To open a large ring, you can use either wire cutters or jewelry nippers. You’ll need to locate the opening of the link you want to remove. Hold the ring between your fingers, then position your wire cutters or jewelry shears perpendicular to the joint of the link.
Next, apply pressure once or several times as if you were cutting the ring. Remove the link with your fingers.
Have you also fallen for the current trend of XXL link chains? But do you have the right length for your project? Isn’t your chain too long for the costume necklace or DIY bracelet you want to make?
To adjust a necklace to the right length or to make a bracelet, the solution is to shorten your chain. To do this, you’ll need to remove the links you don’t need.
The large links in our stainless steel chains are perfectly interlocked, but they aren’t welded together. Removing them requires a bit of dexterity and a specific technique, different from the one used to open standard links.
To open a large link, you can use either wire cutters or jeweler’s nippers.
In our video, Lucie demonstrates the steps to follow to easily remove the links. Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide so you can practice and successfully open the links in your chain.
Warning: While it is possible to open a large stainless steel link, it is very difficult to close it again.
Locate the opening of the link you want to remove.
Hold the ring firmly between your fingers. The opening is at the top.
Position your cutter or jeweller's shears perpendicularly over the link junction.
Apply pressure as if you wanted to cut the ring. The links are strong and sturdy, so you may have to use a little force. Rotate the pliers if the rings resist, to widen the opening of the ring.
Remove the link with your fingers.
Credits
Perles & Co, Internet & E-Commerce company [08/09/2025] Any reproduction, representation, adaptation, in any form whatsoever, even partial, is prohibited, except for reproduction for private use not intended for collective use, representation in the family circle (art. L 122-5 CPI) and online publishing on condition that the source is mentioned and a link is included to the corresponding page of our site www.perlesandco.com.
