Scratches, repairs and resizing

31 October 2026 • 2 دقائق قراءة

Scratches and small breaks are normal in gold that is worn, and most of them can be fixed by a jeweller if you know what to ask for.

Surface scratches

Light scratches usually disappear with polishing, which the jeweller does with special tools.

Polishing removes a very thin layer of metal, so it is not wise to repeat it often on thin pieces.

White gold may also need re-plating with rhodium after polishing to regain its bright white colour.

Pieces with a matte or engraved finish need special polishing so their original look is not lost, so mention this to the jeweller.

A snapped chain or broken clasp is among the most common repairs, and it is usually fixed by soldering.

Ask for solder of the same karat or a close one so there is no visible colour difference.

Keep the broken piece and any part that fell off, and do not try to fix it yourself with glue or pliers.

If a chain keeps breaking in the same spot, it may be better to strengthen the links or replace the clasp rather than solder it again and again.

Most simple rings can be resized by adding a small piece of gold or cutting a section out, then soldering and polishing.

Rings with stones set all the way around, or made from very hard metals, can be hard to resize.

Ask before buying whether the design allows resizing later.

A ring can usually be changed by one or two sizes easily, while a big change may need more work that alters its shape.

Ask for the piece to be weighed in front of you before and after the repair, and note the weight on the receipt.

Ask about the cost and time in advance, and about any added weight if the repair needs new gold.

Keep the receipt until you collect the piece and confirm it is in good condition.

Also ask for the receipt to describe the piece and any stones in it, so you can confirm on collection that it is the same one.