Three places it can fail
The jump ring — the small ring between pendant and chain. Opens up under years of load and lets the pendant slide off. Most common, and the quickest to fix.
The bail — the loop built into the pendant itself. Wears through where the chain runs against it, especially on an older piece worn daily.
The chain — which is a different repair, and usually obvious because you will have two pieces of chain.
The worn-through bail
This one is worth knowing about. A chain running back and forth through a bail for twenty years saws a groove in it. The bail thins until it opens. If yours has a visible groove, it needs building up or replacing rather than just closing, or it will go again.
Is the pendant too heavy for the chain?
Sometimes the honest answer is yes. A heavy pendant on a fine chain wears both the bail and the end links. If that is what we find, we will say so and talk through options rather than fix it and watch it come back.
While it is here
We solder the jump ring shut rather than just squeeze it closed, and we check the clasp end at the same time.
Questions we get asked
Is it the pendant or the chain?
Usually the jump ring between them. We can tell in a minute at the counter.
Can you do it while I wait?
Most of the time, yes.
My bail has worn through — can that be fixed?
Usually. It gets built up or replaced rather than just closed, so it does not go again.
Is my pendant too heavy for my chain?
Sometimes it is, and we will tell you straight rather than repair it twice.
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.