On-Site Jewelry Repair Turnaround Time
Independent jewelers who complete repairs on-site are where you're most likely to find high quality, fast jewelry repair. The highly trained jewelers who work on the premises will examine your jewelry and provide you with a quote for both the price and the time they'll need to complete it. Some small repairs can be achieved while you wait, while others may require a few days.
You should know that certain times of the year, such as the month of December and the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, are busier than others, which may contribute to longer lead times for completion of jewelry repair.
Fast turnaround on jewelry repair should be the result of an on-site expert who is available to dedicate time to your piece. Beware, however, of quick turnaround that comes from a mail order repair service who will sacrifice quality to meet deadlines.
On-Site Jewelry Repair Turnaround Time
If a jeweler does not have someone on site who completes their repairs, you may have to wait several weeks for them to work on your piece and return it to you. This is because they need to complete the necessary paperwork to send your jewelry to someone off-site who will then complete your repairs and send it back to the store. Once delivered, it will need to be sorted with the other packages and checked in before you are contacted to pick it up.
If there are any problems when you arrive to retrieve it, they will need to repeat the process, which adds several more weeks to the process. In these instances, fast turnaround is limited by the speed of their processes and delivery. If you are promised 24-48 hour turnaround on a fix that won't be completed in-house, you'd be wise to be concerned: with shipping and handling already stripped to their fastest possible options, the only other place to shave minutes is in the time spent working on your piece.
Learn more about fast jewelry repair and standard jewelry repair turnaround times: How Long Does Jewelry Repair Take?
Why You Need a Professional for Jewelry Repair
While many people consider price and turnaround time when looking for a jewelry repair service, it's important to give careful consideration to the quality and experience of a jeweler's work. They should be able to show you pictures of past repairs and should be comfortable discussing their knowledge, expertise, time in the profession, and any certifications with you. You should also look at reviews and testimonials written by past and current clients to get an accurate idea of what you can expect by working with them.
When you've invested in heirloom-quality jewelry, you only want to trust maintenance and repairs to someone a proven track record of quality repairs and evidence of satisfied customers. Poorly executed repairs are not only unsightly, but they can weaken and devalue your piece, as well.
When Jewelry Repair Goes Wrong
While some repair failures will not be immediately known, others will be evident to the naked eye. Here are just a few of the costs of low-quality jewelry repair:
Cracked or chipped stones - If too much pressure is placed your stone during setting by someone who is inexperienced in jewelry repair, it can result in cracks or chips in your stone.
Poorly formed prongs - A telltale sign of poor prong repair is blobs on the end of them, usually evidence that the repairperson rushed to finish the job instead of taking the necessary time to reform and blend the prong into its original shape.
Visible seams - A professional jeweler should not leave behind any seams that you can feel or see when they've resized your jewelry.
Tool marks - Jewelry repair completed by an ill-equipped service may show evidence of hammering or leave behind plier marks that they failed to polish out after completing your repairs.
Thinner ring shank - If your jewelry repair person cut corners when resizing your ring, you may notice that your shank is thinner in some places or that the entire ring is thinner than it was before. An experienced jeweler with proper training in repairs will discuss your options for resizing before they begin any work and will let you know if the suggested method will change the visible or structural integrity of your ring.
To learn more about how to select a professional jeweler to complete your jewelry repairs, read our free guide: Why You Need Professional Jewelry Repair
How to Clean and Store Your Jewelry
How to Clean and Store Your Jewelry
Ongoing jewelry maintenance should be part of your overall plan to maximize your investments and minimize the need for jewelry repairs. With each new piece that you purchase, your jeweler should advise you on its specific requirements for storage, cleaning, and inspection. Additionally, you should discuss insurance for your jewelry with your jeweler who may be able to offer you guidance on what to look for in coverage, as well as any appraisals you'll need to provide to the insurer.
Jewelry Maintenance & Storage
While each piece of your jewelry may have specific needs that your jeweler will advise you on, there are some standard storage, cleaning, and maintenance rules you should follow:
Storage - Store your jewelry in a dry place in separate compartments so they cannot scratch each other. If possible, a fabric-lined box or container is ideal, though you may also wrap each piece individually in soft cloth if you don't have a fabric-lined or compartmentalized box for storage.
Cleaning - Regular cleanings at home can keep your jewelry sparkling in between professional cleanings, but take care to only use solutions your jeweler approves. For a list of common solutions you can buy or make at home, see our post on jewelry cleaning and maintenance linked at the end of this section.
Inspections - Bring your jewelry in for your jeweler to inspect once a year, at a minimum. Pieces that you wear every day may require more frequent visits for inspection and professional cleaning. Many jewelers provide these services at no charge if you purchased the jewelry from them.
You should also inspect your jewelry every day before you wear it, though this need not be a lengthy process. Look closely at clasps and chains for any breaks and examine bands and rings for loose stones or any indication of wear. If anything seems off, call your jeweler and ask when you can bring it in to determine what repairs, if any, are needed before you can safely wear the piece again.
Read our complete guide to jewelry maintenance, cleaning, and storage here: Jewelry Maintenance