Understanding Your Pendant’s Needs
Custom-made pendants are more than just accessories. They often hold personal meaning, mark milestones, or complete your day-to-day look. Whether gifted for a birthday or designed to honour a special moment, their design and craftsmanship are meant to last. But just like your go-to shoes or favourite jacket, even the pieces you treasure most need regular attention.
Over time, small signs can add up without you noticing. Until one day the chain snaps, the clasp no longer clicks, or the pendant feels off balance. If you wear your pendant often, or even if it spends most of its time stored away, it helps to know what issues to watch for. Here are five clear signs your custom-made pendant chain might need some expert repair.
Visible Wear and Tear
One of the first ways your pendant chain tells you it needs help is through visible wear. This can show up as light scratches, small dents, or fading areas in the finish. While these may seem minor at first, they can change the way your piece looks and even how it rests on your neck.
Daily use plays the biggest role here. Clothing zippers, hair styling tools, and even seat belts can brush against your chain, causing repeated friction. If your pendant swings freely, it’s also taking small knocks throughout the day. Even gentle wear adds up faster than expected, especially with thinner chains or more detailed metalwork.
You might first notice wear near the clasp or at the points where the chain meets the pendant. These are often stress areas, where metal gets rubbed more often. If you find yourself running a finger along certain parts because they feel rougher or thinner than they should, that’s your cue.
Scratches alone don’t always mean it’s time for repair. But once you spot dents or deep marks, that’s a clearer signal. Those flaws can weaken the structure of the chain, making breaks more likely. And if there’s any hesitation putting the chain on for fear of making it worse, it’s worth getting a professional opinion.
Broken or Loose Clasps
The clasp is supposed to keep your pendant secure, but if it’s acting up, that comfort disappears pretty quickly. When a clasp no longer closes properly or feels loose when fastened, your pendant might be hanging on by a thread.
Here are a few ways to spot clasp trouble:
1. The hook or latch doesn’t click or snap into place
2. You have to apply extra force to close or open it
3. It springs back open or wiggles even when locked
4. The surrounding links show stress or thinning
Once the clasp starts struggling, there’s a higher chance your pendant could fall off with a slight tug. For example, someone shared that their clasp gave out while they were taking off a scarf, leaving them to search through layers of clothing and coat pockets to find their lost pendant.
It’s not always the clasp’s fault on its own. Sometimes the jump ring, that small circular link attaching the clasp to the chain, weakens first. You’ll want to check both parts together, especially if the pendant is older or has seen regular wear.
Getting ahead of clasp failure helps avoid damage to your pendant from accidental drops too. The cost of repairing a chain that fails at the clasp is usually far less than trying to replace lost or broken custom pieces.
Discolouration of the Chain or Pendant
While some change in colour might happen over time, sudden or uneven discolouration can be a warning sign. It often starts as slight darkening but may spread into patches or streaks that don’t match the rest of the metal.
This can happen for a few reasons:
1. Contact with lotions, oils, or perfumes
2. Reaction to your skin’s natural acidity
3. Constant friction with fabrics or hair
4. Exposure to water, humidity, or sweat
Gold, silver, and platinum each react differently. Silver may tarnish and darken. Gold can appear dull or take on a red tone. These changes not only affect how the pendant looks but can also hide deeper damage forming under the surface.
You may even notice a strange scent on the chain, often metallic or musty. Or the metal might start feeling sticky to the touch. These could mean the finish is breaking down.
If your usual cleaning doesn’t restore the colour, or makes things worse like flaking the finish, it’s time to have it looked at. Only professional jewellers can handle deeper cleaning or refinishing without risking the shape or settings of your pendant. Acting quickly can save your custom-made pendants for chains from long-term issues.
Weak or Damaged Links
It doesn’t take much for a weak link to put your pendant at risk. With time, everyday wear can cause one or more links in your chain to bend, stretch, or even snap. Often, this damage shows up slowly until a break is just around the corner.
Give your chain a close look, link by link. Watch for:
1. A link that’s out of alignment
2. Flattened or thinned-out sections of metal
3. Gaps where the ends don’t fully meet
4. Spots where the chain kinks or doesn’t hang right
Trouble often starts near the pendant, where the weight adds pressure, or near the clasp which sees the most movement. Bad storage habits make things worse. Tossing your chain into a drawer or box without care leads to pressure and rubbing that slowly changes the shape of the links.
We had someone bring in a chain with a tiny crack in one of the middle links. They remembered it had caught on a sweater but didn’t think much of it. A week later, the link gave out while the necklace was being removed. Luckily, they found the pendant on the floor. If that had happened outside, the outcome could have been different.
If the chain catches on your skin, clothing, or moves in a way that doesn’t feel right, take a closer look. A jeweller can repair or replace just the links that need it and keep your pendant secure.
Gemstones Becoming Loose
Custom-made pendants with gemstone settings can be sentimental or make a strong style statement. But even the strongest settings loosen over time. Small shifts in the stone’s position, clicking noises, or a gap between the gem and the setting are worth looking into.
Watch for these signs of a loose setting:
1. The stone tilts or spins slightly when touched
2. A quiet rattling sound when you move the pendant
3. A prong that’s missing, bent, or thinner than it should be
4. Uneven contact between stone and metal surrounding it
Wearing the pendant often, brushing it against hard surfaces, or even dressing in a hurry can loosen the settings. Scarves, collars, or jewellery boxes all play a part over time.
A loose gemstone puts the entire pendant at risk. If it falls out, the odds of finding it are slim, especially if you’re out and about. That’s a big loss—sentimental, financial, and visual. Catching it early means a jeweller can tighten the setting or even rebuild part of it if needed. That keeps your gemstone safe and your pendant looking beautiful.
Keep Your Pendants Pristine with Expert Care
Spotting these small warning signs early makes all the difference. Something as minor as a weak clasp or light tarnish can turn into an expensive fix if ignored. If your chain is thinning, links seem off, or a gemstone looks unsteady, it’s a good time to get it checked.
Custom-made pendants carry stories. They remind you of moments or represent the people who matter most. Caring for them properly isn’t just about looks—it’s about keeping that connection alive and wearing your jewellery with confidence.
If you’re in Alberta and notice any of these issues, don’t wait. A trained jeweller knows how to spot developing problems, repair them with care, and return your piece in top shape. That way, your pendant is ready for many more years of wear.
Whether you’re dealing with visible wear and tear, a tricky clasp, or loose gemstones, we know how much your pendant means to you. Don’t let small issues grow into larger problems. Learn how Daniel Sommerfeld Jewelry can help maintain the beauty and security of your custom-made pendants for chains for years to come.