Thirty years ago Biro and Sons did a fantastic job restoring many silver pieces of mine. Recently the handle came off in one place on one of them. Today I brought it back to be repaired. Not only did they do it immediately they did it for free! I was more than fully prepared to pay them but they didn't charge me anything It's nice to know in these times that there are still places like that I'll definitely be back read more

They know how to make your silver or copper shine. For decades they've been my go-to guys.

Excellent service Impeccable knowledge and expertise on the your most precious silver items read more

Service was great - these guys are really artisans. They bring old and damaged silver pieces back to life.

Great service from a company that knows their business. Parking is not too difficult either.

If you have your old copper pots, or your mom's or grandparents' copper cookware and want to do right by your inheritance then take them to Biro & Sons to get them re-tinned inside, and repolished outside and you'll have a jewel and the best cookware you'll ever have. If they're good quality and you don't care for them, I'll take 'em and give them the TLC they need! It's not cheap to have them spruced up, but Biro's does amazing work! It takes a few weeks to get them back, and the anticipation is worth it! They make all your heirloom silverware, and family silver pieces, shine like brand new. Underneath all that tarnish is your family pride. Make your mom and dad proud by taking their wedding silver to Biro! You'll be forever glad you did. They just don't make those treasures anymore. read more

Beautiful work. Biro and Sons has brought several of my pieces back to their original splendor. Highly recommended!

I've reviewed these guys before, but they just keep coming through for me! I'm an engraver, and sometimes I mess up... but Biro always fixex it... always. Don't know what I'd do without them. read more

Beautiful work. I've had them replate, repair, and restore many silver pieces -- including flatware chewed up in the disposal. Highly recommended! read more

Great first experience. Very strong work. They finished the job faster than their expected ETA which is always nice. I walked in to have my Sterling Silver Cups set to have the interior mirror polished. They gave me a quote and ETA of two weeks and gave me an order number. After almost a couple weeks I gave them a call and they politely told me about a day or two more as my cups are next in line to be worked on, still within the ETA. About a few hours later I received a call that they were ready. Came in and paid. Very pleased with their work. I recommend them.o read more

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Brought in some silver plate and brass heirlooms over the course of several months. First was a small silver plate mirror. It's potentially over a hundred years old and was damaged on the metal, the silvering had come off the mirror, generally a disaster. Now, I have no real idea what artisan/craft work like this should cost, and I have to admit to some sticker shock on this one, but it looks brand new, and was worth every penny! (I know it was a lot of probably fiddly work and required involving a glass/mirror person, so I'm pretty confident the price was fair). Next was a large brass hourglass. It was in need of repair and polish. It looks spectacular. After that it was an assortment of brass home decor items. They look brand-freaking new, and that order only took a day to complete. These guys do beautiful work, at reasonable prices and in a timely manner. What more could I ask for? It's great to know also that whenever we can have estate sales again, I can find hidden brass gems and bring them here for a new lease on life. read more

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Biro and Sons is and incredible resource that goes back to 1945 in San Francisco. They have done numerous repairs and restorations for us that range from routine to extremely difficult in sterling, silver plate, coin silver and silver over glass. They do wonderful plating of silver and other metals. There is no one else on the entire west coast with their capabilities. One cannot compare them to jewelers. They are artisans. Step back in time and enjoy professionals who have apprenticed for years and then gone forward in their craft. We have used them to correct jobs botched by others. Spend a little more and have these experienced professionals do the job right. Thank you, Biro and Sons. Thomas Maxwell, Owner Maxwell Silver Matching Service Chico, California Since 1979 Members of the Better Business Bureau A Plus Rating read more

5 stars for a doing a really nice job fixing a crack in a seam of a silver money-clip. Minus one star for being a little slow (1 month) and more expensive than I was expecting ($85) - but they did a really nice job and polished it up better than I thought was possible. They did add a healthy amount of silver in the high stress area to ensure the crack doesn't start again. Cash or check only. Very friendly service from a well established SF business. read more

I had a great experience with Biro and Sons Silversmiths. They were recommended to me by Bay Area Restoration in Moss Beach when I brought my son's perpetual trophy to see about fixing the wood base. The silver "loving" cup atop the base had a dent and one of the handles had broken off (not by my son! ;-) and had been glued on by someone previously in possession of it. The entire trophy was is sad shape and is 33 years old. Both of the gentlemen I encountered during drop-off and picking up were very congenial and interested in the trophy and in the equestrian sport in which my son competes. I enjoyed speaking with them and I loved the feel of the shop; it feels comfortable and old world to me. They seemed genuinely interested in their customer and the quality of their work. The work they did was superb. There is NO trace of the dent and the handle is fixed and there is no sign of it having been broken or the glue that someone tried to "fix" it with. (I can't believe someone did that!) The cost of the repair was very reasonable and I do have some of my own silver antiques, a few of which need some repair. I intend to bring to them to Biro and Sons even though it is a bit of a drive for me. Luckily, they have their own parking spot just in front of their shop and it makes it easier for their customers for a brief drop off or pick up. read more

I had 2 small copper pots with lids re-tinned here. I was very impressed with the results. A bit expensive but worth it. All shined up as good as new. I'm going back to get some flatware silver-plated. I think they mentioned sending some work out of state due to California environmental laws. read more

This little hole in the wall place in SOMA restores antique hardware, and I think sells some (but doesn't have much on display). They have a process for aging hardware so it will look old. It's a chemical they add to it at the end. I had some old rusted drawer handles restored there. They did a pretty good job. After I got them back, I found one of them still had some rust on it, and I took it back to them, and they worked on it some more. Repairs here are really expensive, but if you need to have old hardware restored, there are not many options. read more

Martin Biro didn't know us when my wife and I dropped off many family silver and brass pieces, yet when we left he showed a kindness and care that one does not see much of anymore. We picked up our silver and brass this morning and Martin spent time to discuss each piece and recommended how to best maintain our treasures in the future. Thank you Martin and thank you to the team at Biro & Sons. Very grateful. read more

I took a silver Montblanc pen to be shined up for a special event I was having (the pen has sentimental value). I assumed a place like this could really get it to shine! The gentleman in the front (very nice) took it to the back where someone cleaned it up on the spot. The first man came back and said it was done. I was surprised because he was only gone for a couple of minutes. It was definitely cleaner, but didn't look like it was thoroughly polished. I was charged $25 and left. I took it home and polished it myself and got it cleaner!! Biro was such a disappointment. I assume I was not taken seriously because it was only a pen, but a true professional knows to provide the best service no matter the size of the job. I won't be going back. read more

My destroyed silver tray was smashed, handle broken and a total loss. Biro restored it to brand new perfection! Amazing craftsmanship and service! Thank you! read more

I don't like writing negative reviews of a family company with a good reputation, but they got greedy and tried to take advantage of me, so here goes. I brought in a hand-made silver key chain for repair after one of the links broke. A simple repair, and it wasn't cheap at $35. But that's not my complaint, considering that it would have cost me that much or more to get the equipment to do silver brazing myself. In fact, I would have been a satisfied customer, even with their $8 shipping charge, which seemed a bit excessive. But I also asked them to look for a clasp. I received a call that a silver clasp had been found and it would cost $55. That seemed high. So I checked the price of clasps on eBay, not the cheapest ones but clasps that look attractive for jewelry, are sterling silver, not "silver tone," and are large enough to support a key chain. All the prices I saw were well below $10. So I called back, thinking that he was quoting me the total cost of the job, that $55 would include the key chain repair and a clasp. That would still give them a 100% markup. But no, he said that was the cost of a silver lobster clasp. I then told him the prices I found on eBay. He laughed and dismissed my information as if buying something on eBay is a non-starter, because he had no ground to stand on. He said the cost would still be $55. I told him to skip it. I would take care of the clasp. Then I bought a really nice, large, sterling silver clasp on eBay for $7.50 plus $4 shipping. And it looks better than the one he was offering. Large sterling silver lobster clasps were all cheaper than this. Biro was trying to get away with one here, thinking a customer buying a silver jewelry item wouldn't balk at $55. But I wasn't born yesterday and don't appreciate it when a company tries to take advantage of me. They're lucky I'm giving them two stars because they did do the repair right and they sent it back by the date promised. I won't do business with them again and suggest you watch your wallet too. Reputation is everything, folks. Treat your customers with integrity and your business will multiply. Otherwise you earn reviews like this. read more

I took an art nouveau cane handle in for minor repair. Angels blowing horns with leaves Returned to me a piece of metal with almost all decoration removed, dripped solder, new metal added in odd places - in with a fine piece of art out with a mangled piece of junk. And now Richard at Biros & Sons informs me I am not the type of person who would understand or appreciate fine silver. If you go there - bring your pedigree!!! read more

I took four brass objects to Biro to be nickel plated. The results were less than satisfactory - very poorly done. My father was in the metal finishing business just down Folsom Street from Biro for forty years. I know what good work is. The owner, to say the least, is peppery. When I complained about incomplete plating with brass showing through sparse nickel I was told that I was being condescending and did not understand the process. If you expect quality work I would suggest using Sherm's Plating in Sacramento. The work is beautiful and there is no ATTITUDE. read more

Biro and Sons is a long time San Francisco silversmith business, and are experts at what they do, and sometimes perform "miracles". Most people don't realize the complications in repairing pieces that have had unknown previous repairs, or fabricated with unknown types of solder. Sometimes a repair can go very smoothly, sometimes it turns into a can of worms and take much longer than anticipated. Unfortunately, this can cause some severe Sticker Shock, leading one to believe they are being over charged. Hard to say, since one will never know the time involved, and people are often in a dilemma of just how much a precious family heirloom is worth to spend a decent amount of money to fix properly. However, I have left there feeling like they know they're the only game in town for people, and use that to their advantage. read more

Biro & Sons gets my highest recommendation. I strongly disagree with Gary S's review below, comparing ebay items to a retail shop who was replacing a part. Ebay is rampant with imported low-cost cheap jewelry parts. If you find one there, good for you, but buying cheap imports will kill your local shop. Biro & Sons is an irreplaceable asset to our community. I have had several repairs done and will continue to use them for their quality service and fairness. If you want to go nickle and dime them for what is a fair market rate because it's higher than what you'd find on ebay, you're being very unrealistic. And $8 shipping is totally fair for a small box, unless you want your piece all bent to heck when it arrives. Been there. I have had 2 sculptures with difficult repairs done and both restored to perfection. Thanks to Biro & Sons! read more

I went in to get two silver candelabra repaired. The work was excellent, The price was fair, and it was ready as promised. I can't even see where the repairs were made. I'll definitely go back. read more

The BEST. Wonderful people. Meticulous work. Brilliant results. HIGHLY recommend.

Fantastic service! The ONLY issue with Brio & Sons is limited parking, though they have a driveway in front of the store that they allow customers to use to park. We couldn't be more pleased with the quality of their work! read more

Biro restored a Hanukah menorah that I inherited. The menorah had been terribly tarnished, stems were misaligned and some ornamental parts were either broken off or hanging by a thread. I don't remember this menorah glistening like this even when I was a child lighting it 40 years ago. These people perform magic. read more

Biro and Sons are the consummate professionals. In the past 4 years, I have delivered numerous silver pieces to them - for clients - for professional cleaning and some repairs. Gold Stars and Straight A's - for superior service. Old school service. Always recommend Brio to my clients and friends. read more

What a nice family to do business with. I just moved back to SF from Argentina and what happens to me? I break my grandmother's silver frame that was over 100 years old! It was the only thing I had from her to remember her by. I went to see Rick Biro who has done this work for years, and his father started the business long ago. My piece was fixed so well that I could not even tell that it had ever been broken. The price was great considering the work they had to do to fix it. I wish every place could be so customer oriented. Thanks Rick, Grandma will NEVER know. read more

Rick and the team were fantastic! I had a last minute project for work that needed a quick and quality solution. Biro and Sons did just that, working quickly and effectively to send back my items better than when I delivered it. Having worked with many vendors for my job, this group's service was as good as it gets. I highly recommend them for any individual or company looking for craftsmen who deliver quality results with service to match! read more

There needs to be more than 5 stars for Biro & Sons Silversmiths. They represent the kind of craftsmanship, artistry, and technique that is all but extinct today. Many years ago, I was fortunate to inherit a large amount of silver pieces from my grandmother in England -- pieces large and small, many of them with intricate designs and parts. And treasured antiques like this occasionally need repair. Biro & Sons have expertly done more repairs for me than I can count. Their work is simply perfection. They have done small things for me -- like taking an unfortunate dent out of a silver bowl -- to major repairs on a large silver candelabra. They brought back to life a 150-year-old sterling silver fork that got completely mangled when it fell into the garbage disposal, and the repaired fork showed not a trace of its traumatic experience. They rescued a valuable set of brass bells and their mountings from rusting into oblivion. But to really understand how much craftsmanship this shop possesses, I need to recount one amazing experience. Among the most treasured things left to me by my grandmother was a large silver tea set, which included three silver sugar bowls with intricately designed silver lids. Horrifically, two of the three lids accidentally were thrown out in the trash when we were throwing away all the packing paper which had wrapped the whole set. I really was heartbroken. However, all was not lost. Biro and Sons took the one remaining lid, made a casting of it, and completely created two new silver lids. The new lids are absolutely indistinguishable from the surviving original. And my grandmother's treasured tea set was whole again. Biro & Sons aren't just expert silversmiths -- they are also magnificent artisans who help us preserve the heirlooms which are dear to our hearts, and connect us with loved ones who came before us. And on top of it all, they are an exceedingly nice family-run business to deal with. Father and sons all working together in a profession that has been handed down from one generation to the next. read more

I sent my silver candlesticks to Brio & Sons, after I dropped one in the kitchen sink and put a small dent in the side of one. Martin of Brio & Sons told me they could fix it and polish these candlesticks. I was elated. I sent them in via USPS, after Brio & Sons received them, Martin called me and said the cost would be $75.00 apiece, I said, let's do it. I received my candlesticks about three weeks later, opened the package, saw that they were polished, saw that the original dent had been polished over but was still there and then looked at the other candlestick and saw a big dent toward the top of this candlesticks that originally had no defects. I immediately called Martin, he said they discovered this dent when cleaning it, WHAT ?? He then went on to explain how he would have to fix it, ex. Cut it open, pull the dent out, solder it. Why didn't he do just that ? I felt I was being lied too, being taken advantage of by hacks. I thought they were craftsmen, apparently not. Please find some place else to have your work done. read more

Biro & Sons Silversmiths - Bolero Candlesticks from Hazorfim. Dent courtesy of Brio & Sons. - Antiques Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I had a great copper pan [11.5" x 3'] that I bought at Dehillerin in Paris years ago. Over time, the tinning got scratched to the point that the copper was showing through. I took it to Biro & Sons to be re-tinned and just got it back today. They did just a wonderful job. It looks like new. I think they sent it out but regardless, it's just perfect. It took about a month and cost $160, which they told me in advance. They might be a little slow and a little expensive, but that to me is not the point. The point is that I got it back in such great condition. They exceeded my expectations. I would not hesitate to do business with them again. read more

Brought a set of silverware that had sat for decades in a damp basement. They really did a fantastic job bringing it all back to life. Not cheap. read more

I have used this company for two repairs, one for an antique glass and the second for four beautiful but ruined candlesticks from the early 1930's. The transformation of these pieces was not inexpensive, but so worth it. Both pieces were very meaningful to my family and seeing them restored with love and craftsmanship was a delight. This company offers old world craftsmanship that is all but gone in today's rush rush world. Highly recommended. read more

Biro did a fabulous job on 4 silver candlesticks with intricate patterns that i have never ever been able to clean. They called ahead of schedule so that was also a plus. They are friendly, honest and fairly priced. read more

This is a wonderful, old San Francisco, family owned company. Everything I take to them comes back looking beautiful. We have used them to repair sterling, silver plate and copper objects, to polish and renew antique pewter and to re-tin copper cookware. If it's made out of metal and you like it, it's worth it to bring it in here! read more

These people do amazing work. They refurbished a large copper piece and did an excellent job.

Biro & Sons restored a vintage, much abused French grilling skillet for me, and the results were absolutely amazing. The skillet is used on top of the stove (a gas burner) for grilling usually thinner slices of meat. It has a ridged stainless steel top, a perforated steel bottom, and a wire handle. The top was tarnished and the bottom was rusted. By first sandblasting it, and then using a grinding wheel, the top is as beautiful and shinny as a piece of silver and the utilitarian bottom looks almost new. The cost of the skillet in the Paris flea market was about $10. It cost $110 to make it look like new. The only drawback of having made it look so beautiful is that now I am afraid to use it for fear of messing it up. read more