You put on a necklace by yourself by closing the clasp in front of your chest first and then turning the necklace around. If that does not suit you, hold the end with the clasp in your dominant hand and stick the other end to your skin with a small piece of tape. That leaves both hands free for the tiny hook.
Sound familiar? You stand in front of the mirror, arms in the air, and just as you almost have the ring, it slips away. Luckily there are a few clever tricks. They suit almost every clasp.
Why is putting on a necklace by yourself so tricky?
The problem mainly lies in how small the clasp is and where it sits.
You cannot see what you are doing
The clasp sits at the back of your neck, so you do it blind. Your fingers have to do everything by feel. With your arms raised, they also get tired quickly.
The lever is tiny
A lobster clasp or spring ring on a fine necklace is often only a few millimetres in size. Want to know which clasp is on your necklace? Read first which types of necklace clasps there are. Then you also know which trick suits you best.
How do you put on a necklace, step by step?
You can try these four methods at home straight away.
Method 1: close it in front of your chest
Place the necklace around your neck with the clasp at the front. Now you see exactly what you are doing in the mirror. Hook the lobster clasp into the ring and then calmly turn the necklace around until the clasp sits at the back of your neck.
This is quickest with a long necklace. With a short 42 cm necklace there is less room, but turning it around usually still goes fine.
Method 2: the piece of tape
Stick the end with the ring to your skin with a small piece of tape, just next to your neck. Now that part stays still. With one hand you open the lobster clasp and with the other you guide it to the ring.
Method 3: the paperclip
Bend a paperclip open into a hook. Hook the ring onto it and hold the paperclip in your hand. This makes the ring bigger and easier to grab. Do use a smooth paperclip, so you do not scratch the finish.
Method 4: against a firm edge
Lay the ring over the edge of your collar or a snug top. The fabric holds the ring in place for a moment while you hook in the clasp.
What do you do with a pendant on the necklace?
With a pendant you need a slightly different approach.
Pendant first, then the necklace
Slide the pendant onto the chain before you put it on. Then hold the pendant against your chest with your thumb, so it does not slide towards the clasp. Want to know how to attach a pendant to a chain? Read that explanation per system first.
A clip pendant afterwards
Wearing a clip pendant? Then you do it the other way round. Put on the necklace first and click the pendant on afterwards, right in front of the mirror. The Botanic Clip Pendant is made of 925 sterling silver and you choose it with a gold plated or rhodium plated finish. You click it onto your necklace in a few seconds.
Which necklace is easiest to put on yourself?
Some necklaces make it a lot easier for you.
Choose a slightly longer length
A 45 or 50 cm necklace turns around effortlessly after you close it in front of your chest. With a short length you have less room. The lengths from 42 to 80 cm in the link chains give you plenty of choice.
A smooth chain turns easily
A serpentine chain is smooth and round. Because of that it glides easily through your hand and does not catch on your hair. The Serpentine Chain Necklace is made of 925 sterling silver with a gold plated or rhodium plated finish.
Take care with beaded necklaces
Beaded necklaces are popular, now again too, according to the trend of beaded necklaces in 2026. They are a little stiffer, so turning them around is less smooth. So it is best to close them straight at the back of your neck with method 2 or 3.
What should you avoid?
A few habits wear out your necklace sooner than needed.
Do not pull it over your head
Pulling a necklace over your head with the clasp closed seems handy. Yet it stretches the spring of the lobster clasp. After a while the lever no longer closes properly.
No pliers
Do not use steel pliers or tweezers directly on the clasp. Steel jaws leave scratches on silver and on the plating. Every necklace comes from workshops in Italy, Bangkok and Hong Kong, where a lot of care goes into a flawless finish. It would be a shame to damage that at home.
Frequently asked questions about putting on a necklace yourself
I'm happy to answer a few frequently asked questions:
How do you put on a necklace with long nails?
Use the side of your nail to push the lever open. That is often even easier than with your fingertip.
Can you have a larger clasp fitted?
Yes. A jeweller replaces the clasp with a larger lobster clasp or a magnetic clasp.
Do you put on a necklace before or after getting dressed?
After getting dressed and after perfume and body lotion. That way no residue gets into the clasp.
Why does the ring keep slipping away?
Because it hangs loose. Fix it with a piece of tape or a paperclip, then it stays in place.
Want to know more, or have questions? The experts at Sparkling Jewels are happy to help.
