How Much to Charge for Jewelry Repair
Price jewelry repair from a bench rate of $65–$125 an hour, delivered as per-task prices — sizing at $40–$120, retipping at $15–$35 a prong, stone setting at $30–$100 a stone — with metal passed through at the day's price plus a handling margin. Add a rush uplift and set a shop minimum. ShowTheReceipts saves each task price as a reusable line.
Task prices, derived from the bench rate
Set an honest bench rate of $65–$125 an hour, then price the tasks by the minutes they take.
| Task | Common range |
|---|---|
| Ring sizing (down) | $40–$70 |
| Ring sizing (up, metal added) | $70–$120 |
| Retipping | $15–$35 per prong |
| Stone setting | $30–$100 per stone |
| Chain / clasp repair | $35–$85 |
| Rhodium plating | $50–$90 |
| Shank replacement | $150–$350 |
Metal is passed through, not absorbed
Quote metal at the day’s price with a 7–14 day validity window, plus a handling margin for sourcing and scrap loss. Labour can hold for 30 days; metal cannot.
A gold quote with no expiry is a bet on the spot price. You’re a jeweler, not a trader.
Set a shop minimum
$35–$60. A two-minute solder still costs intake, a ticket, setup, cleaning, and a pickup conversation — the counter time is the real cost, not the torch time.
Custom, casting, and rush
Custom and casting work is quoted per project with a materials deposit before you commit metal, and rush service carries a stated uplift. Never begin a custom piece on a verbal approval — it’s the one job with no resale value if the customer walks.
What not to do
- Don’t price tasks without tracing them to your bench rate
- Don’t quote gold without an expiry
- Don’t take small work below a shop minimum
- Don’t start custom work without a materials deposit
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal bench rate for a jeweler?
$65–$125 an hour for independent bench work, higher for microscope stone setting and hand fabrication. Customers buy per-task prices, but every task price should trace back to your hourly rate and the minutes the task actually takes at your bench.
What should ring sizing cost?
$40–$80 for a simple sizing in gold, $70–$120 when metal is added, and more for platinum, channel-set bands, or eternity rings that need re-setting. Sizing down is usually cheaper than sizing up because you're not buying metal — price the two differently.
Should I charge a shop minimum?
Yes — commonly $35–$60. A quick solder still costs you intake, a ticket, bench setup, cleaning, and a pickup conversation. Without a minimum, the smallest jobs consume the counter time you need for the profitable ones.
How do I price trade work for other jewelers?
At a trade rate 20–40% below retail, invoiced monthly on net terms rather than per piece. Trade work is volume with no counter time and no customer conversation — it earns the discount, but it should never be priced below your bench rate.