Three Quick Ways to Shorten a Necklace
The other day I noticed a woman wearing the most beautiful Kendra Scott necklace . It sat right in the hollow of her neck—not quite a choker, but not quite dangling either. Later that evening I ordered one necklace, but when the necklace arrived, it didn’t fit me as well as it fit her, even when I put the clasp on the smallest clasp. It was a little too long and sat annoyingly just below my neck. I subsequently spent a few days researching ways to shorten a necklace and found three methods that would work in most cases. Please allow my misfortune to benefit you.
Use an earring
I first turned to TikTok for advice, where I saw a trick that seemed too good to be true: you shorten a necklace by folding the chain at the back, then inserting the pin of a small stud earring into the fold, thereby shortening the chain. . Alternatively, you can thread the earring through both sides of the chain without folding it, skipping the clasp altogether, like this .
Obviously this trick only works if you don’t care what your necklace looks like from the back (let’s say you have long hair that might cover it up), but it seems like an effective solution… as long as it’s suitable for your chain. In my case the chain links were too small to fit the post. (What can I say, I love a dainty necklace.) However, if your chain is big enough, it’s a clear winner since the back of the earring keeps the whole thing secure.
Use a small rubber band
While exploring TikTok for tips that would work on a smaller chain, I came across videos of women using tiny elastic bands to shorten their necklaces , either by gathering part of the chain to the side of the clasp or wrapping it around both ends on both sides. clasp for a shorter look.
I tried this and it worked, but I’m hesitant to use it in public as I would be left hanging if the little rubber band broke. I also found that my hair kept getting tangled in it, creating a bit of a disaster at the back of my head. (By the way, if your hair ever gets tangled in your jewelry, try removing it with Naira .)
I also don’t like using something so flimsy that it will twist the chain. I work hard to keep my jewelry organized , tangle-free, and in good condition, so the idea of mixing it up with an elastic band isn’t very tempting. However, if you have a cheap necklace or don’t mind a cheap solution, this might work in a pinch.
Just buy a necklace shortener
Sometimes a clever hack can solve one of the little problems I encounter throughout the day. Other times I just need to buy a special product to fix it. After trying the DIY methods twice—both worked, but not quite the way I wanted—I gave in and bought a necklace shortener.
I found one that is actually very nice and effective and looks good from the front and back:
Essentially, shortening a necklace does the same thing as an earring and an elastic band, but in a more beautiful way. You pass both sides of the back of the chain through the holes and clasp the necklace as usual. The shortener sits between the clasp and the neck, reducing the length of the chain that actually wraps around. This particular shortener comes in a set of two so you can use them to layer a couple of chains, and comes in gold, silver and rose gold so you can choose the least obtrusive color.
If your chain is thick enough to support an earring, or you don’t mind wearing a crumpled elastic band behind your head, inexpensive tricks work well, but if you want something that works for chains of all sizes and looks a little more elegant: shorten the necklace.