Since 1981, Michael Dickey Design has been providing professional jeweler service to both retail and wholesale customers. We have seen more than 500,000 jobs pass through our doors and have completed each one in a professional manner. We have done repairs for large chain stores, as well as small locally owned stores. We currently do work for other local jewelry stores as well as many jewelry stores across the nation.

For our wholesale customers, we offer the same professional services that we offer our retail customers. These include everything from the most basic ring sizing or chain repair to designing, finishing and delivering the most complicated custom piece that your customer has in mind.

Many of our more involved jobs are done on an estimate basis. This allows us to inform the store of how much a repair will be in advance. The store can make sure the repair is profitable, and we can make sure that we reach a common understanding with the store. Each estimate request requires a considerable amount of time and research. After researching the repair, we contact the store and explain how the repair will be done, and then wait to hear whether or not to proceed. Any repair that arrives for an estimate will be charged a $35.00 estimation fee. If we are to proceed with the repair we will apply the fee toward the total amount of the repair.

For ring sizings, we use both the torch and the laser. The torch is still the quickest and most effictive method to size most rings. We use the torch on 14k gold. For all other metals, including 18k gold, platinum and titanium, we use the laser. As mentioned, when we use the laser, we do not use solder. Instead, we use the respective metal to fill the piece. Some rings require a three-cut process. We cut inside the sholders of the ring to keep the geometry of the top of the ring constant, which keeps stones from breaking and/or falling out. This may require the shank to be oval in shape when finished. Along with our sizing services, we also do 1/2 shank, 3/4 shank, and full shank replacements.

Chain repair is done almost exclusively with the laser. We can not only repair broken chains with ease, but we can also weld jump rings shut for added strength. The laser allows us to control the area that gets heat. It also allows us to control how much heat is delivered, and the exact amount of time that the heat is delivered. This is great for hollow chain and light chain repairs.

We also see a large amount of tipping and setting jobs. These include both colored stones and diamonds. Michael puts the necessary amount of time into each setting job that comes across his desk. We do ask that any special setting requests (like stone height) be written on the job envelope. We have many shops that send us loose stones along with loose heads that they want set into a piece. If this is the case, make sure that the stone is the correct size for the head.

We ship any way you like. We have accounts with both UPS and FedEx, and we also ship many items through U.S. Postal Service. When using UPS of FedEx, we have the shipping billed to your account directly. These services offer both next day service and second day service, and UPS allows the package to be insured. The U.S. Postal Service offers a variety of serviecs including next day and second day services. Insurance is limited on these services. However, U.S.P.S. has Registered Mail, which is the most secure service offered. Also, the limit for insurance is high. If using U.S.P.S., we calculate the shipping cost and add it to your invoice.

For a current price list, please call us. We can either send a price list via e-mail, fax, or regular mail. Also, before the first shipment, shipping procedures need to be discussed. Please ask for Gail when calling for either the price list or shipping procedures.