many aspects of the jewelry business and trade, but yet, will destroy your item due to lack of years of extensive training in gemstones and metal workmanship.
Final Thoughts
Like anything else, do not be afraid to shop around to find out repair or custom pricing structures, qualifications, and the trustworthiness of those you are considering leaving your precious jewelry with.
Do not be afraid to ask to see certificates for proof for repair qualifications and to see up to date proof of liability insurance for your repairs.
Do not be afraid to ask for the repair cost to be in writing and also be sure to have in writing that the store should call you first if something different is necessary to be done before the work is started.