Has cost of resizing gone up?

[DoeEyes]

I haven’t looked into resizing costs in a few years but it used to be like $20-30 per size. I need to get 2 rings resized from 4 to 6 so I was expecting to pay around $100 total but I’m getting quotes that are way higher, $500+. Am I just asking the wrong places or have prices skyrocketed? Admittedly these quotes were with an artisan jeweler nearby, and Kay jewelry in the mall. I haven’t made the trip to the bare bones jewelers yet.

 

[Slickk]

What metal? In my experience, platinum can be pretty costly to size and also varies widely by jeweler. Maybe check around?

 

[DoeEyes]

Rose gold. No stones in the bands.

 

[Mreader]

Rose gold. No stones in the bands.

That sounds crazy to me, unless it were a super complicated design. I would shop around.

 

[MamaBee]

@DoeEyes That’s crazy..I would call around..I know you live In Philadelphia. Look for a Fast Fix..They have one at the King of Prussia mall..but they may have other locations.

 

[Karl_K]

sounds like go away pricing because they don't want the liability of working with rose gold.

 

[MamaBee]

sounds like go away pricing because they don't want the liability of working with rose gold.

I did look it up after I posted..Rose gold can be brittle and break when resizing. Maybe you’re right @Karl_K..

 

[Mreader]

sounds like go away pricing because they don't want the liability of working with rose gold.

Why is rose gold more difficult to deal with? Copper alloy?

 

[Karl_K]

Why is rose gold more difficult to deal with? Copper alloy?

Sorry I should have posted more details.
It has a well deserved reputation for being very brittle.
It does not respond to rolling well, often developing cracks.
On top of that if you have to add material, its not something everyone has around and since the color varies so much it can be impossible to get a good color match.
Rather than just say no many places will give a go away price.
I do not get why that is so common in the jewelry flipping business.
50 years ago was there a class that said never say no?

 

[Rockdiamond]

Crazy prices for sure- but from a merchant viewpoint, understandable why they’re overcharging. There’s a lot of risk and little on the upside. If they mess up it’s a huge problem.
Doesn’t make it right . Just understandable

 

[Wink]

Or, maybe you sit down with the client, tell them the problems, give them a fair price and if they are willing to sign a hold harmless document, do the work for the fair price.

 

[Rockdiamond]

I agree Wink. If this was a different time. But the present situation is that we all live or die by customer reviews.
I’m not condoning the overcharging. It really blows that people have to be so protective. But with yelp etc……we’re all vulnerable

 

[Wink]

I think you will get more good reviews for taking the time to explain why you cannot take liability for a job than in asking an inflated “go away” price.

 

[Rockdiamond]

I think you will get more good reviews for taking the time to explain why you cannot take liability for a job than in asking an inflated “go away” price.

I couldn’t agree more!

 

[Emeraldcutlover]

I haven’t looked into resizing costs in a few years but it used to be like $20-30 per size. I need to get 2 rings resized from 4 to 6 so I was expecting to pay around $100 total but I’m getting quotes that are way higher, $500+. Am I just asking the wrong places or have prices skyrocketed? Admittedly these quotes were with an artisan jeweler nearby, and Kay jewelry in the mall. I haven’t made the trip to the bare bones jewelers yet.

Hi! I think that’s super high! My friend just went to a jeweler in CT and paid $150 to go to a size 8 for her ER and the same cost for her diamond band. Tiffany (she had another ring to enlarge from them) and they charged $350. So I think yours is extremely expensive. Hope this helps.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

As others in the trade mentioned Rose Gold has issues, especially if 14 or 18K.
Another is rose solder is horrid and if you can get it to flow it often has bubbles or porosity. So most bench jewellers use yellow gold solder and then clients complain they can see the join lines.
Most bench jewelers can do about 3-4 up larger resizes an hour. $50 per ring sizing up and likely complaints etc = a fast way to go broke.
Next there is a worldwide shortage of bench jewellers.
1. Covid - lots older ones retired.
2. there is a lot more mass produced jewels these days and as a result fewer shops doing custom made or repairs.
3. you could send it back to whoever you bought them from, but hey - chances are it was an online business drop shipping from a 3rd world country and they dont do that sort of stuff because there is no money in it and no one they could employ anyway!

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Thank you all for the input here, I personally had no idea rose gold was so difficult to size! I have had it done but always by the bench who made the ring. I see now how important that is!

 

[danusia]

I had 2 rings resized last August (my ER and WB) from 4.75 to a size 6.5. Total cost on resizing both rings was $330 (before taxes) and it was 18 kt yellow gold.

Also, noticed from some of your earlier posts that you might be in the Philly area. If so, the jeweler I used is David Craig (Rotenberg) who is in Langhorne, PA (Bucks County). Not too far from Philly.