Jewelry Repair on a Budget: Surprisingly Cheap Ways to Restore Your Favorite Piece

Your favorite jewelry can last a lifetime — even several generations! — if you take good care of it. And of course that’s the goal, but often, life happens and pieces get tarnished, chipped, tangled, or broken. While it can feel disappointing, even devastating when this happens, there are plenty of solutions that won’t break the bank. Before you give up on your favorite jewelry piece, let’s take a look at some surprisingly cheap ways to restore it. 

This key pendant's original bail had completely snapped off, requiring a replacement.

Assessing Your Jewelry

Before you despair, get clear on the problem. First, take a good look at your piece of jewelry in proper lighting. The damage might not be as bad as it seems! Sometimes a huge tangle of several jewelry pieces just takes a little bit of time and determination to sort out, or a tarnished piece only needs a good polishing to look as good as new. Perhaps your necklace clasp is broken or your bracelet is missing a jump ring. These situations only require a little bit of problem solving and you might even be able to fix it yourself at home. If that’s not the case — for example, if the beautiful diamond center stone fell out of a precious heirloom ring — there are still affordable solutions. (We’ll get to that later.)

DIY Jewelry Cleaning

A good first step in most situations is to clean the jewelry. If it’s looking worn or tarnished, you might think it’s a lost cause — but don’t worry. Sometimes, a DIY cleaning session can bring it back to life. For most pieces of jewelry, a simple cleaning solution is best. You can use warm water with a few drops of gentle soap, like dish soap, to clean your jewelry. Use a soft cloth with the soapy water to carefully wipe your jewelry. This can generally make a big difference, but if it doesn’t, a professional cleaning service can help. Specialists have advanced equipment and training that can clean jewelry in ways that we can’t do at home. Many of these services aren’t expensive; get a quote from your local jeweler, or get in touch with the Quick Jewelry Repair team online. 

Simple Repairs You Can Do at Home

If cleanliness isn’t your concern, here are some other popular at-home fixes that may work for you:

Untangling chains

If you’ve got one or more pieces of jewelry in a tangle, don’t stress. Put your pieces on a clear surface, like a coffee table, and make sure you have good lighting. Grab a safety pin and try to lift the knots from the tangled chains. This might take a long time, so be patient! Jewelers also offer this service for you if you’ve spent a lot time on it and can’t get the knots out. 

Polishing tarnished pieces

If you cleaned your pieces and they’re still giving that tarnished, antique (but not in a good way) look, try giving them an at-home polishing service. You can find affordable jewelry polishing kids online that come with a special cloth that can lift some of the stubborn residue on your pieces. We wouldn’t recommend using these products on older, delicate pieces, as the ingredients in these kits can sometimes be harsh and could damage your pieces.

A before and after example of a ring in need of a cleaning!

Repairing broken chain links

If there’s a chain link that has loosened, making your necklace, bracelet, or anklet come undone, you can use a pair of pliers to pinch the ends together, pulling the pieces back in order. Usually, these chain links are made of a thin metal that is easily pliable. While it looks like an expensive fix, it only takes a little patience and fine motor skills!

Upcycling and Repurposing

There are also plenty of fun ways to upcycle your pieces! Did your dangling earring get detached? Use it as a charm for your necklace. If your chain necklace broke, but the clasp still works, maybe it will fit as a bracelet now. Or maybe you can combine old jewelry together to make new pieces. Don’t be afraid to get creative when it comes to solving your jewelry mishaps — there might be a free upcycling solution that you can use to make something completely new!

When to Invest in Professional Repair

When none of these solutions work for you, it’s time to look into professional repair. Luckily, many jewelry repairs often won’t be as costly as replacing the original piece of jewelry, but it’s still going to cost you. However, going to an expert can assuage your worries about damaging your jewelry further; sometimes DIY methods can do more harm than good. Jewelers have training and skills, not to mention very specialized equipment, that can ultimately make your jewelry more durable and look even better than it once did. 

See a jeweler when you need to set a stone, resize your rings, solder a broken chain, or replace the broken crystal of your watch face. These repairs, for example, won’t break the bank and will put your jewelry pieces back to working condition so you can wear them again happily.

How to Prevent Jewelry Issues

Now that we’ve covered some affordable solutions for jewelry mishaps, let’s take a quick look at how to prevent those mishaps before they occur. 

Taking good care of your jewelry pieces can be really effective. While many unpreventable accidents happen, there are also plenty of things you can avoid. It’s smart to take off your jewelry before going in the water, engaging in athletic activities, or doing anything that could damage your pieces while you wear them.

Storing your jewelry pieces properly, preferably in a lined jewelry box, can ensure that they’re safe when you’re not wearing them. Items left out on the counter or bedside table run a higher risk of damage, water exposure, and heat. A closed lid will also keep your jewelry away from damaging chemicals in lotions, hairsprays, and perfumes. 

Speaking of these everyday items with harmful chemicals, it’s best to give your jewelry a quick wipedown at the end of every wear to make sure you prevent any residue buildup. Residue can cause tarnish that’s hard to get rid of. It’s also smart to get your jewelry professionally cleaned once or twice a year to ensure your jewelry stays in great condition.

Taking care of your jewelry is important, but when life happens, you don’t have to write off your favorite pieces. Follow these tips or get in touch with our team to make sure your pieces get the TLC they deserve.