From brooches and engagement rings to delicate gold chain repairs, finding a reputable jeweler to fix jewelry heirlooms or other fine jewelry pieces is vital. You want to ensure the best care, quality materials, and excellent service for all your valuable pieces by taking them to a skilled jeweler with proper knowledge and training.
While you take exceptional care of your jewelry, it's essential to feel you can expect the same from any jeweler you entrust to fix jewelry you’ve invested money and care in. Our team of fine jewelry experts has put together a helpful guide to finding a trustworthy jeweler for all your needs, from earrings and watches to necklace repairs.
Why Should You Consider Professional Jewelry Repair?
Finding a highly skilled professional to fix your jewelry is always a wise choice. While you may feel something as simple as changing your watch battery seems easy enough, there are plenty of reasons to enlist the services of a professional jeweler.
From the clasp on a necklace repair to the prong on a diamond stud earring, leave it in the hands of a trained professional rather than opting to fix jewelry yourself. Finding a professional jeweler to fix jewelry concerns offers benefits, including:
- They provide high-quality replacement parts.
- You’ll receive a thorough inspection.
- Your warranty remains valid.
- Most luxury brands provide jewelers with specialized training for fine jewelry repairs, including luxury watches and necklace repairs.
- You’ll save yourself from accidentally lost pieces.
- They’re trained to fix jewelry using proper tools and state-of-the-art technology.
- Professional cleaning is included.
- After your repairs, rigorous testing is done to ensure their work.
Why is Referring to Your Jewelry Warranty Vital?
If the time does come for a diamond engagement ring, necklace repair, or other jewelry fixes, maintaining the validity of your warranty is crucial. Your luxury jewelry is an investment and should be treated as such. Your original jeweler is typically the best choice to fix jewelry pieces, as they know the needs of your fine jewelry item best.
Chances are, your fine jewelry also came with a warranty for replacement parts, preventative measures to help prevent loss or damage, and routine cleanings offered after your purchase. While seeking out the services of your original jeweler is ideal, we realize it may be challenging. If you need a gold chain repair or other jewelry repairs, we suggest reviewing your warranty first to avoid potential breaches. Having a non-qualified professional fix the jewelry or watches could void a warranty.
Why Do High-Quality Replacement Parts Matter?
It’s important to note that not all jewelers use the highest quality parts. Trusting a professional to fix jewelry, especially your luxury timepiece or a diamond necklace repair, entails knowing it will be returned with replacement parts specific to your piece and made to last. High-quality and even name-brand replacement parts matter because generic replacement parts, especially for luxury jewelry pieces, may likely void your warranty.
Your search for a reputable professional you can trust to fix jewelry will depend on your diligent research. As you look for a repair specialist to trust with your gold chain repair, chipped diamond ring, or pendant necklace repair, it’s imperative to ask questions about the replacement parts that will be used.
We also recommend you inquire about a jeweler’s standards, repair process, estimated costs, and the required skills and training of any staff that may assist in your jewelry fix. Whether you’re taking in a gold chain to be repaired or your heirloom diamond engagement ring, you want peace of mind that your luxury items are in good hands. Also, ask about the policies set in place to ensure brand replacement parts are used whether they fix jewelry on site and off. Protecting the longevity and durability of your items is vital to preserving their value.
Questions You Should Ask Before Your Jewelry Repair Service
Whether your diamond necklace repair requires a clasp replacement or securing a loose stone, selecting a knowledgeable and skilled professional to fix the jewelry you’ve invested in is a top priority. While searching for your trustworthy jeweler, we urge you to ask as many questions as necessary to put your mind at ease.
Our jewelry specialists have put together a list of helpful questions to assist you in your search. A trustworthy team will be more than happy to answer your questions, making you feel comfortable choosing them to make jewelry so special. Here at Fink’s, we always want our prospective clients to know what they can expect and the exceptional quality parts and services our jewelry repair team can offer when we fix precious jewelry.
As you begin, consider asking questions that include the following topics:
- Can you provide me with a written quote?
- Do you perform jewelry repairs in-store or send them off-site to fix jewelry?
- How can you guarantee my diamonds will be returned to me after repairs?
- Are all your jewelers and technicians qualified to handle my watch, ring, or necklace repairs?
Why is a Written Quote Important?
Before leaving any item for a jewelry fix, ask for a detailed, written receipt. In addition, your quote should include an itemized estimate for all foreseeable parts and labor costs. This will give you an idea of what to expect once your diamond necklace repair or stone replacement is complete.
While it’s always possible there may be additional services or repairs needed after a closer inspection; your written quote will help you prepare for possible charges involved in your jewelry fix. From broken clasps on a gold chain repair to a Swiss watch battery replacement, reputable jewelers should always provide you with a detailed written quote. Ensure your paperwork details:
- The jewelry item you have left in their care, along with detailed descriptions.
- The services discussed upon inspection for your jewelry fix.
- The estimated costs of repairs plus labor.
- Best time estimate for the completion of your repairs.
Will My Jewelry Repair Be In-Store or Off-Site?
Feel free to ask if the store will fix your jewelry in-store or send it out for repairs. You may be surprised to hear many jewelry stores send their watch, ring, and necklace repairs out rather than performing them on-site.
Not all jewelry stores have a dedicated jewelry repair specialist on-site to fix jewelry. Some jewelry repairs may require your item to be returned to the brand for particular parts and services. Knowing where your jewelry will be and under whose care is essential.
You must also remember that an off-site jewelry repair can incur a much higher price and wait for estimates. Be sure to discuss all possibilities with your jeweler in advance.
Know Your Stones Before the Repair
Knowing your jewelry can be beneficial if you should ever need repairs. Identifying marks or features can help you ensure the authenticity of your diamonds after repairs and cleanings. The more familiar you are with your jewelry, the easier it will be to recognize defining characteristics when it’s time to retrieve your items.
A reputable jewelry repair team will be more than happy to help you identify your diamond’s specific characteristics before and after repairs. Feel free to take your diamond certificate with you and ask for assistance examining your stones under their microscope. At Fink’s, we always want your clients to feel confident and trust us with their earrings, timepieces, or necklace repairs.
Why Are Qualified Jewelers and Technicians Imperative?
From gold chain repairs to wedding rings and birthstone pendant necklace repairs, we strongly recommend entrusting your fine jewelry to be handled by a bench-certified jeweler. In fact, many luxury brands require all their authorized timepiece repair stores to complete rigorous training on their techniques, instruments, and parts.
A Bench Professional Certification Program was established to help provide consumers with a nationally recognized jeweler for their optimal service while meeting national standards. Feel free to inquire about jeweler's certificates, degrees, and memberships to help you decide.
Our Fink's Jewelry Repair Guarantee
Our confidence in our skills allows us to guarantee the high quality and integrity of our fine jewelry repair services. Whether you need a gold chain repair or a timepiece battery replacement, your happiness is our top priority. We are here to address your concerns if you are not satisfied with your cleaning, inspection, or repair. In addition, we offer a one-year guarantee from your service date at the original location of repairs.
What You Can Expect from a Fink’s Jewelry Inspection
We vow to provide you with a thorough jewelry inspection and the most accurate estimate possible. We will physically inspect your piece on-site to complete your ring, watch, or gold chain repair. Please know you may be asked to leave your jewelry item with our repair specialist if necessary.
Fink’s Jewelry Repairs Costs
After evaluating your wedding ring or diamond necklace repair needs, our specialists will provide you with an estimate. Your written quote will consist of work needed, labor, materials, and, should your item need to be sent off-site, any applicable shipping costs.
Jewelry Repair Timeline Estimate
From watches to gold chain repairs, timeframes will vary. After a full inspection, our knowledgeable jeweler will reach out with updates and provide you with any additional costs and approximate repair times.
Our Luxury Timepiece Repairs and Services
Our repair team includes expertly trained luxury timepiece repair specialists. Located in several of our stores, our certified watch repair staff can assist you with questions, routine cleaning, and thorough preventative services. We're happy to provide exceptional service if you have watch repair needs, even if your timepiece was purchased from another jeweler. Our luxury timepiece repairs and services include:
- Battery change
- Movement repair
- Repair and replacement of clasps
- Polishing, cleaning, and lubrication
- Inspecting, adding, or removing watch links
Caring for Your Fine Jewelry: Our Best Tips
Preventative care is always the best way to keep your diamond earrings, bracelets, and gold chain repairs to a minimum. While the recommended scheduled maintenance of luxury jewelry items varies according to gemstones, style, and metal, preventative care at home is always beneficial.
We strongly recommend you familiarize yourself with any jewelry warranties to ensure proper maintenance and timely required inspections. In between your scheduled check-ins, it’s essential to care for your luxury items to help avoid the need for costly jewelry repairs.
Our repair team has compiled a few of their best tips for properly caring for your luxury pieces.
Spot Clean Your Diamond Jewelry at Home
We recommend developing a habit of bi-weekly diamond jewelry cleanings for items you tend to wear daily. This typically includes wedding bands and wedding rings, earrings, and perhaps a necklace.
Keep your diamond jewelry free from buildup with a quick cleaning to remove dirt and grime that accumulates. Even the use of ordinary products can cause film and buildup in 2 weeks, including:
- Soap
- Lotion
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Cooking oils
- Baking ingredients
- Laundry detergent
What Should You Use to Clean Jewelry at Home?
A simple soak in a bowl of warm, soapy water is all it takes. This simple remedy is suitable for all your luxury stones and metals. Roughly 30 minutes twice a week will help remove buildup. Use a gentle toothbrush to help remove debris. Rinse well and store or replace your jewelry.
Alternatively, you can use chemical-free jewelry cleaners. Know your precious metals and stones before using store-bought polishes and cleaners, as they may require specific care. Reach out to your jeweler if you have questions to ensure proper cleaners are utilized. Jewelry cleaners used at home should be:
- Non-abrasive
- Chemical-free
- Specific to your gemstones and metals
How to Properly Store Your Jewelry and Watches
Store your jewelry when not worn to avoid unnecessary gold chain repairs, chipped diamonds, loose earrings, or pendant necklace repairs. Luxury timepieces and fine jewelry are best kept stored in their original box. Alternatively, you could store them safely in a soft, lined pouch for optimal scratch resistance. Flannel pouches or high-quality jewelry boxes are usually properly lined to keep your luxury items pristine and free from exposure to dust, harsh chemicals, and liquids.
We invite you to stop in any of our Fink's locations and visit our knowledgeable jewelry repair staff. We’re here to answer all your questions and help keep your luxury jewelry items in remarkable condition.
