Trying to find a definitive jewellery repair price list in the UK is a bit like searching for a unicorn. You won't find one. Prices can start from £20 for a simple solder and climb past £150 for complex work on a platinum piece. It all comes down to the metal, how fiddly the repair is, and the skill of the jeweller holding the tools.

Your Guide to UK Jewellery Repair Costs

Bringing a cherished piece of jewellery back to life is an investment in its story. Whether it’s a family heirloom passed down through generations or the engagement ring you look at every day, a professional repair restores its beauty and its meaning.

It’s a trend we’re seeing more and more. With the UK jewellery market valued at USD 5.76 billion in 2024, it’s clear people are choosing to look after what they have rather than replace it. A common job like resizing a ring can cost anywhere from £20 to £80, depending entirely on the metal and the complexity of the design. You can explore more about these market trends and how they’re shaping services across the country.

Think of it less like a fixed menu and more like getting a suit tailored. The final cost depends on the fabric and the skill needed to get the fit just right. Soldering a simple silver chain is one thing; resizing a platinum ring dotted with tiny pavé-set diamonds is another entirely—it demands more time, different tools, and an immense amount of skill.

Estimated UK Jewellery Repair Price Ranges

To give you a clearer idea of what to expect, we've put together a quick guide to typical starting prices for the most common repairs. This isn't a final quote, but it shows how the precious metal is the biggest factor influencing the cost.

Important Note: These are just estimates. The final price always depends on the specific condition of your piece, our jeweller’s assessment, and the exact work needed to guarantee a lasting, high-quality repair.

This should give you a solid baseline for what to expect from a jewellery repair price list in the UK. Now, let's dive into the specific factors that influence these prices, so you can make a properly informed decision.

What Really Determines Your Repair Quote

Ever wondered why two repairs that seem similar on the surface end up with completely different quotes? A jewellery repair price list in the UK isn't just a fixed menu. It's more like a car service—an oil change will always cost less than an engine rebuild. Understanding what goes into the price helps you see the true value and craftsmanship behind the work.

The final quote is always a blend of the materials needed, the time it will take, and the specific skills required. A simple soldering job on a silver chain is a world away from restoring the delicate, web-like filigree on an antique platinum brooch. Every piece has its own story, and the repair must honour its unique construction.

This infographic breaks down the core components that influence your repair quote, showing how different factors weigh into the final cost.

As you can see, the type of metal and the complexity of the job form the foundation of any price. The artisan's experience then acts as a crucial multiplier, ensuring the work is done to the highest standard.

The Influence Of Precious Metals

The metal your jewellery is made from is easily the biggest factor in the cost. Every metal has its own personality, demanding different tools, temperatures, and techniques from the goldsmith. Think of it like cooking: frying an egg is quick and needs relatively low heat, while slow-roasting a joint of meat takes hours of careful temperature control.

Working with platinum, for example, is a serious undertaking. It requires extremely high temperatures—over 1,700°C—and specialised equipment. Its density and strength make it wonderfully durable to wear, but that same toughness makes it challenging to work with, demanding more labour and a higher level of skill. Silver, on the other hand, is much softer with a lower melting point, making it quicker and easier to repair.

• Silver and 9ct Gold: These are more malleable and melt at lower temperatures, which generally means lower labour costs.
• 18ct Gold and Platinum: Denser, stronger, and needing specialist equipment and more intensive work, which is reflected in a higher price.

This is exactly why you'll rarely find a one-size-fits-all jewellery repair price list; the material itself dictates the entire process.

The Complexity Of The Work

Beyond the metal, the intricacy of the repair itself plays a huge part. A clean, simple break in a chain is a relatively quick fix. But if the piece has intricate patterns, is set with multiple gemstones, or features delicate antique metalwork, the job becomes far more complex.

Take re-tipping the tiny claws that hold a diamond in place. This isn't just soldering; it requires microscopic precision to build up the metal and secure the stone without damaging it. In the same way, restoring a detailed engraving or repairing a hollow piece of jewellery demands an artistry and patience that goes far beyond a straightforward solder.

A jeweller's time is their most valuable asset. A complex repair might take hours of focused work, while a simple one could take minutes. The quote reflects not just the physical repair, but the concentration and skill invested to ensure a flawless, lasting result.

The number and type of gemstones are also critical. If stones need to be carefully removed before a repair and then reset afterwards, this adds significant time and risk to the job. For a closer look at the different services we offer, you can learn more about our comprehensive jewellery repairs and the craftsmanship involved. Every step is carefully calculated to protect the integrity of your cherished item.

A Detailed Look at Ring Repair Prices

Of all the jewellery we wear, rings take the biggest beating. They’re on our hands through everything, which means engagement rings, wedding bands, and treasured heirlooms are constantly exposed to knocks and scrapes. It’s no surprise that ring repairs are one of the most common jobs to land on our benches.

Understanding what goes into each fix helps make sense of why a jewellery repair price list in the UK can vary so much. This isn’t about a quick patch-up; it’s about restoring the strength, security, and beauty of a piece that often means the world to its owner.

Let’s break down the most common ring repairs we handle every day.

Ring Resizing Costs

A ring that doesn’t fit is a ring that doesn’t get worn. Whether it’s uncomfortably tight or dangerously loose, getting the size right is crucial. But making a ring bigger or smaller are two very different jobs.

Making a ring smaller is usually more straightforward. Our goldsmith carefully removes a small piece from the back of the band (the shank), expertly reshapes it into a perfect circle, and solders the two ends together. After a thorough clean and polish, the join is completely invisible.

• Making a Ring Smaller: Prices typically start from £30 for silver or 9ct gold and from £60 for 18ct gold or platinum.

Making a ring larger is a more involved process because we need to add new metal. The shank is cut, and a perfectly matched piece of gold or platinum is inserted before being soldered seamlessly into place. This takes more time, skill, and of course, the cost of the added precious metal. If you're curious about the finer details, our guide on professional ring resizing in London covers the entire process.

• Making a Ring Larger: This often starts from £45 for simpler metals and can be £85+ for platinum.

It's worth noting that some rings are trickier than others. Eternity rings with stones all the way around, or those with complex patterns, can be very difficult—and sometimes impossible—to resize without compromising the design.

Securing Stones and Rebuilding Claws

A wobbly stone in its setting is a heart-stopping moment. Over time, the tiny metal prongs (or claws) holding your gemstone in place can wear thin. Re-tipping is the delicate art of rebuilding these claws, ensuring your precious stone stays exactly where it should be.

Using a laser welder for absolute precision, our jeweller adds a tiny bead of matching metal to the tip of each worn claw. This builds its strength back up without ever needing to remove the stone from its setting. It’s meticulous work, but it’s vital for the long-term security of any stone-set ring.

• Claw Re-tipping (per claw): You can expect prices to begin around £15–£25, depending on the metal.

Shank Repair and Rhodium Plating

After decades of love and wear, the back of a ring’s band can become dangerously thin. A shank repair (or a full replacement) involves cutting away the worn-out section and fitting a new, solid piece of metal. This single job can restore the ring's structural integrity, giving it a new lease of life for years to come.

And for white gold rings that have lost their bright, crisp shine? That’s where rhodium plating comes in. This service restores that brilliant, mirror-like finish, making your ring look like it just came out of the box.

• Shank Replacement: As a more involved repair, this often starts from £80.
• Rhodium Plating: A standard service that typically costs around £45–£50.

To give you a clearer picture, here’s how the costs for these common repairs stack up across different precious metals.

Ring Repair Cost Comparison by Metal Type

As you can see, the value and working properties of the metal are a major factor in the final price. Platinum, for instance, requires higher temperatures and more specialised tools, which is reflected in the cost of the repair.

Understanding Necklace and Bracelet Repair Costs

While rings take a lot of direct knocks, necklaces and bracelets face their own unique battle against daily life. Constant motion, snagging on a jumper, or even just the pull of gravity can stretch links, break clasps, and eventually snap a chain. These delicate pieces need a completely different—but equally precise—touch to bring them back to life.

A good jewellery repair price list in the UK has to account for these finer items. Here, the cost isn't about adding metal to resize a band; it's all about meticulous soldering, the mechanics of a clasp, and sometimes, a complete restringing from scratch. The great news is that many common repairs are surprisingly affordable and can get a favourite piece out of the drawer and back around your neck.

Common Chain and Clasp Repairs

By far the most common problem we see is a single broken link. A chain is only as strong as its weakest point, and when one link gives way, the whole piece is out of action. A clean, professional solder is the fix, and it's one of the quickest and most cost-effective repairs we do.

• Soldering a Broken Link: This usually starts from £20 for silver or 9ct gold. For platinum, which needs much higher temperatures and a steadier hand, it's typically around £40.
• Replacing a Worn Clasp: A dodgy clasp is just asking for trouble. Swapping out a standard bolt ring or trigger clasp starts from about £25–£55, depending on the metal and the style of the new clasp.
• Shortening a Chain: If a necklace hangs just a bit too low, removing a few links is straightforward. The work involved is similar to a single solder, often starting at around £25.

The type of chain makes a huge difference. A simple curb or trace chain is fairly easy to work on. A complex rope or snake chain, however, is another story entirely—the solder joint has to be perfectly invisible to preserve the look. These intricate styles demand more time and skill, which naturally influences the final price.

Specialised Necklace and Bracelet Services

Beyond simple breaks and fixes, some repairs are a true craft. Restringing pearls, for instance, is a specialist skill. Each pearl has to be individually knotted on silk thread, a painstaking process that ensures if the string ever breaks, you only lose one pearl, not all of them.

Hollow jewellery is another tricky area. Unlike solid gold or silver, these pieces are light, fragile, and can be easily melted by a traditional torch. Our jewellers get around this by using advanced laser welders, which focus an intense, pinpoint beam of heat right on the join without damaging the surrounding metal. It’s a delicate operation that keeps these beautiful, lightweight pieces intact.

Sometimes, a piece might also have lost a stone along the way. You can learn more about how we precisely match and set new gems in our professional gemstone replacement services.

It's with these specialised tasks that a jeweller's real expertise comes into play. Restringing a classic pearl necklace can range from £50 to £150 or more, depending on its length and clasp. It’s a perfect example of how artisanal skill provides lasting value.

Understanding these details helps explain why a one-price-fits-all menu just doesn't work for jewellery. Every piece is made differently, and the repair must be tailored to its unique construction for a mend that’s both durable and invisible.

Finding a Jeweller You Can Trust

A low price for a repair is tempting, but it means nothing without skill and honesty behind it. When you’re handing over a piece with sentimental value, you need to feel confident. Knowing what to look for makes all the difference.

A great place to start is checking their credentials. Look for memberships with respected groups like The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ). Being part of an organisation like this shows a real commitment to high standards and proper craftsmanship. Beyond that, check recent customer reviews on independent sites—they give you a genuine feel for how a workshop actually performs.

Verifying Quality and Craftsmanship

While cost is always a factor, it shouldn’t be the only thing on your mind. In fact, nearly half of UK customers say they prioritise craftsmanship over price, and are happy to pay between £30 and £100 for simple, professional repairs. It shows people understand that good work is an investment. You can discover more insights into jewellery repair market dynamics to see how trends like this are shaping the industry.

Before you commit, always ask for a detailed, written quote. It should break down exactly what they plan to do, the materials they’ll use, and the final cost. This simple step prevents any nasty surprises down the line.

A reputable jeweller will always be transparent about their process. Never be afraid to ask questions—about their techniques, the tools they use, or even to see examples of their previous work.

Finally, what about a guarantee? A craftsman who is confident in their work will stand by it, giving you peace of mind that the repair is built to last. Choosing a jeweller with an on-site workshop is also a huge plus. It often means a quicker turnaround and lets you speak directly with the goldsmith who will be handling your treasured item—building that extra layer of trust and ensuring your piece is in the very best hands.

Your Repair Questions, Answered

To wrap things up, here are a few of the most common questions we hear in the workshop. Think of it as a quick reference guide to help you feel confident before you pop in.

How Long Will My Repair Take?

The turnaround time for a jewellery repair really depends on the job at hand. Simple fixes, like soldering a snapped chain or a quick polish, can often be done in just a few days. If the workshop is on-site, sometimes we can even handle it while you wait.

More involved work—think resizing a ring set with stones, re-tipping claws, or a delicate restoration project—usually takes between one to three weeks. This gives our goldsmiths the time they need for a thorough assessment, the actual repair, and a final quality check to make sure everything is perfect.

Is It Worth Repairing Costume Jewellery?

Honestly, most of the time, it’s not cost-effective to repair inexpensive costume jewellery. The repair bill can easily end up being more than what the piece originally cost.

That said, if a piece holds deep sentimental value for you, then the cost might be completely worth it. It’s always best to bring it in and let us give you a quote. Just be aware that repairs on base metals aren't always possible, but we'll always give you our honest opinion.

A professional repair should be practically invisible. For jobs like soldering a chain or re-tipping a claw, a skilled jeweller will blend the new metal in seamlessly. After a resize, you might be able to spot a faint line if you look very closely, but this is usually polished until it all but disappears.

Services like a fresh rhodium plate will completely transform tired-looking white gold, making it look brand new again. A reputable jeweller’s goal is always to restore your piece to its original beauty and strength.

Ready to bring a cherished piece of jewellery back to life? The expert team at Opulence Jewellery Services is here to help, with many repairs done while you wait in our Hatton Garden workshop. Visit us online to learn more about our services.