You’re absentmindedly fiddling with your favourite necklace, the one you’ve worn without taking off for the last few years, and you hear that gasp-inducing, fateful snapping sound. That once intact chain is now in two sad pieces, taking the worn lobster clasp with it as your favourite pendant tumbles unceremoniously into desperate, clambering hands.
Whether it be a snapped chain, bent fish-hook earring, lost butterfly back, or a broken jump hook – we’ve all suffered jewellery disasters ranging from valuable family heirlooms to more inexpensive costume jewellery which nevertheless carries immense sentimental value.
Though it’s sensible to take your broken jewels to a professional for repair, certain quick fixes can be completed inexpensively from the comfort of your own home – if you’re willing to wield a pair of flat-nosed jewellery pliers.
We chatted to jewellery designer Rachel Jackson for some top tips on how to fix up your favourite accessories.
What’s the best way to fix a broken necklace chain at home?
“As a short-term fix, you can just close the ring back up, it may however re-open and break again at some point so the long-term fix is to take it to a jeweller to be soldered - especially if the piece is solid gold. If it’s costume jewellery, then it may be more cost-effective to simply buy a new chain from where you bought it,” explains the jewellery designer.
When it comes to broken clasps, the DIY fix is slightly easier. An open jump ring and a new clasp can be re-attached to your intact chain with the help of some jewellery pliers.
My huggie earrings won’t click back into place. How do I fix this without going to a jeweller?
Fixing huggie earrings requires simple yet delicate re-shaping. “Try gently pushing the post up or down a fraction to re-position it, the aim being to give the little dent in the earrings the friction it needs to click into place when it hits the fastening part. You know when all is in place when you hear (or feel) the little click,” says Jackson.
What are some essential repair tools to have at home in case of a jewellery emergency?
According to Jackson, “A pair of jewellery pliers (flat nose pliers) pliers and a jewellery cleaning cloth” are all you need to complete simple repairs at home. “Both can be easily and cheaply bought on Amazon.”
Do you have any other jewellery repair hacks?
Jackson suggests that all jewellery lovers are capable of fixing up certain items at home, so long as you’re confident enough to take the plunge and give it a go. “You can pretty much do anything with a jewellery cleaning cloth, a pair of jewellery pliers, and a little confidence to try! For safety, keep your tools in a small pencil case or box.” Plus, there’s nothing wrong with watching a few YouTube videos for some additional help.
Without further ado, we’ve curated a selection of the best jewellery repair kits and accessories for fixing up your favourite pieces at home.
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Kulannder Jewellery Making Tool Kit
Complete with an impressive 22 different tools for making and repairing jewellery, this fantastic little kit has everything you need to mend your favourite pieces from the comfort of your own home – from three types of pliers and two tweezers to a jump ring opener, set of callipers and more. We’re big fans of the fact that it comes in a handy, enclosed travel case.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon
Paxcoo Necklace Repair Kit
Equipped with a set of durable needle-nosed pliers, open jump rings in sizes ranging from 4-10mm, a jump ring opener, and a variety of lobster clasps in both silver and gold, this brilliantly organised little box of repair essentials is a must-have for those with bustling costume jewellery collections.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
Shynek Jewellery Pliers
This brilliant set of jewellery pliers ensures you’ll never come across a broken chain or earring clasp that you can’t fix. From wrapping, straightening and crimping to cutting, repairing zippers, bending and straightening out kinks, there’s a set of pliers for everything.
Buy now £27.99, Amazon
Claire’s Fix-It Kit
A brilliant, value-for-money option from none other than Claire’s accessories, this little ‘Fix it Kit’ comes equipped with a pair of sparkly needle-nose pliers and a myriad of mixed-metal spare parts ranging from spare earring backs and hooks to lobster clasps and jump rings.
Buy now £8.00, Claire’s
TTInfinityShop DIY Necklace Repair Tools
Offered in gold, silver, bronze and rhodium colourways to suit your jewellery aesthetic, this brilliant kit not only comes in a myriad of replacement parts, but is also equipped with transparent elastic, plated wire and black leather cord for making your own jewellery or replacing broken chains.
Buy now £7.95, Etsy
Etaile Jewellery Making Supplies Kits
Featuring everything you need to make and repair jewellery, this smart little supplies kit gets bonus points for being available in pink and yellow too. It comes with jewellery pliers, a jump ring opener, awl thread scissors and two sets of tweezers for delicate work.
Buy now £16.99, Etsy
Jewellery cleaning essentials
Town Talk Jewellery Polishing Cloth - Silver
Known for wallet-friendly jewellery cleaners which don’t compromise on function, this silver cloth from Town Talk is available via Argos for under a fiver. Crafted from 100 per cent cotton infused with a silver cleaner and anti-tarnish agent, the long-lasting cloth can be used on both sides for up to two years within an average household. There’s also a dedicated gold polishing cloth available.
Buy now £3.99, Argos
Silvo Wadding
Silvo Wadding is a type of impregnated polishing material which has been used on precious jewellery and even cutlery since its invention in 1930. To this day, it remains a household essential across the UK. Its sister product, a metal cleaner called Brasso, became commercially available back in 1905. Fear not, for the solution has been adapted to suit modern safety protocols, though remains highly effective.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
Hanience Ultrasonic Cleaner
Best for: portability
Measuring just 18x9x10cm, this highly portable option from Hanience nevertheless functions at a whopping 45kHz. Small and mighty, the surprisingly quiet machine operates in one-minute cycles and can be left running for up to 10 minutes at a time. Crafted from stainless steel, it is also corrosion and heat-resistant to ensure longevity.
Buy now £36.79, Amazon
