Few purchases are quite as personal as your private jewelry collection.  Jewelry can represent a commitment, memory, or unique style that is individual to you. As with all investments, your jewelry will need regular inspections and possible repairs to keep it in pristine condition. 

When it comes to jewelry repair, you may be wondering if you can take your jewelry to be repaired by a different jeweler than where you originally purchased it from. While there are certain factors to consider in this decision, the choice is ultimately yours. 

When deciding where to have your jewelry repair, you’ll want to consider the following: 

• Check the fine print
• Qualifications of the jeweler.
• Where will the repair take place?

Check the Fine Print

When a piece of jewelry has been purchased, it quite often comes along with existing warranties or optional maintenance and repair plans in place.  It is essential to check the fine print before opting to have your jewelry repaired by a different jeweler than where it was purchased.

Existing Warranties 

With most fine jewelry purchases, a warranty is in place. It is vitally important information to review your warranty before selecting a jeweler to repair your item.  In addition, many contracts require pieces to be fixed by their technicians. Failure to do so can result in an invalidity of the existing warranty. 

Of course, if you are unhappy with the jeweler you purchased your item from and the warranty is not crucial to you, we would advise you to proceed with your search for the right fit. 

Maintenance Plans in Place

Maintenance plans are offered (and sometimes included!) with most significant purchases.  These plans include scheduled maintenance, cleaning, and repairs needed.  

Suppose you opted for a maintenance plan for your jewelry piece. In that case, you will want to familiarize yourself with what is covered and whether your plan will be invalidated by having your piece repaired by an alternate jeweler. 

Qualifications

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When deciding on a jeweler to trust with your precious items, you’ll want to ensure the jeweler is experienced, certified, and well-reviewed

Experience

During your research for the best jeweler for your repair, you’ll want to find out about their experience and specialties. For example, some jewelers specialize in a specific type of jewelry (such as watches, rings, and necklaces).  In contrast, others focus on the repair type (such as fixing prongs, mechanical elements, or stone repair).

Be wary of any jeweler with limited experience. 

Certifications

Consider what certifications a jeweler has before allowing them to repair your item.  A novice jeweler can repair most generalized repairs but may have limited experience in doing so. A Master Jeweler, however, is a fully qualified artisan and repair person for fine jewelry. 

Reviews

Asking for personal referrals or recommendations from others is always a good approach when hiring a jeweler. However, suppose a personal referral is not available. In that case, you’ll want to take a look at online reviews for a specific jewelry store before trusting them with your precious items. You might also check out a business’s reviews online the BBB for any significant or recurring complaints. 

Where Will Your Jewelry Be Repaired?

An important question you may not know to ask when selecting a jeweler is the location of your repair.  The truth is, many jewelers are only able to accommodate very basic repairs in-house.  So instead, they send out your jewelry to be repaired by a third party or off-site repair shop. 

If ensuring your jewelry does not leave the store you take it to is essential to you, you’ll want to determine precisely which repair services are offered in-house and which will be sent out for repairs.

A Quick Look at Our Facility (located in Massapequa Park, NY)

Conclusion

Your jewelry is precious to you.  However, despite even the best care and maintenance, a time may come when you have a piece that needs repair. We have shared with you some highly suggested considerations when selecting the right person for the job. 

Busy Bee Jewelry offers a full range of professional jewelry repair, refinishing, and refurbishment services with our Master Jewelers. Our full suite of jewelry repair services in Long Island, NY includes ring sizing, mountings, stone replacement, re-tipping prongs, jewelry cleaning & polishing, rhodium plating, pearl restringing, necklace repair, bracelet repair, clasp replacement, refurbishment & custom jewelry designs. Our master jewelers, diamond setters, and watchmakers are in-house, and as a customer, you have the option to watch while your repairs are being done.

We would love to hear from you. You can contact us (and even send in a photo of your jewelry piece) for a custom quote on your repair required.