Midtown Jewelry Repair Shop With Posted Prices: CHC

Four floors above West 46th Street, one block south of the Diamond District, a family-run studio does something most repair counters in Midtown avoid: it publishes its prices. CHC Fine Jewelry lists starting rates for ring sizing, chain repair, prong retipping, pearl restringing and two dozen other jobs on its website, gives a written estimate before any work begins, and guarantees each repair for 90 days. If you have a broken chain and want to know roughly what it will cost before you take the elevator up, this is a good place to start.

CHC describes itself as a family-owned studio and workshop, and the About page is clear that it is a small operation. Three people work there, and all three handle your piece. The bench jeweler has more than 30 years of experience in gold, silver and platinum, a stone setter sets every diamond and gemstone, and a designer builds new pieces in 3D. The page opens with an image that suits the place: four floors up, a block off the Diamond District, there is a workbench.

That setup matters for repairs. In many shops the person at the counter takes your ring, writes a ticket and sends it to a trade bench you never see. At CHC the repair page says the work is done by hand in the Midtown studio, and you can sit down with a jeweler who will look at the piece with you. It also repairs jewelry bought anywhere, whether or not it came from CHC, in gold, silver and platinum.

The prices are starting prices for labor only. Extra metal, stones and parts cost more, and the page warns that white gold, platinum, larger sizes and complex pieces may cost more again. The final price is confirmed after a jeweler inspects the piece. With that caveat, the list is a useful guide. Ring sizing down starts at $55, sizing up starts at $65 before added metal, and white gold or platinum sizing starts at $110.

Chain repair, soldering broken links, starts at $30, and a clasp replacement starts at $50. Pearl restringing starts at $60. Prong retipping starts at $35, and the shop notes that the price depends on how many prongs need work. Rhodium plating, which brings back the bright finish on white gold, starts at $65. Engraving initials starts at $20, and antique restoration starts at $150. A safety check and inspection is free with any repair.

The repair terms page sets out the process in detail. You get a written estimate before any work begins, and nothing starts until you approve it in writing, by message, email or a signed receipt. Estimates are valid for seven days, since metal prices change. The repair page also offers a free evaluation, in which a jeweler inspects the piece, explains what it needs and answers your questions with no obligation.

Turnaround depends on the job. The FAQ says some repairs are quick and others, such as stone work or restoration, take longer, and you get a time estimate when the piece is assessed. Pickups are by appointment and require your receipt and a valid ID. Every repair is guaranteed for 90 days from the day the piece goes back to you, whether or not you bought it there.

One rule is worth knowing before you leave something behind. Under New York lien law, the terms say, items that are not picked up and paid for within 90 days of notice may be sold to cover repair charges. Put the pickup date in your calendar.

This is a studio, not a walk-in storefront. The repair page asks you to call or text before you visit, and the contact page explains why: a jeweler will then be at the bench and ready to look at your piece with you. The number takes texts and WhatsApp. If you cannot get to Midtown, the shop also takes mail-in work. You email photos for a free evaluation first, then send the piece with its repair intake form.

West 46th Street sits between some of Midtown's best-known buildings, so a drop-off can easily become a walk. Head south on Fifth Avenue to the New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, where the marble lions Patience and Fortitude guard the steps, and Bryant Park opens up behind it. A few blocks east, Grand Central Terminal's main concourse has its painted ceiling of constellations and the four-faced clock over the information booth.

For transit, the 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center station on Sixth Avenue, served by the B, D, F and M trains, is closest. The 7 train stops at Fifth Avenue near Bryant Park, about four blocks south, and Grand Central has the 4, 5, 6 and Metro-North.

Address: CHC Fine Jewelry, at 34 W 46th St, Suite 403, New York, NY 10036, one block from the 47th Street Diamond District. Hours: Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm, closed weekends and public holidays. Call or text before visiting. Starting prices are published on the repair page and cover labor only. Written estimates are valid for seven days. Pickups need your receipt and ID, and repairs carry a 90-day guarantee.

Bring the piece, any loose stones in a sealed bag, and a note of what went wrong and when. If you have time to fill while a quick fix is done, the Karpo APP can point you to a nearby lunch spot or a quiet bench in Bryant Park.