How Much Does a Permanent Jewelry Party Cost?

A permanent jewelry party costs what each guest's piece costs, plus whatever the studio sets as a group minimum and, for a mobile party, sometimes a travel fee. Per piece, the US median starting price for a bracelet is about $65 (the middle half between $42 and $95), mobile and pop-up studios start at about $65 too, and Florida studios start at about $80, according to The Permanent Jewelry Guide's count of studios' own price lists. The Knot puts bracelets at roughly $75 to $350. At Bond & Fifth, private events start at $2,500: a group minimum spend across all guest pieces, with no minimum headcount.

Sources: the starting prices, the minimums and the travel fee come from The Permanent Jewelry Guide (290 US studios that publish a bracelet price, 10 mobile and pop-up studios, 16 in Florida); the bracelet, anklet and necklace ranges are The Knot's. Both are linked at the end.

How to estimate your party's total

Multiply your headcount by the price of the piece most guests will choose. That is the pieces. Then check it against the group minimum: a minimum spend means the group's pieces need to add up to at least that amount, so a small group may pay the minimum rather than the per-piece total. Add any travel fee and you have the number.

As an example with published numbers: ten guests each choosing a bracelet at the US median starting price of about $65 comes to roughly $650 in pieces, before any minimum or travel fee. Anklets and necklaces take more chain, so they cost more, and solid 14k gold commonly runs two to four times gold-filled for the same length (The Permanent Jewelry Guide).

Per person, a party usually costs the same as a studio visit. The Permanent Jewelry Guide notes that the minimum covers the artist's time; it is not a premium on the jewelry.

Who pays: the host or the guests?

Decide before you book, and tell your guests ahead of time if they are paying, as The Knot suggests. The common ways to split it:

• Guests choose and pay for their own piece, and the host books the date.
• The host covers the guest of honor's piece as the gift, and everyone else pays for their own.
• The host, or the company for a work event, covers every guest.
• The host covers part of each piece, and guests pay the difference.

How pricing works at Bond & Fifth

• A $500 deposit reserves your date and goes toward your total.
• Private events start at $2,500: a group minimum spend across all guest pieces.
• There is no minimum headcount, so a few friends works as well as a big party.
• Each guest picks a bracelet, anklet or necklace in 14k gold-filled or sterling silver, and welding is always included.
• The host can cover every piece, cover only the guest of honor's, or let guests pay for their own.
• Re-welds are free on chains bought from us.
• We come to you anywhere in South Florida, from Miami up to West Palm Beach, and anywhere in metro Atlanta.

Per-piece prices are being updated. Send us your date and headcount through the booking form and we'll come back with the details for your event.

How long the welding takes

Each guest takes about 10 to 15 minutes, so plan roughly an hour for every four to six guests. A party of 12 usually books a two to three hour window. Start the welding early in the party, so the pieces are on for every photo.

Ways to spend less

• Pick bracelets. A bracelet is the shortest chain, so it's the least expensive piece.
• Choose sterling silver. It is usually the most affordable metal; gold-filled is the step up.
• Cover only the guest of honor's piece, and let everyone else choose their own.
• Skip charms and connectors, which are priced on top of the chain.

Questions to ask any studio before you book

• Is the price per piece or per inch? Most studios quote a flat price per piece (The Permanent Jewelry Guide).
• Is the weld included, or is there a fitting fee?
• What is the group minimum, and what happens if we don't reach it?
• Is there a travel fee to our address?
• Which metals do you weld? Look for 14k gold-filled, sterling silver or solid gold, not plated chain.
• How long will our group take, and how much space do you need?
• Are re-welds free if a chain breaks?