What's the secret to wearing pendants?

[suzifrommd]

I bought two pendants last week on silver chains and I can't figure out how to get them on. They have a spring-loaded ring clasp that creates a gap in the ring when you pull it back so you can slip the loop in from the other side of the chain.

I can get them to attach and detach when I'm looking at them through my reading glasses.

But I can't seem even to get close to attaching them when the chain is around my neck. I can't look at them directly because of the angle involved so I need to feel my way and I failed utterly after about 20 mins of trying to get them together.

I see a lot of women wearing pendants. What's the secret to getting them clasped?

[Kelly J. P.]

 I think the secret is to use the Force, and to close the chain around the neck by feel.

At least, that's how I do it. Some people get others to put the pendant on for them.

[crazy at the coast]

If you have to, clasp it in the front of your neck while looking in the mirror and then move the clasp part around to the back when you're done.

[LilDevilOfPrada]

If you have to, clasp it in the front of your neck while looking in the mirror and then move the clasp part around to the back when you're done.

Exactly how I do it its simple and easy

[Catherine Sarah]

Practice, practice, practice, practice, practice. Just like all the other nuances of being a woman.

PRACTICE

Huggs
Catherine

[JulieC.]

I agree with Catherine.  Nothing like practice.  But you have to be successful for practice to work.  I have one necklace where the loop hole is almost the same size as the lobster hook.  Even in front it's very hard because the chain is also very short.  With that one I just use the "force"...I imagine them going together...and they do!  I have more problems putting polish on my right hand finger nails. 

[Beverly]

I see a lot of women wearing pendants. What's the secret to getting them clasped?

Just keep doing it. I assume you are talking about this kind of thing? (Hover over the image for a close-up)

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/jewellery-and-hair-accessories/crystal-diamante-butterfly-necklace-_270259590

[Elspeth]

Just keep doing it. I assume you are talking about this kind of thing? (Hover over the image for a close-up)

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/jewellery-and-hair-accessories/crystal-diamante-butterfly-necklace-_270259590

Assuming bev's image is the sort of standard clasp for most necklaces of this type, one thing you might try would be to start playing with the clasp where you can see it, and eventually get to a point where you can do it by feel alone. Hard to describe without a lot of pictures, but with most things like this, where I can't see the clasp or hook-and-eye-type of thing, long practice leads to knowing how to feel for the various parts, so I can grip them between two fingers and have a sort of mental picture of how they are oriented as I bring them together.

Not unlike learning to put on a bra with the hook and eyes at your back... I've actually had to develop new techniques for this after breaking my humerus near the shoulder about a year ago. On the plus side it did serve as part of my physical therapy for getting that shoulder back to something like its former flexibility and range of motion.

Also, with those clasps, it helps if you have longer nails, in terms of managing the tiny lever that most of them have to open up the hook part.

[Beverly]

Also, with those clasps, it helps if you have longer nails, in terms of managing the tiny lever that most of them have to open up the hook part.

Indeed. I tend to use the nail on my right first finger to open the hook using the lever, hold the chain part between my left thumb and finger and then put them round my neck offering the chain up to the open hook.  The advantage of this type of necklace is that you can adjust the length of the chain to allow for different necklines on your clothing.

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

I cheat and use magnetic clasps.  They attach to each other and the ones I have, have a barrel to screw them togther for security.

[Elspeth]

I cheat and use magnetic clasps.  They attach to each other and the ones I have, have a barrel to screw them togther for security.

Oooo, nice idea. Also could alleviate what can be a problem with a lot of shorter necklaces... unless you're blessed with a very slim neck, a lot of cute necklaces are likely to need some kind of extender, and getting them together the conventional way gets harder, the shorter the chain is, mainly due to tension that might not be as serious for those girls blessed with slim necks and wrists. 

Adding an extra clasp like that could add an inch or two to the length that could be essential with some necklaces. I love chokers in the abstract, but I know they draw too much attention to the girth of my neck, at least at my present weight. Maybe this might change at my target weight, plus HRT? But probably not nearly as much as I wish it would.

[Miharu Barbie]

First off, I do not use my nail to open the clasp on a necklace.  My manicurist would hurt me... she says "Nails are not tools.  Nails are not tools.  Repeat after me, nails are not tools."  Using your nails will create teeny tiny dents in the edge of your nail that will lead to chipped polish and cracked nails eventually.  Nails are not tools.

I use the side of my index finger.  The secret for me is to hold the ends of the necklace between my thumb and index finger, the clasp part between my right hand thumb and index finger and the loop between my left hand thumb and index finger.  Holding the clasp where you can see it, open the clasp, and holding it open bring the loop inside of the clasp then bring it out, then put it inside then bring it out.  Do that several times to get a feel for it.  Then without over thinking it, still holding the clasp open with your thumb and index finger, place the necklace around your neck, place the loop inside of the clasp exactly as you've just been getting a feel for, then release the clasp.  Presto!

You go girl!

Miharu

[aleon515]

Women are ninjas?

--Jay

[Nero]

I don't know. Don't get them caught in your cleavage? 

[peky]

the secret is having somebody do them for you, sister

[Shana A]

I've learned to do it by feel, usually in wearing position with the clasp in back.

I recently wore a pendant that had in me tears trying to put it on, frontward, backward, nothing would work!

Z

[John Smith]

This is probably one of the least useful skills I have. XD

[Sephirah]

Just smile and resist the urge to argue. They can be very wearing, with their constant grammatical and contextual correction and... stuff. Very wearing indeed.

...

Oh. Wait. Sorry, I thought you said pedants.

Yeah, what the other folks have said. Also, don't wear pendants with little vials of other people's blood in them, a la Mrs Jolie. That's ever so slightly creepy.

[MaidofOrleans]

It's a practice thing. I get it on the first try most of the time now.

[Elspeth]

First off, I do not use my nail to open the clasp on a necklace.  My manicurist would hurt me... she says "Nails are not tools.  Nails are not tools.  Repeat after me, nails are not tools."  Using your nails will create teeny tiny dents in the edge of your nail that will lead to chipped polish and cracked nails eventually.  Nails are not tools.

Wow. Thank you. A lesson I really should have learned earlier. What I get for doing my own nails. No wonder I have such problems with chipping.

I should probably be doing some kind of aversion therapy about this... I've tended to use them as tools way too much. Got away with it as long as I was not on HRT, but from all the stories I get from women who've envied the durability and speed of growth of my nails over the years, I suspect that's something likely to change dramatically as I get started on HRT.