It can be a sad moment when you find that your favorite necklace has taken some damage or worn off. This can happen so quickly. You feel so frustrated, you do not understand what to do. You feel helpless. But there is a solution to that. There are a lot of jewelers who can provide necklace repair services for you. Here in this article, we will be looking at the types of necklace repair and the process of repairing it.
What Does Bail of A Chain Mean?
The portion of the necklace known as the bail is responsible for attaching the necklace to a chain. If the bail on your necklace is damaged, you won’t be able to wear it, therefore it’s crucial to take care of it even if it’s a rather inconspicuous component that’s easy to ignore. There is a wide variety of styles and dimensions available for bail.
A jump ring is the most basic kind of bail. It consists of a tiny loop of metal that may be opened and closed quickly by the use of solder. Other types of bails may be highly ornamental, and in some cases, they are even integrated into the necklace itself rather than existing as a distinct component.
What Does Chain Soldering Mean?
Solder, a metal alloy that is fusible and has a low melting point, is used in the process of chain soldering, which refers to the act of repairing breaks in chains using solder. Because of its low melting point, the solder can be melted without harming the remainder of the metal, and this allows it to act as a glue that binds together the two pieces of metal that were previously unconnected. This is vital since the repair work should not result in any harm to the components that were originally there.
Common Types of Necklaces Chain Repair
Not every necklace chair can be repaired following the same method or technique. Down below we are going to look at some common types of necklace chains and the methods used to repair them-
Snake Chain
Customers love snake chains because of their streamlined appearance and the flattering manner in which they lay on the collarbones. Snake chains are a popular choice for this reason. When they break, they give the appearance of being beyond repair, which causes people to be concerned about them.
The good news is that this is not the case; snake chains may be soldered by applying the appropriate amount of heat. The distinctive form of the links that are employed in the construction of snake chains is the source of the chain’s seemingly seamless look.
Rope Chain
The “woven” aspect that rope chains have makes them particularly attractive. When it comes to mending a damaged rope chain, it looks to be an impossible task, similar to the situation with the snake chain.
However, it is possible to solder it, but owing to the intricacy of the linkages, this will need a little bit more effort. Before soldering, the jeweler may need to “weave” the broken links back together using various techniques, depending on the degree of the break, in order to make the mended section of the necklace seem indistinguishable from the remainder of the necklace.
Box Chain
The links of this kind of chain often take on a square form, making it a popular choice for men’s jewelry. Because of the design of the links, this particular style of the chain may be highly tough, and it also has the sense of being fairly solid. It may not always be necessary to solder this sort of chain; sometimes all that is required to repair it is a brief pinch with a pair of pliers, depending on the extent of the damage.
Wheat Chain
The wheat chain is constructed in a manner that is similar to that of the rope chain in that it uses links that give the impression of being weaved together. Wheat chains, on the other hand, are not nearly as flexible as cable chains due to the proximity of their connections. When repairing a wheat chain, you may need to do a little amount of cutting or weaving before you apply the solder.
Ball Chain
These adorable chains do not tangle easily, which is a significant benefit of their design, but their structure is fairly delicate overall. Dog tag jewelry often makes use of this particular kind of chain. In the event that they break, some soldering will need to be done.
Herringbone Chain
This kind of chain, which is a version of the snake chain and is also known as a flat snake chain, is challenging to repair since it has a tendency to rapidly unravel into a tangled mess. As a result, it is tough to repair. In order to get rid of kinks, jewelers often need the assistance of a method that allows them to lay the plated links down flat. Soldering is a possible remedy, but later, the position of the repair will not be exactly the same.
Cable/Link Chain
The most basic kind of chain may be created using either round or oval links. In most cases, soldering is not required in order to repair this particular kind of necklace. A pair of needle-nose pliers may be used to close the vast majority of open links.
Singapore chain
A sort of chain that has links that generate an effect similar to that of a twisted rope. Due to the nature of the chain, which is often fairly fine, repairing this kind of chain requires a great deal of precision. In order to complete the soldering procedure, a jeweler may need to utilize a laser.
Curb Chain
People often think of current, street-style apparel as being associated with chains that are huge and flamboyant. It’s a very unusual occurrence for a link in this chain to get detached (especially the very chunky necklaces.)