When Should You Repair Jewelry Before Selling It?

Most people either repair all of their jewelry before trying to sell it to a jeweler or they repair none. Usually, you should examine the question by thinking about each individual piece.

Whether or not to repair jewelry before selling it to a jeweler depends on a couple of things. First, what’s the nature and extent of the damage. What’s the value of the piece. The whole decision is based on those two things and how they interrelate.

Let me break it down for you. It’s a simple question of math. Will you get more money than you spent on the repairs if you repair them? It’s that simple. Minor scratches or tarnish really don’t matter. Minor cleaning and polishing is all part and parcel of being a jeweler, and any jeweler that would pay you less because your ring doesn’t look shiny isn’t a jeweler you ought to work with anyway. Some items may need repair. Broken prongs, bent bands, or missing stones definitely affect the value of an intact piece. But you have to think about that, too. Will the item be kept as an antique piece?

If the jewelry’s value is primarily in the materials, a brooch with a broken prong will melt down the same as one that’s intact. You need to figure out the cost of repairs and what value they add to a piece. One thing to consider is that a jeweler will likely take the cost of a repair into account when making an offer. Repairing beforehand doesn’t always mean an increase in profit. On the contrary, the jeweler might charge less for repairs in those circumstances.

Keep in mind, however, that if keeping the item intact is important to you, like if it’s an heirloom or has significant emotional value, professional repair may make it less likely the item will be used for the metal or stones.

If you have jewelry you’d like to sell, do the math first. You can get a free verbal appraisal from me or one of my employees. We can also let you know how repairing will affect the value of your items. If you want to sell, we buy and we always offer a fair deal. So reach out and give me a call. You’ll be glad you did.

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