Why is Silver More Expensive to Repair Than Purchase

Sterling silver is a great, lower cost, white metal to wear! While the price is less expensive than gold, people are often surprised when the cost to repair or size a sterling silver ring is so high, especially when it is set with gemstones.  Why is that? Let’s talk about it!

Thermal Conductivity

Sterling silver and gold have different properties, so it makes creating and repairing them a different skill set.  The most significant one, being thermal conductivity.

Thermal conductivity in metal refers to the rate that heat absorbs and transfers, and sterling silver has a much higher rate than gold.

When a jeweler applies torch heat to solder the metal, as in the case with ring sizing, the heat in silver travels so quickly that it will burn the gemstones in the setting, even when the gemstones aren’t near the solder spot.  With gold, there is more time to finish the repair before it gets dangerous to the gemstones. 

How Does That Affect Price?

Whenever a jeweler does a repair to silver, he or she needs to first pull all the gemstones, then, reset them when they are finished with the solder spot.  So, now, the cost includes not only the solder/resizing, but the cost for pulling and resetting each gemstone.  And, stone setting is a skill to be respected because a gemstone can easily be broken. 

What Does This All Mean to Me?

The initial price of sterling silver over gold can sound great on your wallet, but don’t be surprised at the price of the long-term care.  Sterling silver jewelry can:

·       Cost higher in future repairs and ring sizing

·       Be prohibitive in certain types of repairs

·       Take more effort to take care of, in terms of cleaning tarnish

Angela Cisneros Jewelry Concierge brings back the joy and confidence of jewelry shopping, so that you can celebrate with ease! My by-appointment approach means:

• One-on-one appointments (personal attention and no crowds!)

• Discretion and privacy (surprises remain surprises!)

• Expert help from a Graduate Gemologist with 28 years of experience (yep, that’s me!)

Learn more about me and my process: www.AngelaCisneros.com 

Book your FREE appointment with me today! www.AngelaCisneros.com/book-appointment