Jewelry Repair Jobs

"Can you fix . . . ?"

© by JoAnne Green; all rights reserved

From the time I opened my jewelry shop, one of the most frequent questions I hear is, "Can you fix . . . ?"

And "fixing" has become a major portion of my business.

Becky's Necklace, by JoAnne Green

When I began to sell my work, I quickly learned how many people wanted me to repair their jewelry.

I decided to include jewelry repair jobs in my business for several reasons.

I live in an area of the South that's rich with history, and where your family name identifies your links to the community.

Part of this rich tradition is the handing down from generation to generation the jewelry they enjoyed. Some of the jewelry is worth a considerable amount of money; a good deal of it is vintage costume jewelry.

The strung jewelry is most often broken due to the age of the material used to string it. Whether cotton or silk, the cording weakens over the years. Frequently there are missing beads. Most frequently the clasp is broken.

The same problems occur with the newer pieces of jewelry. All of which has resulted in a family heirloom or a favorite piece, or a cherished gift being carefully wrapped and stored in the back of a drawer or jewelry box, instead of being worn and enjoyed.

I find satisfaction in the joy I bring to people who bring me those pieces and leave with a piece of jewelry they can wear and enjoy.

I also find it a learning experience. I learn techniques from my attempts to restore the piece. I learn color combinations I might not have tried on my own. (Pink with red is not in my usual repertoire.)

I get to create new designs using vintage and antique beads. I recently received 90 inches of loose antique beads with the instructions to let the beads talk to me and create something for her to wear. Wow!

And that is just what I did.

I am willing to stretch my skill level, but I never attempt anything that might damage the jewelry piece.

Inlay Link Bracelet, by JoAnne Green

And I am not shy about saying that the jewelry repair job is beyond my skills.

Nor am I reluctant to suggest needed repairs, whether I am to do them or they need to be done by a jeweler.

I even found a way to repair an expensive earring that a jeweler had said could not be repaired. It took me several attempts with different techniques and materials, but I succeeded and the lady now proudly wears her favorite earrings.

One thing I have learned is to prominently post my jewelry repair prices and to stick to them.

The second thing I learned was how to add sales to frequent repairs. I now include in each repair bag a 10% discount coupon for the customer's next purchase. The bag? Simply a 4X6" zip bag with a broad white area to print date, name, telephone number, and repairs needed.

Traffic in my shop has increased due to the repair work I do. And that also means increased sales.