How to shorten a too long necklace ?

You've just found the perfect necklace that will go perfectly with your blouse for the first days of spring. The only problem is that it's a little long for your outfit. It would look much better as a princess necklace.
What a disappointment, it would be such a shame to miss it... Fortunately, there are solutions to shorten your chain or necklace.

How to shorten a chain?

If it's a simple chain (Forçat, Rombo, Jaseron, Cheval...) with open rings, shortening it will be quite easy.
You just have toopen the ring that connects your chain to your clasp with two flat pliers. Choose nylon-tipped pliers so as not to mark the metal.
Remove your clasp. Then remove the extra link or links to get the right length. Then put back your clasp and the connecting ring.

If the big rings of your chain are recalcitrant, we show you in another card the gestures to overcome them.

How to shorten a pearl necklace?

Whether it's freshwater pearls, gemstone pearls or resin pearls, you will have no choice: you will have to redo your necklace! To do this, remove the clasp and wire while keeping the order of your pearls. Use a beading tray for this step! Now all you have to do is string the beads onto a new wire, tie a knot if it's an elastic wire or add beads to crush and put the clasp back on.
Be careful to keep a certain balance by removing as many beads from the left and right sides as you want, until you get the length you want.

Shortening a closed link chain

You want to shorten a chain made of closed rings? In this case, you will have to remove the clasp, then cut the links with a pair of cutters or jeweler's shears. All you have to do is replace the clasp, and you're done!

Before starting a project, check our chart to find out the right length of your chain to make a long necklace, a choker, a princess necklace or a matinee necklace...

Shortening a necklace without cutting the chain

If you don't want to cut your chain or if the links of your chain are too complex (Serpentine link, ball link...) and impossible to cut without altering the link, there are other solutions:

• Make several turns around your wrist to have a multirang bracelet or around your neck to make a choker accumulation.
• If your chain isn't too big, slip a pendant onto your chain and tie a knot just above it.
• Place your clasp on another link in a different part of the chain. When you close your necklace, you'll have a piece of chain hanging down as if it were an extension chain.