The part that always goes first
A clasp is the only moving part on a chain. It gets opened and closed twice a day, every day, for years — and it is the piece that fails long before any link does.
The warning signs are worth knowing: a spring ring that sticks, a lobster that feels loose in the hand, or a clasp that has started opening on its own. Any of those means the spring is worn and it will let go completely, usually while you are wearing it. Replacing it is quick and cheap. Replacing the chain afterwards is neither.
- Fitted at our bench while you wait in most cases.
- Lobsters, spring rings and box clasps — we will match the weight of the chain, not just the size.
- The jump ring gets replaced too if it has worn, because that is the other half of the same failure.
- Nothing is shipped anywhere.
Bring it in during mall hours.
Every clasp type
Lobster claw, spring ring, barrel and screw, toggle, box clasp with a safety catch, magnetic, and fold-over — replaced in gold, silver and steel, matched to the chain's colour and weight.
Also jump rings, split rings, connector rings, safety chains, figure-eight safety catches, and the end caps on a mesh or herringbone chain.
On watches: deployant and butterfly clasps, fold-over clasps with a push button, broken buckle tongues and worn spring bars.
A clasp that opens on its own
Nine times in ten this is not a broken clasp. It is a stretched jump ring — the small ring joining clasp to chain — that has opened just enough to slip. It costs very little to close and solder, and it is the difference between keeping a chain and losing it.
If your necklace has ever turned up in a pocket or a car seat, get the jump ring looked at. We check it free.
Clasps that are easier to work
If arthritis or a shoulder makes a spring ring impossible behind your neck, there are answers: a lobster claw with a larger trigger, a magnetic clasp with a safety, a toggle, or a slide-in box clasp. Bring the chain in and try them.
What will it cost?
Lobster, spring ring, toggle, box or magnetic? What size is the end link it has to sit on? Is it the clasp that has gone, or the jump ring holding it? Does the metal and the colour need matching to the rest of the piece? That is exactly why we would rather see it than guess at it. Come and find us at Orland Square Mall — most repairs are finished in thirty to sixty minutes while you are walking around.
Straight to your question
- My clasp broke off completely
- My clasp keeps coming undone
- I want a clasp I can work one-handed
- My chain broke right at the clasp
Questions we get asked
How long does a clasp take to replace?
Usually while you wait — most clasp work is a counter job rather than a drop-off.
My clasp keeps opening on its own. Is that fixable?
That is a worn spring, and it will let go completely before long. The clasp needs replacing rather than adjusting. It is quick and it costs a great deal less than replacing the chain after you lose it.
Can you match my existing clasp?
In most cases yes — same type, same metal colour, sized to the chain. If the original is an unusual antique clasp we may need to fit the closest modern equivalent, and we will show you it first.
Is a magnetic clasp safe on a heavy chain?
On a light chain it is fine. On a heavy Cuban or rope we recommend a magnetic clasp with a mechanical safety, or a lobster claw, because magnets alone can shear off sideways under weight.
Bring it in — or ask first
Walk in during mall hours and we will price it at the counter, in writing, before anything is touched. If you would rather ask first, send a couple of details and we will call you back.
Bring it in today, 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 many while you wait. Or send a few details and we will call you back with a price.
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.
Clasp work brings people in from Palos Heights, Orland Hills, Hickory Hills and Willow Springs.