I was massively overcharged here and would NOT recommend it to anyone because the owner lacks integrity with regard to repairs. I am also concerned that he couldn't tell that my necklace had cheap enamel and beads, not precious stones.
I brought in two necklaces with sterling silver chains: one had one link broken and the other had two-three links broken. The first necklace I had bought for $28 dollars from Macy's and the 2nd necklace I had bought for $24 at Stella and Dot. I have had them for around 5 years each and used to get them repaired yearly from a store in Newport Beach at Fashion Island that repaired the links while I waited, sometimes overnight because they were backed up, but it only cost $19 each or $38 tops for two because it only took them 10 mins or 30 mins max to fix.
Last summer, I moved from Corona del Mar, Newport Beach to Costa Mesa, Mesa Verde, and thought that I'd give this local place ACE Jewelry a shot since I'd seen some good reviews about it. The owner of Ace was very kind and acted professional. I admit to you that it is MY FAULT that I didn't ask him the price that it would be for repairs before I left them with him. I think I assumed his prices wouldn't be more expensive than a high-end luxury jewelry store in Newport Center. I really should have negotiated the price before I left - just a tip for everyone!
When I came back a week later to pick them up, he rang me up for $221.80 (that's right - 221 dollars and 80 cents!) and at that point he had already processed my card. I let him know that I did not agree with the price, and he said, "You know, it's like doing maintenance on your car! You pay 2000 for it and have to pay 1500 maintenance on it sometimes.", I said, "But you know, these necklaces were only around 30 each." He said, "Well, yes, but that's life!" As I walked out, I thought about what he had said about saying that I had lovely "stones" that were set in these necklaces, and thought, wow, if he did not know the difference between stones and cheap beads, that's pretty bad.
Also, let's say that he works at $40 an hour, that would mean that he spent near 6 hours repairing 3-4 links on a sterling silver chain necklace. When a luxury jewelry company in Newport Beach can repair these links in 30 mins and cost near 1/8th the price, that says something.
I have ZERO respect for this shop and its owner, and I would not recommend it to anyone for reasons of INTEGRITY, which is really important to me and relationships. Perhaps COVID did a number on him and he is looking to recoup money back, which I can understand to a degree, but EVERYONE is still broken from COVID and we're all trying to move on and do life together. Lack of integrity in one's work is the worst way to engage with people and it is terrible service. All I know is that I am going back to Newport Beach for the luxury service with my jewelry at 1/8th the cost of what this guy is charging because at least they are HONEST.
Sorry, ACE. read more