Buzz
Have you ever put on your favorite necklace in the morning, only to discover it tangled by lunchtime? Whether the clasp has shifted to the front, the chain has flipped underneath, or your layered necklaces have gotten all knotted together, it's frustrating, to say the least. Why invest in a beautiful piece of jewelry—or a jewelry cleaner to keep it sparkling—just for it to shift and tangle around your neck?
While it's nearly impossible to entirely stop a necklace from shifting around unless you remain completely still, there are ways to minimize the movement. So don’t give up on your necklaces just yet. We reached out to jewelry experts to gather their advice and tricks for keeping necklaces in place, tailored to the specific problem and style of the necklace.
Prevent Your Clasp from Moving to the Front
One common issue with pendant necklaces is when the chain shifts and the clasp ends up at the front. This happens because the clasp is often heavier than the chain itself. Fortunately, there are a few tricks you can try to prevent this from happening.
Add a counterbalance to your pendant.
Look for a necklace with a counterweight on the clasp, or consider adding one yourself. A counterweight could be a charm, metal ball, or bead attached to the clasp. If your necklace doesn’t already have one, you can easily purchase a charm online or from a craft store and secure it with a pair of tweezers.
Opt for a necklace design with a weightier pendant—or one where the pendant is fixed in place.
If you don’t like pendants shifting or flipping around on the chain, consider designs where the pendant is attached to both ends of the chain. This will keep the pendant from sliding back and forth. Alternatively, you can choose heavier pendants that are less likely to move.
Prevent tangling with layered necklaces.
Who doesn't love stacking delicate chains? While they look stunning in pictures, these fragile pieces tend to get tangled in real life. Fortunately, there are a few tricks to reduce the chances of that happening:
Connect the necklaces together.
This simple method from fashion stylist Michelle Velle can help keep your dainty necklaces in perfect alignment.
- Open both necklaces and clasp necklace one to the non-clasp end of necklace two, creating one continuous chain.
- Wrap the part that will be the shorter necklace around your neck first, then connect the two ends together.
- Adjust the double-wrapped necklace so the longer portion hangs lower on your chest.
Now, you’ll have the shorter necklace snug around your neck with the longer one draping down. Voila! The necklaces stay neatly in place, won't tangle, and will hang in the perfect order you want.
Consider using a necklace spacer.
These small metallic bars feature clasps that attach to your necklaces, keeping them a few centimeters apart and preventing them from tangling.
Mix and match different weights and styles of necklaces.
Pairing heavier chains with delicate ones, or combining a pearl necklace with a thin gold chain, helps reduce the chances of tangling—and makes it much easier to untangle them if they do.
Prevent your diamond tennis necklace from flipping to the wrong side.
When wearing a diamond (or faux diamond) necklace, the last thing you want is for the chain to flip and hide the sparkle. Unfortunately, diamond tennis necklaces are particularly prone to flipping due to their lightweight design, and because many styles lack a pendant or heavy piece at the center to serve as an anchor.
Luckily, there are several strategies you can use—whether when buying the necklace or afterward—to keep it from flipping.
Opt for a heavier necklace style to help it stay in place.
To add weight to the necklace, you can simply opt for a larger carat size or choose a graduated design where the diamonds become progressively larger toward the center. Both methods will help weigh down the chain and minimize flipping. And, who doesn't love a little extra sparkle?
Add a secret solder to increase the weight of your necklace.
A subtle way to add weight is by having a jeweler solder extra metal onto the underside of the necklace, either before or after purchase, says Joseph Abitbol, CEO of Gem Jewelers Co. This method is also ideal if you already own a tennis necklace that tends to flip.
Opt for a shorter tennis necklace—or have your current one shortened.
Shorter tennis necklaces are less likely to flip because they exert more tension on the chain. You can take your necklace to a jeweler for shortening, or you can look for a shorter design when buying a new one.
Try it on before purchasing.
Jewelry experts emphasize that selecting a high-quality piece will help prevent tangling, flipping, or turning of your necklace. "A tennis necklace is an investment, and you really need to test it out before you buy. Put it on, move around a bit—even a jump or two won’t hurt—and see if it stays in place," says Janice Winter, president of Judith Ripka.
Pay attention to your neckline.
When selecting a necklace, take into account the neckline of the shirt or dress you're wearing, advises Winter. "What you wear matters. If the necklace touches the neckline of your top or dress, it won't hang properly. It should either sit above or below your neckline."
Be mindful when putting on your necklace.
When fastening your necklace, ensure the chain is perfectly straight with no twists or bends to avoid flipping, says Hillary Watson, senior director of sales and merchandising at Charles & Colvard. And unless you bought it specifically to relieve stress, resist the urge to fidget with it. Let the diamonds shine on their own.
