Jewellery repair: soldering, ring resizing, clasp replacement
The most common repairs
A jeweller's workshop is most often asked to solder a broken chain, replace a clasp, resize a ring, polish out scratches, tighten a stone or restore rhodium plating. All these jobs differ in difficulty, so don't expect a single price list: the price depends on the metal, the weight, the weave and where the damage is.
On BlaBlaPrice you describe the piece and the problem once, and jewellers reply in the chat. They see where their offer stands, so they compete on price and terms. It is free for buyers, and your phone number stays hidden until you choose a jeweller.
What affects the price of a repair
Metal and purity: gold, silver and platinum are soldered differently. Chain weave: fine weaves, such as a Bismarck or a rolo, take skill, because the neighbouring links must not be damaged. Stones: soldering near heat-sensitive stones needs care, and sometimes it is better to remove the stone first. Place of the break: on a thin link or next to settings there is more work.
Rings are resized in different ways: making a ring smaller is usually easier than making it bigger, because enlarging needs extra metal. For pieces with a pattern running all the way round, or stones set all the way round, resizing is difficult or impossible.
What to include in your request
- The piece — chain, ring, bracelet, earrings, pendant.
- What to do — solder, replace the clasp, resize, polish, tighten a stone.
- Metal — gold, silver, platinum, purity, for example 22K gold.
- Weave — type, width or weight, for example Bismarck, 5 g.
- Stones — whether there are any, and which.
- Deadline — when you need the piece back.
- City and area — where it is convenient to drop it off.
- Budget — if you want to name one.
Example: “Ang Mo Kio: a 22K gold chain, Bismarck weave, 5 g, broken in two places. It needs soldering and polishing. No stones. I want it back by Saturday. Budget up to $18.”
How to compare offers
Ask what exactly the price includes: soldering, polishing, a new clasp. Ask whether the new clasp will be the same purity of metal or a simpler one. For valuable pieces, find out whether the jeweller weighs the piece before and after the repair and writes a receipt with a description: this protects you against a swap or loss of metal. Ask about a guarantee on the solder and the period in which the work can be put right free of charge.
Reviews next to the offer matter especially here: jewellery is not only money, it is memories. Choose a jeweller you trust, not just the cheapest.
Common mistakes
Trying to glue a chain at home: glue ruins the solder joint. Wearing a damaged piece and losing it. Not showing the jeweller all the defects and being charged extra during the work. Not mentioning stones. Not taking a receipt for the piece. Not inspecting the piece immediately when you collect it.
If you are also repairing clothes, there is tailoring and clothing repair. Other home services are in “Household services”.
