How to Fix a Broken Necklace

There is nothing more heartbreaking than reaching for your favorite necklace only to realize the clasp is broken, a link has snapped, or the cord has given out. The good news? You rarely need an expensive trip to the jeweler to salvage it.

With a couple of basic tools and a bit of patience, you can easily repair most common necklace breaks at home. Here is your step-by-step guide to fixing broken clasps, damaged chain links, and snapped elastic cords.

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Method 1: Replacing a Broken Clasp

A faulty clasp is the most common jewelry mishap, but it is also the easiest to remedy.

• 1. Inspect and remove the old clasp. Look closely at how the clasp connects to the necklace chain. In most cases, it is attached via a small open jump ring. Use a pair of jewelry or needle-nose pliers to gently twist the jump ring open and slide the damaged clasp off. If the clasp is permanently soldered or bent beyond use, use a small pair of wire cutters to carefully snip it away.
• 2. Find a matching replacement clasp. Take your broken clasp with you to a local craft shop or bead supplier so you can match the finish. Metal tones vary widely—warm yellow gold, cool brass, antique bronze, and bright silver all look noticeably different if mismatched. If you had to cut the connection, pick up a few extra jump rings as well.
• 3. Attach the new clasp. Slide the new clasp’s loop onto the open jump ring attached to your chain.
• 4. Secure the connection. Using your pliers, gently twist the jump ring closed until the two ends meet flush. Make sure there is no visible gap where the chain could slip through.

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Method 2: Mending a Broken Chain Link

When a delicate metal chain snaps, fixing it simply requires reconnecting the broken section.

• 1. Open the damaged link. Locate the break on your chain. If the link is bent open or slightly deformed, grip it using needle-nose pliers and twist the gap slightly wider. If a link is completely crushed or mangled, carefully remove it from the chain altogether.
• 2. Reconnect the chain. Hook the open link through the intact link on the opposite side of the break.
• 3. Close and reinforce the link. Gently twist the link back into its original oval shape until the seam sits tight and flush against itself. Take a quick moment to inspect neighboring links—giving loose ones a gentle pinch with pliers now can prevent another break down the road.

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Method 3: Restringing a Snapped Elastic Necklace

Beaded elastic necklaces endure a lot of stretching, which inevitably leads to snapping. Here is how to rebuild them stronger than before.

• 1. Organize your beads. Collect all the fallen beads and lay them out on a soft towel or bead board in their original pattern.
• 2. Cut fresh elastic cord. Cut a piece of high-quality jewelry elastic that is at least 10 cm (about 4 inches) longer than your desired necklace length. Fabric-wrapped elastic cord—which resembles a miniature bungee or shoelace cord—is far more durable than plain clear plastic elastic, as the outer woven sleeve protects the inner stretch core from fraying.
• 3. String the beads. Slide the beads onto the cord according to your arranged pattern.
• 4. Knot and secure the ends. Pull both ends together and tie a secure surgeon’s knot (looping the cord through twice before pulling tight). Do not pull so hard that the elastic remains perpetually stretched, as this weakens the material. Add a tiny dab of clear craft glue to the knot for extra hold, let it dry, and snip away the excess cord before tucking the knot inside an adjacent bead hole.