Are Your Local Bench Prices Rising?

[Luvallgems]

When I took Maybelle in to be switched to her new setting...no sizing, it was $250.00 dollars!!
He had to do a little “tweaking”.....my theory is that the “Family Owned” little guys are raising repair
prices because of internet sales are taking a part of their “pie.” I paid 1/3 of that just last year.
Thoughts?

 

[monarch64]

I expect skilled labor prices to rise consistently...I also know from experience in working for jewelers that repairs are a huge part of their business. I’m not sure to what one might attribute this increase, though. I’m pretty sure that most brick & mortars who’ve stayed in business this long (past the advent of online jewelers) have figured out more ways than bench prices to keep their doors open.

 

[bludiva]

Some of he jewelers here charge by the size or value of the stone, which ca add up fast! Not sure what is average but if the 250 included some additional work plus the setting it may make sense.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Speaking for NYC .....It’s getting harder and harder to find skilled bench people. That means the best ones can demand higher wages.

 

[bludiva]

Some of he jewelers here charge by the size or value of the stone, which ca add up fast! Not sure what is average but if the 250 included some additional work plus the setting it may make sense.

*the
*can

This phone has been the worst I've had as far as typos go. Ugh! The keys are getting smaller or my fingers are getting clumsier.

 

[Karl_K]

Speaking for NYC .....It’s getting harder and harder to find skilled bench people. That means the best ones can demand higher wages.

yep all over the US.
Few young people replacing the retiring workers + the huge cost of health care.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Another huge issue- inexpensive foreign pieces. A ring can be made in China ( for example) for a lot less than it costs in NYC. We have resisted taking that route. I see it as shortsighted. For one thing, the merchandise is not of the same quality.
Equally important- if you outsource all the labor, who is going to do things like repairs and adjust the size of rings. Save money by outsourcing and loose the ability to make things here. I’m super proud that we have maintained our local factories.
Karl is pointing out another huge factor.
I think that learning a trade like making jewelry- setting, polishing, jewelry work- is a great opportunity for young people. Hopefully more people will follow this course.
But clearly it’s a problem for many local jewelry store’s nowadays

 

[KaeKae]

Last week I took a stone in to my local, small business, jeweler, to be set into a setting I already owned. It needed a new head, as the jeweler who removed the original stone didn't do so gently. He charged me $95. The last time I did this kind of thing, with a different jeweler, he charged me about $140.

 

[Luvallgems]

Last week I took a stone in to my local, small business, jeweler, to be set into a setting I already owned. It needed a new head, as the jeweler who removed the original stone didn't do so gently. He charged me $95. The last time I did this kind of thing, with a different jeweler, he charged me about $140.

@KaeKae My jeweler has tripled prices since last year, he pays his
bench per item ( he splits 50/50). I’ve noticed he isn’t selling like
In the past. They do great work, been going there for 20 years....just
a shock when he told me the price. I don’t fault him, gotta stay in business.

 

[FlashyFlamingo]

My local jeweler charged $140 to size down (one size) a ring with a plain platinum band. I didn’t want to seem tacky and say something but I definitely thought it was pricy for a 10 minute job.

 

[JPie]

A local jeweler charged me $150 to size up a gold ring, from 4.5 to 5.5. A different one charged $60-70 (can't remember exactly) to size down a gold ring from about 8.5 to 6.5. Rarely do things seem to get cheaper, though I don't know if the difference is in sizing up vs. sizing down.

 

[KaeKae]

@KaeKae My jeweler has tripled prices since last year, he pays his
bench per item ( he splits 50/50). I’ve noticed he isn’t selling like
In the past. They do great work, been going there for 20 years....just
a shock when he told me the price. I don’t fault him, gotta stay in business.

@Luvallgems that would have shocked me, too!
To be clear, the work last week was the less expensive. But I do live in a slightly less expensive area than I used to,(still a pricier area of the US) and where the other work was done, so maybe that is part of why there was a difference. Honestly, I was surprised (in a good way!) when he told me the price it would be, and then it was actually $5 less than predicted. Weird, huh?

 

[bludiva]

A local jeweler charged me $150 to size up a gold ring, from 4.5 to 5.5. A different one charged $60-70 (can't remember exactly) to size down a gold ring from about 8.5 to 6.5. Rarely do things seem to get cheaper, though I don't know if the difference is in sizing up vs. sizing down.

maybe you got credit for the gold they got to keep?

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Bench work has always been expensive where I live. I love good quality work and I love that employees have a good salary and benefits. Win win

cheers--Sharon