Chain and Bracelet Repair in Exeter
Exeter’s Specialists in Chain Soldering and Restoration.
Why Chains Break
Chains are deceptively complex. Whether it is a classic Belcher, a sparkling Rope, or a sleek Snake chain, every link represents a potential weak point.
- Wear and Tear: Over time, gold and silver wear down where the links rub against each other. This friction thins the metal until it eventually snaps under the slightest pressure.
- The “Tug”: Catching a bracelet on a jumper or having a baby grab a necklace is often enough to snap a link or pull a jump ring open.
- Hollow Chains: Many modern chains are hollow to keep costs down and weight light. These are incredibly fragile and can crush or snap easily, making them difficult for traditional jewellers to repair without melting them.
At Monty’s, we understand the mechanics of every type of weave. We don’t just patch the break; we inspect the surrounding links to ensure the repair will hold.
Make Your Treasured Items Look Like New
Expert Soldering Services
The most common repair we perform is soldering. This involves rejoining two broken ends of a chain using molten metal. However, not all soldering is created equal.
If you have ever had a chain repaired and it came back with a stiff, messy “blob” of solder that catches on your skin, you know the difference between a quick fix and a professional job.
The Monty’s Standard:
- Colour Matching: We use specific solders that match the carat and colour of your gold (9ct, 18ct, Rose, Yellow, or White) so the join blends in.
- Flexibility: A chain needs to flow. We ensure that our solder joins are neat and precise, ensuring the links on either side remain free-moving and flexible.
- Finishing: After soldering, we file, smooth, and polish the area. In many cases, the repair is virtually invisible to the naked eye.
The Laser Advantage: Saving “Unrepairable” Chains
For decades, certain types of chains, specifically Snake chains, Herringbone chains, and hollow Rope chains were considered “unrepairable” by most jewellers. Using a traditional gas torch on these intricate designs often causes the thin metal to melt into a lump before the solder flows.
Enter the Laser Welder.
Monty’s is one of the few independent jewellers in Exeter equipped with advanced laser welding technology.
- Micro-Precision: We can weld metal at a microscopic level.
- No Heat Transfer: We can repair hollow and intricate chains without melting the surrounding structure.
- Snake Chains: We can often rescue snapped snake chains that other shops will tell you to throw away. While a snake chain repair will always have a slight stiff spot due to the nature of the design, the laser allows us to make it wearable again.
Clasp Replacement and Fasteners
Often, the chain itself is fine, but the mechanism that holds it on has failed. The spring inside a bolt ring can rust or snap, or the “tongue” of a box clasp can lose its tension.
We stock a comprehensive range of high-quality findings in Sterling Silver and Gold:
- Bolt Rings & Lobster Claws: The standard fasteners. We can replace these while you wait (subject to workload) or within a few days.
- Padlocks & Safety Chains: Common on traditional charm bracelets and gate bracelets. We can repair hinges, replace hasps, and fit new safety chains to catch the bracelet if the main lock fails.
- Box Clasps: These sophisticated catches often found on tennis bracelets require skilled adjustment to ensure they “click” shut securely.
Tennis Bracelet Repairs
A diamond tennis bracelet is a significant investment, and a broken link is a serious worry. Because these bracelets contain many stones, using a torch to repair a link risks heat damage to the diamonds or gemstones.
Our laser technology is essential here. We can rebuild the worn hinges or snapped links between the diamond settings without heating the stones. We also check every single claw on the bracelet while it is with us to ensure no diamonds are loose.
Adjusting the Length: Shortening and Lengthening
Sometimes a chain isn’t broken, but it just isn’t right.
- Shortening: If a necklace hangs too low or a bracelet is annoying because it slips over your hand, we can remove a section of links to create the perfect custom fit.
- Lengthening: If a chain feels like a choker, we can sometimes source matching chain to extend it, or more commonly, add an extension chain (a short length of adjustable links) to the back, giving you versatility in how you wear it.
Why Choose Monty’s for Your Chain Repairs?
- Security and Trust: We know that a simple gold chain might be the only thing you have left from a late parent. We treat a £20 silver chain with the same respect as a £2,000 diamond collar. Your items stay in our secure Exeter workshop and are never posted away to third parties.
- Honest Advice: Sometimes, a chain is simply too worn to be safely repaired. If the links have worn “paper thin” along the entire length, fixing one break will only lead to another break a week later. We will always be honest if we believe a repair is a waste of your money, and we can offer to scrap the old chain against the cost of a new, stronger one.
- On-Site Expertise: You can speak to the team who will be handling your jewellery. We can explain exactly how we will fix it and what you can expect from the result.
