10 Jewelry Hacks To Solve All Your Jewelry Woes

Adorning yourself with jewelry should be a fun way to express your personal style and elegance. However, achieving that polished look can often be accompanied by challenges. From tangled necklaces to finicky clasps, East Towne Jewelers listens to our Milwaukee-area clients lament on a daily basis how these hassles zap the joy from their jewels. Luckily, your team at East Towne Jewelers is coming to your rescue! We have compiled a list of 10 amazing jewelry hacks to resolve these common issues and elevate your accessorizing game.

Annoyed With Your Jewelry? Let East Towne Jewelers  Solve All Your Jewelry Woes

Are you tired of dealing with costume jewelry or fine jewelry that just doesn’t cooperate? From bracelets that keep slipping off to earrings that sag, we’ve got you covered. These 10 practical tips will keep your jewelry in check.

#1: Remove a Ring Stuck on Your Finger With Windex

We agree with the dad from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” Windex really does fix (almost) everything, including a stuck-on ring! It may sound unconventional, but it makes the skin slippery. Our experts at East Towne Jewelers have used it for years as our first solution to a stubborn ring. While you’ll find YouTube tutorials suggesting string, ribbon, or even dental floss, these hacks are hard to do yourself. Try the Windex first.

#2: Hook A Bracelet By Yourself

Struggling to put on a bracelet single-handedly? Break out the office supplies! Use a piece of tape to hold your bracelet in place on your wrist while you secure the clasp. You can also use a ballpoint pen as pictured to hold one end of the bracelet firmly against your wrist while you use your other hand to secure the clasp. East Towne Jewelers also “hooks up” our clients with this handy hook tool that makes bracelets a breeze!

#3: How To Fix Droopy Lobes

Are heavy earrings making your earlobes droop? Use a small adhesive strip or cushion pad designed for earring backs. These provide extra support and distribute the weight more evenly. Silicone sliders and monster backs are also great options to try. We’ve even got packs of perfect-sized tapes available for purchase and ready to use.

#4: Need a Longer Necklace? Add a Bracelet

One easy way to make a necklace longer is to use a chain extender, which you can find at East Towne Jewelers. We can make any necklace the exact length you want. If you don’t have a chain extender handy but still want to make a long necklace out of a short one, you can easily add an old bracelet to the end of your necklace. Hook the corresponding clasps to each open end, and you’re ready to go.

#5: How to Keep Bracelets from Falling Off

Don’t risk your gorgeous bracelets slipping off your wrist only to be lost forever! Secure your bracelets by using a safety pin or a tiny hair elastic. Loop the pin or elastic through the clasp and attach it to the bracelet. This adds an extra layer of security to keep your bracelet in place.

#6: Make a Necklace Clasp Easier to Close

If you struggle to close necklace clasps around your neck, try attaching a small magnet to each end of the clasp. The magnets will snap together easily, making it simple to put on and take off your necklace.

#7: How to Untangle a Chain Necklace

Don’t toss those tangled necklaces just yet! Place the chain on a clean plate and shake a little baby powder over the necklace. Use a needle to tug on the chain gently, starting with the loosest part of the chain (at East Towne Jewelers, we use old hat pins!) The baby powder makes the chain much more “slippery” and easier to unknot. When you’re done, rinse the chain with warm water and mild soap and pat dry with a lint-free cloth. We want to emphasize here the importance of cleaning ALL the oil off your jewelry. Just like with body oils, it can cause damage to your jewelry if not cleaned thoroughly.

#8: Make a Brooch Stay Pinned

Keep your brooch in place using a small piece of extra fabric behind it or even inside your shirt or jacket. This gives you something a little thicker to stick the pin through, which helps prevent the brooch from slipping. Another tip is to pin on your brooch before you put on your garment. You can easily see where you are pinning and get it right where you want it on the first try.

#9: How to Keep Necklaces from Tangling

Use straws to prevent necklaces from tangling. Thread one end of the necklace through the straw and fasten the clasp. This keeps the chain straight and tangle-free. Another easy way to keep chains from getting jumped is to store them sandwiched between layers of plastic wrap or individually in ziplock bags. Pro tip: the sealed bags helps slow the oxidization of silver and other metals that tarnish.

#10: How to Get a Ring Off When Your Knuckle Has Grown Too Large

If you keep your rings on 24/7, as you age you may find that your knuckles have grown a bit and you literally can’t get the ring off. Rings cannot be resized while you are wearing them, so the only choice is to cut the ring. We have to do this for clients a few times every month. Stuck rings can also be a reaction to medications or an injury to a finger, and it always seems to be the finger with the ring on it! At East Towne Jewelers we understand this can sometimes be upsetting. If we do have to cut off a ring, trust that our ring-cutting tool has a special guard to protect your finger. If you choose to simply have the ring resized we will resize and repair it so it looks the same as the day you first put it on. You might also choose to have a completely new band or think about repurposing the stones into something completely different.

Need More Jewelry Help? Never Fear; East Towne Jewelers is Here!

Even with all these hacks, sometimes professional help is needed. At East Towne Jewelers we offer a range of services to make your jewelry work for you.

Adding a Bigger Clasp:

Are your fingernails too long? Are your husband’s fingers too big? It’s time for a more manageable clasp for your necklace or bracelet. We can replace your current one with a larger, easier-to-use option.

Adding Links/Beads/Stones:

We can extend the length of your bracelets or necklaces by adding extra links, beads, or stones. If your beaded bracelet is too tight, we’ll add an extender chain or a few extra beads. This will give you a bit more room and make the bracelet more comfortable to wear.

Jewelry Resizing:

We offer expert resizing services for rings and bracelets, whether they’re too tight or too loose.

Changing the Clasp/Back Style:

Would you prefer a different type of stud earring back or necklace clasp? We can customize your jewelry to better suit your needs.

Convert Clip-on Earrings to Pierced

Inherit your great aunt’s clip-on earrings? We carefully remove the clip mechanism to convert clip earrings to pierced. Then, we attach a small loop or wire suitable for pierced ears. You could go completely different, the earrings pictured here have been changed into a ring!

Convert a Post Earring to a Different Backing:

To convert post earrings to a different backing, we can help you switch to a more comfortable option. Other choices include hanged back, latch back, fish/French hook, lever back, and screw-back post.

Check out our article How To Find the Perfect Jewelry Repair Shop for more ideas on what we can do to repair or even create new jewelry from old!

Transform Your Jewelry From Frustrating To Fabulous with East Towne Jewelers!

Whether it’s a wedding ring you’ve been wearing for 40 years or a precious pearl bracelet you inherited from your grandmother, you should be able to appreciate the sentimental value of these items without struggling to get them on or worrying about them falling off. By following these easy jewelry tips and utilizing our specialized services, you can keep your jewelry looking great and feeling comfortable.

If you have a piece that’s causing you trouble, visit the experts at East Towne Jewelers in Mequon for expert advice and personalized solutions. Let us show you how to hack your jewelry once and for all!