How to Fix Broken Gold Earrings

No matter how careful we are, accidents happen, and a beloved piece of jewelry ends up broken. This often happens with earrings, and if you have a gold pair of favorite ones break, you may be left heartbroken. Fortunately, with our expert tips on how to fix broken gold earrings, you may be able to salvage them.

Moreover, even if none of the DIY jewelry fixing tips work, you always have the option of taking the earrings to professional jewelers. But before that, let’s see how you can try to fix them at home.

How to Fix Broken Gold Earrings

Address the damage

Earrings and earring backs come in a wide range of forms and sizes, including standard post earrings, hooks, lever backs, hoops, and so on. 

The damage will vary depending on each kind. Long, dangly earrings with small hoops that link components often get damaged, especially if they are heavier and longer.

Post earrings will occasionally snap off, leaving you with only the front piece and a little useless stick of metal. 

So, before you get to fixing, you should address the type of breakage. The most common damages that gold earrings may incur are:

1. Broken posts
2. Loose or missing stones
3. Broken hooks 
4. Damaged links or chains  

Tools and materials needed

In order to fix your gold earrings, you will need to inspect the piece and see what equipment you may need.

Before you start fixing your broken earrings, you must first gather the essential repair tools. This includes the following:

• Jewelry pliers (two pairs)
• Tweezers
• Gold solder
• Glue for jewelry
• Toothpicks (for spreading the glue)
• Replacement parts

Step-by-step repair methods

Fixing broken posts

If the post of your gold earring is broken, you may attach it if you still have the broken part. But if the post is bent or you do not have it anymore, you may purchase replacement posts; they are usually available in craft stores, or you may order them online.

1. First, ensure that the posts match the style of the original posts of your earrings.
2. If the earrings are flat back, you may easily just use a toothpick to spread some glue and attach the post. But you should not use super or hot glue. Instead, purchase glue made for metal.
3. If you have a metal solder, use it to attach the old or new post as a more permanent solution.
4. Use safety gloves and a pair of jewelry pliers. 
5. Next, carefully pass the solder over the earring and the post to melt the gold and bond the broken pieces together. 
6. Once the pieces are attached, let them cool down, and voila your earring is fixed.

Repairing loose or missing stones

Stones set in jewelry are held in place by metal mountings and prongs. These, over time, may become thinner and weaker. When this happens, the stone will not be as secure in its space and may fall out. 

If you have gold earrings with stones and some fall out or are loose, you can repair them by following the following steps:

1. If you have the stone with you, you may repair it at home, but if it’s lost, you’ll likely need to take it to a professional jeweler. 
2. Take the pair of tweezers and place the stone back in its loosened place.
3. Apply pressure on the stone to ensure it is set properly. 
4. Once the stone is set, use the jewelry pliers to tighten the prongs holding it in place.

If the mounting space held the stone glued and not with prongs, do the following:

1. Take the jewelry glue and apply a sufficient amount to the setting space.
2. Next, use the toothpick to spread the glue.
3. With the tweezers, carefully place the stone on the earring.
4. Wait for the glue to dry

Fixing broken hooks

Gold earrings with hooks are classic pieces of jewelry. But the hooks or findings on earrings are much thinner as they go through your ear. Unfortunately, as pretty as they are, their delicate shape can get bent or damaged over time. To repair them, you’ll need to:

1. Get replacement findings as the bent or broken ones are difficult to repair when you DIY jewelry.
2. Take a pair of snipe pliers to open the hooks and remove them. 
3. Attach the new finding and fasten it; that’s it.

Mending damaged links or chains

If your earrings are dangly with a chain or link design that gets damaged, you may mend them by:

1. Taking the broken link from the chain and discard it.
2. Using one of the sets of pliers to hold the initial link on the chain end (the one nearest to the broken link). 
3. Checking to make sure that the link opening is facing up. Take the second pair of pliers and grasp the other end of the loop. The loop opening should be between the two sets of pliers. Twist one of the pliers until the loop opens horizontally.
4. Hooking the opposite end of the damaged chain into the now-open loop using your fingers or a second set of pliers.
5. Use both pliers as you did before, but this time, twist the loop shut, and your repair is done.

A second approach is to remove the broken link, open a jump ring, and insert it between the two end links of the damaged chain. Try to pick a jump ring that is the same size as your chain loops, and it will be almost unnoticeable. 

This is simpler than removing the actual links of the chain, so if you have difficulty working on such a small piece, we recommend using this option.

When to seek professional help?

If you are unable to fix them, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. Take your gold earrings to a professional jewelry shop. 

Jewelry companies and studios like JewelryLab are equipped with the proper tools and expert knowledge to handle the delicate repair of gold earrings. If the damage to your earrings is too extensive, it is best to leave the repairs to the professionals. 

Professional jewelers have the experience and skills necessary to repair your gold earrings with the precision and care needed.

Moreover, once your piece has been repaired, you must take some precautions to prevent future breaks and damage. Try the following tips to keep your jewelry in top shape:

Avoid wearing them during strenuous activities and sports

Always remove your earrings before swimming or using harsh chemicals

Store the gold earrings in separate soft pouches or compartments in your jewelry box to prevent scratches or dents

Lastly, regularly inspect and clean all of your jewelry, including the gold earrings

Conclusion

Hopefully, with our tips on how to fix broken gold earrings, you’ll be able to repair your pieces quickly and easily. Just remember first to assess the type of damage to be able to choose the appropriate repair method.

But, even if you are unable to repair them yourself, take them to a professional jeweler, and they will fix them in no time.