Now that you know some of the reasons why Jewelry Repairs get delayed, let's continue...
Jobs are always put in a rotating order. Usually a job doesn't even get touched until the day before it's due. *GASP! (Unless things get really slow in the shop!) So the day before it's due, the Jeweler will start working on it. Sounds crazy, but that's the way things are. That's why, if there's a problem, that's when you're going to get the call saying "It's going to take another Week!" All it takes is for the Jeweler to accidentally break a Gemstone, or needs to order a New Clasp, or even just run out of Gold Solder. It happens, and it delays the entire job!
I always advise Customers to call the Jeweler the day the repair is due, just to double check that it's actually finished on time, before you drive all the way there.
Nothing gets a customer upset more than wasting their valuable time and gas, just to get there and have the Jeweler say "It's not done yet!" Call First! Most of the time it will be done as scheduled. Most of the time Jewelers will even make an attempt to call you and let you know it's finished. But if the Jeweler gets busy or tied up in a sale, calling you, to tell you your Bracelet Shortening is finished, just won't get done! It's just a matter of fact!
The only good thing about delayed repairs is that sometimes you can talk the Jeweler into knocking a couple of bucks off the repair for your so called "Inconvenience"! It's worth a shot! You never know!
Another bit of advice... I would only take a repair to a Jeweler that did their own work on the premises. (Unless you bought it from a Jeweler that sends it out. Then you just have to deal with it!) Why does this matter? Usually when Customer's Merchandise or Jewelry comes up missing or lost, it's because the Jeweler sends things out to other shops to have fixed. Once it leaves their store, anything could happen to it. They have no control once it's gone.
If the repairs stay in the store, chances are good they'll be Finished Faster, Cheaper (no shipping charges), and they won't get Lost!
So if it's a quick and easy job, like Straightening Prongs, Tightening Stones, Simple Solders, Re-Rhodium Plating, New Clasps... I'd say it'll take anywhere from 1 Day to 3 Days to fix. (On average, give or take, depending on the Jeweler you go to!) A normal job, like New Heads, New Prongs, Retipping, Tightening Channels, Resizings... Could take 1 Week to 2 Weeks. Harder jobs like Resettings, New Mountings, Custom Designs, Altering Settings, Creating Waxes, Castings... Could take 2-3 Weeks to repair, if not longer. It all depends on how much of a pain in the butt your job is!
Note: If you're dealing with Platinum, you may have to double the times listed above. Platinum is an extremely tough metal to work with and requires more time, effort, and care to get it right.
So there you go! That's why Jewelry Repairs can take 2-3 Weeks to complete. Keep in mind, if you just need a Ring Polished... that only takes a minute or two. This little fix can usually be done while you wait. See... some things are fast! (I never said they were free!)
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