FAQs

Yes, we design and create your jewelry one piece at a time, by hand, with care and attention to detail and quality. We can start wherever you are, whether you have a sketch, a vague idea of what you want, or just know that you want us to create something amazing for you.

Our designers will guide you through the process. Our in-house goldsmiths will make your jewelry dreams into reality.

• Tell us your ideas and your story and we'll sketch some designs.
• When there's one that speaks to you, we'll either get started or show you a wax model depending on the design.
• In just a few weeks our in-house team of goldsmiths will complete your new jewelry
• Enjoy your personalized jewelry!

Reserve your FREE design consultation today!

Yes! And you have lots of options.

Trade:

Your gold, silver and platinum can be traded for credit toward your purchase. Gold and platinum can be recycled for cash.

Use directly:

• Sometimes we can melt your gold to create certain types of designs or incorporate items such as wedding bands into a design without much alteration.

"Same Molecule Refining":

You can change any karat or color of gold into any other karat or color!

• What is traditional refining?

Refining is the process of separating the pure gold from gold alloys like 14K or 18K. Most refining is done in huge lots where your gold is mixed with everyone else's. That means you're unlikely to get your same gold back.

• How our process is different:

Our same molecule refining service refines only your gold so the pure 24K gold that you get back is yours and only your sentimental gold. For example, you could bring us your grandparents' 18K yellow gold wedding rings and your 14K white gold sweet 16 necklace and get back the pure gold from your exact jewelry. Note that there is a 1 ounce minimum.

• What can we do with it?

The pure gold from your old jewelry can then be turned into any karat like 14K, 18K, 22K and any color such as yellow, white, rose or even green gold! That means you can have a custom jewelry project created for you with your sentimental family jewelry.

Our team of designers and goldsmiths will listen to you and create a design that honors your unique story.

• Create a new heirloom from old or even broken jewelry
• Combine meaningful pieces from loved ones into a new design that honors them all
• Recycle or reuse the precious metals in your new design or receive recycle credit

Find out more about jewelry makeovers.

Reserve My Free Design Consultation

Virtual Consultations Available!

Yes, we specialize in custom made jewelry and jewelry makeovers! Whether you'd like to reuse your gemstones and/or metal or you'd rather design a piece from scratch, our amazing team of designers will help you envision a beautiful piece of jewelry exactly the way you want it, and our goldsmiths will make it a reality. Book Appointment

Yes! Transform your unworn jewelry into a meaningful new design that you'll love to wear. Book appointment. Learn more in our blog post.

Yes! Our talented team can create decorative embellishments, monograms, initials, even pictorial representations both by hand with our laser engraving machine. Call, text, email or make an appointment to discuss your hand engraved project. Find out more about engraving possibilities.

Jewelry Repair Services- As of Aug 1, 2024 we will only offer repair services for jewelry purchased at or created by Jewelsmith or previously repaired at Jewelsmith. We offer limited repair services for existing clients. Please see our full statement for more information.

**We do not work on watches**

Yes, we offer free polishing, cleaning and inspection of your Jewelsmith purchased or created jewelry. Recommended clean and check interval: every 6 months. Book appointment.

Yes, your first ring sizing is free within the first year for rings purchased from Jewelsmith. Book appointment.

Yes. We have two CGAs (certified gemologist appraiser) on staff to perform several types of appraisals. You will receive an official appraisal document complete with a photograph of your item and detailed descriptions of the primary gemstone, accent gemstones and mounting. We have an AGS (American Gem Society) accredited gem laboratory.

As of 2025 there are 265 CGA's in the USA, two of whom are part of our team here at Jewelsmith. We are required to recertify our CGA credentials annually after continuing education through AGS.

Call/Text for appointment.

We offer 3 types of jewelry appraisals, all of which are detailed below. Simply let us know which category suits your needs when you drop your jewelry off for appraisal.

• Insurance of Replacement - This is the estimated value for which a similarly described item could be purchased if alike in quality, material and craftsmanship at the time of the appraisal from a merchant who normally stocks and deals in the type of merchandise in question.

• Orderly Liquidation Value - This is the estimated cash value of an item in “as is” condition which would change hands between a willing buyer and seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell and both having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts. This price would be determined in an orderly sale in a market within a reasonable time of thirty days to twelve months.

• Liquidation Value - This would be the same as above, but in a forced sale within a time frame of seven to thirty days, with one or both of the parties being an unwilling participant.

No, we do not do any work on watches including batteries or band adjustments.

Yes, if you prefer a lab grown diamond in your custom jewelry, we will be happy to order one for you. We do not set them in our ready to wear collections because our focus is on natural gemstones. Read our blog on lab grown diamonds for more information.

Yes, we provide diamond and colored gemstone re-cutting and polishing when they will be reset into a custom jewelry project.

• Custom Jewelry – 8 weeks (sometimes we can accommodate shorter deadlines)
  
• Clean and Check – usually a few minutes while you wait
  
• Hand Engraving and Laser Engraving – 1 to 2 weeks
  
• Appraisals - 4 weeks (sometimes we can accommodate shorter deadlines)
  
• Diamond and colored gemstone re-cutting and polishing – each case is different, an estimated time will be given at drop-off. Please note that this service is only offered for custom jewelry projects

• Repairs – 4 weeks (sometimes we can accommodate shorter deadlines) Please note that as of Aug 1, 2024 we will only repair jewelry purchased at Jewelsmith or previously repaired by Jewelsmith. Please see our full policy for more information.

• We buy gold and platinum, plus some diamonds. Bring us your broken or unwanted jewelry and we'll give you a recycle value based on the purity and weight. We can write you a check or offer you even more if you want to trade it toward a purchase or service.
  
  • While we don’t buy colored gems, you may want to use them in a new piece of jewelry made just for you!

• Consignment: If you have a piece of jewelry that you purchased from Jewelsmith and would like for us to consider selling it through our shop via consignment, please see our consignment FAQ. Then make an appointment with Tracy Hayes to examine your item(s).

In 1976, armed with an art degree, a small amount of equipment and a passion for design, Linda McGill began her jewelry career in her hometown of Durham, NC.

Linda assembled a knowledgeable team of jewelry professionals who adhere to her core philosophy that ethics would always be their highest priority. She hired talented people and provided an atmosphere that allowed them to flourish and grow both as artists and as people.

Read more about our story.

Jewelsmith is owned by a small group of employee shareholders, including and led by manager and president, Kristine Wylie.

Our group of employees that own our store includes several diverse groups- Black, Asian, LGBTQ+, women and men. We take pride in the diversity our store represents.

Jewelsmith was founded in 1976 by Linda McGill. Upon her passing in 2021, shares of the store were distributed to the employee shareholders according to her wishes.

Learn more

Founder, Linda McGill instilled not only her innovative design approach in her team, but also her belief in the importance of supporting organizations that improve lives in the community. Jewelsmith and its staff are deeply involved both in the form of donations and as volunteers to many community building organizations.

In that spirit of community, Jewelsmith is also committed to implementing as many sustainable practices as possible. All precious metals are recycled. In the workshop metals are melted down and remade into wire, sheet, etc. What can’t be reused directly is refined back into usable metals. When purchasing is necessary, Jewelsmith only buys from SCS Certified Responsible Sources which only sell recycled metals.

A wide array of ethically sourced and fairly traded gemstone options are offered, such as Montana sapphires, Canadian diamonds, lab created diamonds and more. The team often reuses client’s gemstones in new custom designs, giving them new life and adding to the sentimental value of the finished jewelry.

Air and water filtration systems as well as intensive trash recycling efforts contribute to a cleaner environment. A partnership with One Tree Planted allows client purchases to help with reforestation.  Read more about sustainable practices. 

We have incorporated many ethical practices, from fairly traded and ethically sourced diamonds and gemstones, to recycling and repurposing precious metals to, energy efficiency, to supporting our staff to giving back to our community and more.

Since 1976! Find out more about our origins.

We are located at 2200 W. Main St, Durham, NC in Erwin Square near Parizade and about two blocks from Duke East Campus. When you visit our shop, you can see our goldsmiths handcrafting jewelry in our workshop. If you're not in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area, don't worry, virtual appointments are available.

Our goal is to make sure every client gets the same level of time and attention. To do so, we modified our process in 2020 to require appointments so that we could devote that allotted time to you (each service type of appointment has designated amounts of time). We also want to ensure there is an available Jewelsmith team member to assist you. Appointments keep our in-store counts manageable, gives you more time and personalized attention and allows us to plan for your visit!

We still welcome walk-ins, but appointments are preferred. We will do our best to accommodate you if we have an available Jewelsmith team member when you arrive, which means you may have a short wait time or you may be asked to return when someone is available. There is a chance that we can serve your needs quickly (quick drop-offs and clean and checks) also. If we are completely full/booked, we’ll look at other times to schedule so that you have the proper time and attention, too!  

You can make an appointment with this link, or contact us and we'll get you on the schedule.

Yes! We take pride in our work and guarantee its quality.

We will repair or replace any piece of jewelry created by us at no charge if your jewelry breaks due to a manufacturing defect or error in our workmanship for the life of your jewelry.

Read our full warranty.

• We cannot guarantee on-time delivery due to carrier delays beyond our control!
• Orders placed before 12:00 pm EST Tuesday - Friday will be shipped on the day you purchase. Orders placed after 12:00 pm EST, or on non-business days (Saturday, Sunday, Monday and holidays), will be shipped on the next business day.
• If fast shipping is required, contact Kristine to arrange.
• In-store pickup is also available. Book your appointment for pickup here.
• Our online inventory is updated twice daily, but in the unlikely event that an item is sold that you have purchased online, we will contact you and present you with options ranging from a refund to having a similar piece custom made for you.
• Read our full shipping policy

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, you may return it to us for:

• Refund - subject to conditions below (online purchases only)
• Free Exchange - subject to conditions below (online or in-store)
• Free Store Credit - subject to conditions below (online or in-store)

Some items are excluded such as items purchased on sale. Read our full return and exchange policy.

We are committed to transparency and to protecting your privacy. Read our full Privacy Policy.

Read our full Terms of Service.

Jewelsmith is committed to providing a website experience that is accessible to the broadest possible audience, including individuals with disabilities. As a jewelry retailer offering products and services through our website, we recognize the importance of ensuring that all customers can access information about our products, complete purchases, and engage with our brand.

We are actively working to improve the accessibility and usability of our website and strive, where reasonably practicable, to align our digital content with generally recognized accessibility standards. Accessibility is an ongoing effort, and we view compliance as a process of continuous improvement rather than a one-time project.

Read our full Accessibility Statement.