How Much Does It Cost To Solder Rings Together?

Last Updated on June 21, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Soldering is a technique utilized by jewelers to seamlessly and permanently connect two or more rings together. But what exactly does this specialized jewelry service cost? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the typical pricing for ring soldering based on metal types, ring styles, number of joints, jeweler skill level, and other factors.

You’ll find cost ranges, pricing variation examples, details on the soldering process, DIY considerations, risks and benefits, and tips for finding a qualified professional jeweler. Read on for invaluable insights into budgeting and planning for ring soldering projects.

How Much Does It Cost To Solder Rings Together?

The cost to simple solder rings starts around $30-$75 per joint, while intricate projects with multiple solder points cost $150-$500+

Here are typical price ranges charged by professional jewelers for soldering based on the most common precious metals:

• Silver Ring Soldering – $40 to $100 per solder joint
• Gold Ring Soldering – $60 to $150 per solder joint
• Platinum Ring Soldering – $125 to $300+ per solder joint

The significantly higher cost for platinum soldering results from the tremendously high heat temperatures and specialized flux chemicals required to properly fuse this precious metal together without damage or porous joints. Therefore, platinum soldering costs about 60-80% more on average.

In addition to metal, ring style also impacts soldering costs based on the intricacy of detail work involved:

• Basic Bands – $50 to $100 per joint
• Solitaire Diamond Rings – $75 to $150 per joint
• Detailed Vintage Styles – $150 to $300+ per joint

Elaborate engraved filigree and pave designs with delicate detailing require extremely cautious precision soldering work to avoid any damage, thus increasing costs substantially.

The Knot reports that the cost of soldering rings together at a local jewelry store is typically as low as $45. They highlight that this process can help reduce the everyday wear and tear caused by the friction between the rings.

MyJewelryRepair.com lists the cost of “Solder 2-3 Rings Together” as $49.99 in their general pricing guide. They note that the pricing is for standard repairs and that vintage or antique items may require special services with different pricing.

On the Weddingbee Boards, one user mentioned that they were quoted around $70 for soldering their wedding band and engagement ring together, but the price can vary depending on the style of the rings. Another user was quoted $180, which they felt was quite high compared to the expected $40 cost.

My Jewellery Shop, an Australian-based jewelry retailer, provides estimated pricing for soldering rings together. They charge $145 for soldering two 9ct/18ct yellow gold or rose gold rings, $245 for 9ct/18ct white gold, and $80 for silver. For soldering three rings together, the prices are $189 for 9ct/18ct yellow gold or rose gold, $340 for 9ct/18ct white gold, and $100 for silver.

What Is Ring Soldering?

Soldering refers to fusing separate rings together into one unified piece using an alloy metal called solder along with high heat application. The solder binds securely to each ring to create a permanent customized piece.

Jewelers often perform ring soldering in situations like:

• Joining an engagement ring and wedding band into a solid bridal set.
• Connecting multiple anniversary bands into one meaningful ring containing all milestone stones.
• Fusing stackable eternity bands together for stability and seamless stacking.
• Attaching plain metal spacer bands between gems for a custom multi-stone look.
• Joining rings end-to-end to form one fluid band when worn adjacently.
• Securing loose stones by soldering the prong settings flush to the band.
• Permanently connecting class rings or family crest rings for sentimental purposes.

You might also like our articles about the cost of ring cleaning, ring resetting, or diamond mounting.

Factors Impacting Ring Soldering Cost

Several variables affect the pricing for ring soldering:

• Metal Type– Platinum and gold cost far more to solder than silver, titanium, tungsten, or alternative metals due to the high heat sensitivity and specialized skills required.
• Ring Design– Highly embellished vintage filigree or pave styles demand cautious precision soldering and are more labor intensive than plain bands, increasing costs.
• Number of Joints– Each additional solder joint necessary adds to the material expenses and time/effort involved, elevating costs.
• Jeweler Reputation and Experience– Highly experienced jewelers with specialized training in intricate soldering techniques rightfully charge premium pricing, often $100-$300 per joint.
• Geographic Region– Urban jewelers in major metro areas tend to charge 15-30% more on average versus small town rural jewelers for the same services.

With soldering costs ranging from $30 for simple jobs up to several hundred dollars for intricate projects, understanding the price influencing factors allows for proper budgeting.

Jeweler Selection Tips

To choose a jeweler with the proper mastery and credentials to expertly fuse your special rings, be sure to:

• Verify any niche soldering certifications or specialized training completed. Many jewelers pursue classes geared specifically towards complex soldering.
• Review examples of previous soldering work in their portfolio to examine the seam visibility, alignment, and overall quality.
• Ask pointed questions about their experience handling your particular metal types and ring styles to confirm their comfort level with the complexity.
• Check online reviews and testimonials for any red flags regarding quality workmanship or poor customer service issues.

Investing the time to carefully choose an experienced, detail-oriented jeweler pays dividends in providing seamless, lasting, and satisfactory soldering results. Trying to cut costs with someone lacking advanced skills risks irreversible damage.

Overview of the Soldering Process

The actual ring soldering process performed by jewelers typically includes:

• Initial inspection of the rings and collaborative planning of the optimal solder joint positioning.
• Protecting any nearby ring areas not being fused so they are not impacted by the heat involved.
• Preparing the solder pieces and shaping them to integrate smoothly with the ring contours.
• Methodically heating the rings and solder to just the right temperature to properly fuse them together into one solid piece.
• Cooling, meticulously cleaning, and polishing the rings to render the solder joint seam invisible.
• Final checks for proper alignment, seamlessness, and retained structural integrity and mobility once fused.

Depending on the complexity, the overall soldering process can take 30-90 minutes or more from start to finish.

Benefits of Professionally Soldering Rings

Advantages include:

• Enhanced appearance with perfectly flush fit between rings.
• Increased comfort, no spinning or rubbing between bands.
• Rings stay properly aligned on the finger.
• Provides a fully secure hold preventing loss.
• Offers a custom joined look for unique styles.

Professional soldering optimizes the wearing experience.

Potential Risks and Considerations

While a properly trained jeweler can mitigate risks, potential pitfalls to note include:

• Permanent damage like melted or warped sections if overheated during soldering.
• Resizing not possible after soldering without cutting the band apart and restarting the process.
• Loss of antique vintage ring value if modern solder alloy is used to fuse heirloom pieces together.

Thoughtfully planning, asking questions, and conveying any concerns to your jeweler reduces the likelihood of these issues occurring.

DIY Home Soldering – Pros and Cons

Attempting do-it-yourself ring soldering has tradeoffs:

Is it feasible to solder rings together yourself at home? Here are the main considerations:

Pros

• Potentially lower cost if you already own basic soldering equipment.
• More convenient to complete the project yourself versus coordinating with a jeweler.

Cons

• Much easier to irreparably damage or ruin rings without proper hands-on experience and training.
• Usually requires purchasing specialized high-heat micro torches, not just typical hardware store models.
• Safety risks of burns or eye damage from working with small molten hot metal pieces.
• Likely inferior final joint quality and clearly visible seam compared to a jewelry professional.

Weigh these tradeoffs carefully, but for most valuable or cherished rings, professional soldering is strongly advised whenever financially possible.

Additional Services

Other related jewelry services to factor into your budget when having rings soldered include:

• Resizing: $40 to $75 per ring to resize and ensure proper fitted comfort before soldering fused sets.
• Engraving: $50+ per ring to add personalized engraved symbols, dates, or messages onto the inner bands pre or post joining.
• Polishing: Typically included, but an ala carte ultrasonic or hand polish would add $20 to $50 to refresh rings before wearing.
• Appraisal: $50+ to have new keepsake sets formally appraised for insurance purposes if of high monetary value due to precious metals or heirloom status.

Building these and any other ancillary costs into your budget allows you to plan for the full scope of expenses.

Final Words

Soldering two or more rings together can range in cost quite significantly from $30 for simple silver band connections up to $500+ for complex vintage sets with multiple delicate solder joints. Pricing is impacted by the variables of metal types involved, ring styles, number of joints required, jeweler mastery, and geographic region.

Including any appraisals, engravings, cleanings or resizing completes your total budget. While not inexpensive, proper ring soldering performed by a truly experienced professional jeweler provides immense benefits in terms of aesthetics, comfort, and daily security. You want the peace of mind that your important rings are fused to last a lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to solder rings together?

The soldering process usually takes 30-90 minutes depending on the complexity. Simple jobs may take 30 minutes, standard pairs with 1-2 solder points around 60 minutes, and elaborate stacks or designs 90+ minutes including heating, cooling, cleaning, and inspection.

Does soldering rings together make them tighter?

No, a proper soldering job should not cause rings to feel tighter. An experienced jeweler will ensure the original fit and comfort level is maintained after fusing the bands together. However, many choose to get rings sized prior to soldering to allow for marginally thicker joints.

Can soldered rings break apart later?

Soldered ring joints should last indefinitely with proper initial preparation and fusion. Joints failing later on is exceptionally rare and indicates poor soldering technique. This is another reason using a skilled, credentialed jeweler is so important for long-lasting results.