Let’s take a look at the reasons why jewelry chains break, as well as some possible solutions. I’ll go over some useful techniques to prolong the life of your favorite necklace chain, covering everything from the most obvious reasons to the less obvious culprits.
Breaking one of your most prized pieces of jewelry is one of life’s most aggravating experiences.
But are you aware of the reasons why jewelry chains break and the steps that can be taken to avoid it in the future? When a chain of jewelry gets suddenly caught on anything or a youngster tugs on it, the reason why becomes immediately apparent.
When you are strolling down the street, it is less noticeable if a chain suddenly slips from your neck and falls to the ground. Why would anything like that occur? Let’s have a look at some ways to reduce the number of complaints and repairs related to chain breakage.
The Reasons Behind Broken Jewelry Chains
Finding out why a chain breaks might need some deductive reasoning and observational abilities.
Using a loupe to do a thorough inspection of the object might help expose hidden details. Ask your customer who buys jewelry questions regarding recent events as well as questions about how they typically wear their jewelry.
This section may provide you with a checklist that can be used to solve issues as soon as they arise. Additionally, it can help you develop the best practices for quality control in your studio.
In order to better inform your decisions, you should get started recording repair requests for stretched chains, damaged links, broken clasps, and jump rings.
The connections made using jump rings are susceptible to damage.
On necklaces made of jewelry chain, the jump rings are sometimes the weakest part. On completed jewelry chains, the most common kind of repair required is for these itty-bitty closures.
They are also up for discussion because: Soldered vs. unsoldered. There are jewelers who choose not to solder the jump rings closed, and they have some good reasons for doing so.
What would happen if the jump ring of a jewelry chain were soldered shut in the event that the chain got caught on something? It is possible that the clasp might break, the links could strain or shatter, or the user could get a major damage to their neck. Jump rings that have not been soldered, however, are susceptible weak spots.
It is very uncommon for a jump ring to gradually open up over the course of time, causing a necklace to come off fairly quickly before the user is aware that there is a problem.
Even a very narrow space is all that’s needed for a chain link of low gauge to squeeze through.
Although I like to solder jump rings closed, the decision to do so is entirely up to the individual who is making the jewelry.
If you do decide to solder them, it won’t be difficult, and it will make the chain more resistant to the wear and tear caused by daily use.
If you decide not to solder your jump rings, you will need to ensure that you close your hard jump rings in the correct manner.
Choose jump rings with a thick gauge and a tempered finish. When subjected to stress or prolonged use, soft, open jump rings will eventually get separated at the gap.
Think about the experience of the customer as well as any repair concerns. It’s possible that the way of life of the people who are most likely to buy your jewelry and the specifics of your jewelry collection will determine the outcome of this choice.
What you should be on the lookout for: warped jump rings or large holes at the closing seam
Clasps Have the Potential to Falter
Choosing the appropriate clasp is essential in order to maximize the longevity of jewelry chains. Spring rings are suitable for use on chains that are low in weight; nevertheless, it is not recommended to use them on jewelry chains that have a significant number of links.
When given the choice between spring rings and lobster claws, I will almost always choose with the lobster claws. They are more durable than spring rings, are constructed to last far longer, and can be opened and closed with significantly less effort.
On jewelry chains with a greater diameter, you also have the choice of using toggle clasps or hook-and-eye clasps. These fasteners have a long lifespan and a solid build.
When you are making a clasp, you need to make sure that the material is work-hardened and that you make it the right size for your chain and your decorations.
It is important to pay particular attention to connection points, such as where clasps and pendants are linked, since they are often the weakest regions of chains due to the pressure that is imposed on the connections.
Check the mechanics of the clasps to see if there are any problems, such as not closing completely or expanding gaps, etc.
These are signs of wear and should be addressed as soon as possible so you don’t end up losing your beloved necklace. The name is Christine Cravens. 10gables.com
Check for the following: a malfunctioning clasp, clasps that are deformed, and apparent damage.
Soldering defects may occur throughout the manufacturing process.
In the course of the production process, the chain links are closed off using solder. On very few instances, something will go wrong while the procedure is being carried out. There are several instances in which the solder does not flow and connect as it should.
When you are working with the chain, you will notice this problem when many links begin to pop up at various locations along the chain.
When anything like this happens, you need to let your supplier know and return the broken chain. In most cases, you will discover this issue well in advance of a chain being completed and offered for sale to a client.
Check for several broken links even if the chain does not seem to have been subjected to excessive stress.
The Weight of the Pendant Is Too Much for the Chain to Support.
You’ve been searching high and low for the ideal pendant or charm, and once you’ve done so, you can’t wait to flaunt your handiwork to the rest of the world.
The next step is to choose the most appropriate necklace chain for your pendant. To begin, you will need to make a decision on the component that the chain will be made of.
Because silver is a flexible metal, a necklace that is excessively heavy might cause the silver to strain or even shatter. On the other hand, steel is extremely robust, which means that even a chain with tiny links made of steel may support a pendant that is either quite huge or very heavy.
Second, you need to think about the chain’s diameter. How many individuals choose a pendant based on the cost of the chain rather than the amount of weight it has? You’d be surprised. When selecting a chain for a piece of jewelry, the first and most important consideration should always be the weight of the pendant.
Third, be sure to pay attention to the wire gauge that was utilized to form the connections. It is essential to either buy or make a jewelry chain that is adequate for the weight you will be suspending and is robust enough to support that weight.
It is not sufficient to only go by the diameter of the links; you also need to be aware of the wire gauge thickness.
Links constructed from wire with a gauge of 20-22 may often be used for medium-weight goods, but links with a gauge of 18 or thicker are best suited for usage with heavier pendants.
Lightweight charms should only be attached using links with a thickness of 24 or thinner. This is a preliminary estimate of the total cost. When choosing chains and pendants to go together, use your best judgment. GO TO THE SILVER CHAIN SHOP >>
What to check for: drawn or stretched chain links towards the rear of the chain at the clasp and near the pendant attachment point show tension on the chain that most likely contributed to the break in the chain.
Both abrasives and corrosives are harmful to chain links.
Lotions, cosmetics, shampoos, and a variety of other products. The chemicals that are included in ordinary home goods that we use on a regular basis might pose a threat to the integrity of your most prized jewelry.
Residues from liquids and gels may accumulate on your pieces, making it more difficult to clean them.
Abrasive particles, such as grit or microcrystals, found in goods may speed up the wear and tear process on metals. In addition, the metal in jewelry items may be progressively damaged by some substances that are corrosive.
Inevitably, weak places will result in chains breaking unexpectedly at some time. To avoid any harm to your jewelry, take it off before getting into the shower, using any products intended for personal hygiene, or cleaning the home.
After wearing an article of clothing, you wash it; why not do the same with your jewelry? The ideal preparation for an overnight soak is equal parts hot water and a few drops of dishwashing solutions with the brand name Dawn.
It should be washed off in the morning and dried with a gentle towel. Simply doing this one step will protect you from developing contact dermatitis. ~ Nanz Aalund Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network
What you should check for: Chain links that are clearly worn through and thinner in areas reveal indicators of wear from chemicals or abrasives.
The Jewellery Chains Have a Slowly Grinding Effect of the Dirt.
Before you go out into the garden or spend the day at the beach, you should take off any items of jewelry that you are wearing. Even though we all like spending time outside, wearing jewelry while participating in some outdoor activities is not a good idea.
Sand and dirt are both incredibly abrasive substances that may harm the metal in your exquisite jewelry items if they come into contact with them. The harm may grow more severe with the passage of time.
Even if you merely have little dirt or sand on your hands and reach up to tighten your jewelry chain, you might end up depositing particles that will settle into microscopic crevices or connecting points and wear down the metal.
Therefore, if there is a chance that you may become dirty, you should avoid wearing any kind of jewelry.