Jewelry Repairs
Precision, Integrity, and Artistry
Our jewelry repair specialists combine masterful craftsmanship with genuine care to restore your treasured pieces to their best condition. Whether it’s a simple ring sizing, a full restoration of a family heirloom, or meticulous gemstone replacement, we treat every item with the respect and attention it deserves. With decades of experience and a reputation for precision, integrity, and artistry, we ensure your jewelry returns to you looking beautiful, secure, and ready to be worn for years to come.
Or visit us during business hours.
Our Jewelry Repair Process
We take enormous pride in the quality of our work, and we deeply value our customers and their beloved jewelry. Over the past 55 years, we have seen and corrected many shortcuts and mistakes others have made, and we have worked diligently to perfect our repair process.
1. Bring in Your Jewelry
Make an appointment or bring in your jewelry to our shop at 148 Main Street in Freeport. If you are out of town and need to ship your jewelry, please get in touch with us first.
2. Diagnosis
Most repairs can be evaluated and estimated, at no cost, right in our showroom while you wait. Occasionally, a Sales Associate will spot extensive damage. In these cases, your jewelry will be sent downstairs for our trained jewelers to assess.
We will note what’s wrong, what’s worn, and what might be quietly waiting to fail. Expect questions about how you wear it and whether the piece has sentimental or financial weight.
3. Options and Estimate
You’ll get a clear explanation of what needs to be done, often with a couple of paths. For example, retipping prongs versus replacing them entirely. We will provide a cost estimate and a time frame, and may flag risks, especially with older or delicate pieces.
Estimates are valid for 30 days and we honor them in their entirety unless additional issues are discovered during the repair process. In this case, we will contact you with the information and additional cost and only move forward with your approval.
4. Documentation
Before the piece leaves your hands, it’s logged in. Stones are counted and described, existing damage is noted, and you’ll receive a receipt. This step protects both you and the jeweler.
5. The Repair Itself
The majority of repairs are performed by our expert jewelers in-house. The few repairs we send out to trusted partners are stringing, engraving, gemstone repolishing, and gemstone repairs.
6. Quality Control
Once finished, the piece is inspected again. Stones are checked for security, finishes are reviewed, and measurements are confirmed.
7. Pickup and Review
When you come to pick up your repaired jewelry, we will walk you through what was done and inspect the piece together. This is the moment to ask questions, check comfort and fit, and confirm that everything feels right.
8. Care Advice
Before you leave with your repaired jewelry, we’ll let you know the best ways to care for your jewelry for long-lasting enjoyment.
Are repairs done in house or sent out?
The majority are, in fact, done in house. Our capabilities are many, so please think of these as just a glimpse of what we handle within our building:
- Ring sizing
- Retipping/repronging (rebuilding worn out prongs)
- Diamond & Gemstone Replacement
- Chain repair & Clasp Replacement
- Rhodium plating (treatment on white gold for white and shiny look)
The few repairs we send out to trusted partners are stringing, engraving, gemstone repolishing and gemstone repairs.
How is a ring resized?
There are a few scenarios for resizing a ring:
- Sizing up – your ring is too small and you need it to be larger. We will need to cut your ring in order to add the necessary amount of metal. We will confirm your correct ring size and insert this section seamlessly.
- Sizing down – your ring is too large, and it falls off, spins or is uncomfortable. Again, we will need to cut and file the ring in order to fit it down to the proper size. To note: depending on how much the size comes down, and the design of the ring, challenges might arise with the shape of the ring and how the gems sit.
- Eternity Band sizing – these rings, with gems all the way around, can sometimes be sized. We’ll work with you on the options to maintain the design and integrity of the ring when sizing is possible.
- Plain gold wedding bands do not always need to be cut. We can, in some cases, size these up or down with a special tool. We will recommend the best option for the longevity of the ring.
How much will it cost to resize my ring?
Though this is one of our most common repairs, the answer is dependent upon the ring itself.
There are many factors considered when we provide a formal estimate for sizing. These include size difference and amount of metal needed, width of ring, types of metal, and patterns of two-tones, just to name a few. We also examine the ring for other potential repairs we might recommend doing at the same time as the sizing.
How long will my repair take?
During certain times of the year, specifically around the holidays, and sometimes due to the extent of your repair, the turnaround might be a bit longer. We have recently moved to a new location (March, 2025) so please expect a longer return time.
Can it be shipped?
We can absolutely ship your repairs in or out of state.
Is my jewelry insured?
We are fully insured, and your jewelry is on our premises while it is with us. Any help in assigning it a value is greatly appreciated. If you don’t have any idea, not to worry! Our trained professionals will be able to assign a declared value for our insurance.
Repair Your Jewelry With Brown Goldsmiths
At our Freeport, Maine studio, decades of experience guide every repair. We meticulously restore both heirloom and contemporary pieces, treating each with exceptional care and precision. Bring us what you love and expect craftsmanship that honors it beautifully.
Or visit us during business hours.