QUESTION FROM GAYLE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM:
Question : I have an old Necklace that was originally a Chain for a Pocket Watch that my Grandparents had made into a Necklance.
The Links are very brittle and keep breaking. Is there a way of preventing this?
ANSWER FOR GAYLE:
Hi Gayle.
Thanks for writing in. Sadly when Chain Links get old, they can
get very brittle and come apart easily. Not to mention that back in the
olden days, Chains were often made using different Alloys and mixtures that
today's standards wouldn't allow.
Those alloys could be weak and even
tarnish the Chain. I've seen old Chains that look more like Brass or Copper
before. I would double check the Chain to make sure that it is Gold, it
should have a stamp somewhere on it, even though a lot of older Chains and
Jewelry are not stamped. You could always take it to a Jeweler and have them
do an Acid Test on the Chain just to double check the contents.
I would actually be surprised if the Pocket Watch Chain was Gold. Most Watch
Chains are Gold-Plated and would become brittle and fade over time. For Gold
Chains that continue to break and cost more money than they are worth, I
would seriously consider just putting it up as a keepsake and buying
another Chain to wear! Some Chains are just not worth the hassle even though
they hold a lot of sentimental value!
Good luck with the Chain!
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