Why bangles bend
A ring is small and stiff. A bangle is a much larger circle of similar metal, and a larger circle flexes far more easily under the same pressure. Sleep on it, lean on it, catch it in a car door and it deforms.
Hollow bangles bend most readily of all, and they are very common because they give a substantial look at a sensible weight.
Reshaping takes patience
Metal that is pushed back too fast work-hardens and can crack, especially if it has been bent and straightened before. So it comes back in stages, with the metal softened between where it needs to be, rather than in one go.
What we check afterwards
- Cracks at the point of the bend, which are common and need soldering.
- The hinge and catch on a hinged bangle, which is where the strain lands.
- Stones, if it is set, because flexing metal loosens settings.
- Wall thickness, if it is hollow, since a crushed section may need more than reshaping.
If it has been bent before
Tell us. Metal that has been worked repeatedly gets harder and more brittle each time, and we will handle it differently if we know.
Questions we get asked
Can a bent bangle be fixed?
Usually, yes, and it is brought back in stages rather than forced in one go.
Will it bend again?
Less easily once it is round, though a hollow bangle will always be more delicate than a solid one.
What if it cracked where it bent?
Then it gets soldered as well as reshaped. Common on a bangle that has been bent more than once.
Do you work on hinged bangles?
Yes. The hinge and catch get checked too, since that is where the strain lands.
Not sure we can fix it?
Send a couple of details and we will call you back. Or just walk in — it is quicker, and we can actually look at the piece.
Drop it off, shop the mall, wear it tonight
We are inside Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. Walk in during mall hours, no appointment. Most repairs are finished the same day and a good number while you wait.
Where we are
Julio's Jewelry, 800 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462 — inside Orland Square Mall. Mon–Thu 10am–8pm · Fri–Sat 10am–9pm · Sun 11am–6pm. We are also at North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 W Cermak Rd, North Riverside, IL 60546.