All knotted up? How to untangle a necklace
We asked Scarlett Godzikowska, OB Jewellery Team’s Quality Control Assistant, for some advice on how to untangle a necklace so that you can save valuable minutes next time your chain gets a knot.
What you’ll need
Before you get started on your tangle, make sure you have the following to hand:
• Sewing needle, pointed tweezers
• Well-lit area or table lamp
Then try the following to free your chain necklace:
‘I normally lay the necklace flat and wiggle the centre of the tangled area with my finger to loosen the knot,’ says Scarlett. But if you have a stubborn tangle that won’t shift, she recommends a hair pin or kirby grip. ‘This can help to get in between the knot of a really small chain,’ she says. ‘Once you’re in, lay the necklace flat and do the wiggle trick from step one.’
If that doesn’t work, Scarlett suggests using a pair (or even two pairs) of pointed-end tweezers to start gently loosening and opening the knot, gently moving in different directions, until the tangle works its way out.
Untangle tips
'My first tip is to never open a necklace to make it one long chain if it is tangled closed. This will make things much harder even though it seems like a good idea,’ recommends Scarlett.
If your necklace has multiple tangles in different places, start from the outer knots and work your way in.
Tackle the knot on a tray or flat surface, ‘and no matter how great the lighting is in the bathroom, never try to untangle a necklace over the sink, unless you’ve put the plug in first,’ warns Scarlett.
Be gentle – especially with your more delicate chains. Avoid hard tugging or squeezing with the tweezers as you’ll risk damaging your necklace.
'Giving your necklaces a regular wipe with a polishing cloth can also help prevent knots from forming, as they are more likely to tangle when tarnished,’ says Scarlett.
If you’re layering necklaces, add a heavier necklace on top of lighter chains to stop the smaller ones moving too much and becoming tangled. Read more about how to layer necklaces without tangling.
Store in style
The best way to avoid knots and tangles in necklaces is to store them well when you’re not wearing them. ‘We would recommend storing necklaces separately from each other and in a cloth, which will help prevent tangles and slow down tarnishing when not being worn,’ says Scarlett. She also recommends storing your necklace with the clasp closed.
It’s worth hanging long chains and multi-strand necklaces on a jewellery stand rather than in a standard jewellery box or pouch. ‘And when travelling, avoid tangles on the go by keeping your necklaces separate from other jewellery pieces rather than heaping all of your chains together,’ says Scarlett. Transport chains in a jewellery wrap if you have one.