How Long Does Jewelry Repair Take? (2026)

Q: How long does mail-in jewelry repair take?

Longer than bench time alone: 2-5 days in, 1 day to evaluate and quote, your approval, 1-10 days on the bench, 2-5 days back.

How long does jewelry repair take?

RJS's standard turnaround is 5 to 10 business days on the bench. For a mail-in repair, plan on 2 to 3 weeks door to door — bench time plus insured shipping each way plus the day you spend approving the written quote. The single biggest mistake customers make is comparing a local shop's bench time to a mail-in shop's total time. They are not the same number.

Bench time vs. total turnaround

Every honest turnaround estimate has four parts. A shop that quotes you one number is usually quoting only the first.

Stage	Typical duration	Who controls it
Inbound insured transit	2–5 business days	Carrier
Evaluation + written quote	1 business day	Repairer
Your approval	0–3 days	You
Bench work	5–10 business days (RJS standard)	Repairer
Return insured transit	2–5 business days	Carrier

Registered, insured shipping — the service used for high-value jewelry — moves under separate secure handling and is deliberately slower than ordinary parcel service. That is a feature, not a delay: it is what makes the coverage possible.

Turnaround by repair type

Repair	Typical bench time	Why it takes that long
Clean, polish, inspect	1–2 days	Mostly finishing work
Ring resizing (gold, no stones)	2–4 days	Cut, size, solder, finish
Ring resizing (platinum or stones present)	3–7 days	High-heat laser welding; stones must be checked and tightened after
Prong retipping	2–5 days	Per-prong work plus setting check
Stone tightening	1–3 days	Fast unless a setting must be rebuilt
Chain or clasp repair	2–4 days	Solder point must be finished invisibly
Rhodium plating	2–4 days	Strip, prep, plate, cure
Shank replacement	5–10 days	Fabrication, not just repair
Antique / vintage restoration	10+ days	Sourcing period-correct parts; hand fabrication

Ranges reflect standard bench practice. Your written quote confirms the actual schedule for your piece.

What actually causes delays

Waiting on your approval. Reputable repairers do not start work without written authorization. If the quote sits in your inbox for four days, that is four days added.
A second problem found at evaluation. A ring in for resizing often turns out to need prong work too. Approving both at once is faster than two round trips.
Sourcing. Antique restoration, unusual stone replacements, and discontinued findings depend on availability.
Metal type. Platinum does not flow like gold. It needs higher heat and laser welding, which is slower and more skilled work.
Stones in the way. Any repair near a set stone adds an inspection-and-tighten step that a bare band does not need.

How to get your piece back faster

Send a clear description of the problem and photos with the piece.
Approve the quote the day you receive it.
Say yes to the full evaluation up front so a second issue does not become a second shipment.
Ask about rush service before you ship, not after. Rush is generally available and typically priced at a premium.

Where RJS fits

RJS has been on the bench since 2002 and processes 50,000+ pieces a year for retailers, brands, and direct mail-in customers. Every piece is covered under a Lloyd's of London Jewelers Block Policy with 100% chain-of-custody tracking, and every repair is quoted in writing before work begins.

Our standard turnaround is 5 to 10 business days on the bench, across the full range of services above. Rush service is available — ask before you ship so the piece is flagged on arrival.

Frequently asked questions

How long does jewelry repair take turnaround time? At RJS, standard bench turnaround is 5 to 10 business days. Add 2–5 business days of insured transit each way for mail-in, plus the time you take to approve the written quote. Door to door, most mail-in repairs land in the 2–3 week range.

How long does mail-in jewelry repair take? Longer than the bench time alone. A realistic mail-in schedule is: 2–5 days in, 1 day to evaluate and quote, your approval, 1–10 days on the bench, 2–5 days back.

How long does it take to resize a ring? Two to four business days on the bench for gold with no stones; three to seven for platinum or for rings with stones, because platinum requires laser welding and set stones must be inspected and tightened afterward.

Can I get a rush repair? Usually yes. Rush service compresses bench time and is typically priced at a premium — ask before you ship so the piece is flagged on arrival.