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If you have ever bought a necklace, bracelet, or anklet and the size wasn’t what you wanted, or you have some old pieces of jewelry lying around you want to repurpose, a necklace extender is a great option.
You can now get use out of older or shorter pieces of jewelry with the use of an extender. Below we are featuring a few different necklace extender options that will work with most types of necklaces and bracelets and come in both silver and gold colors to ensure a perfect match.
Most of these options are made from durable stainless steel and available in multi-packs so you have plenty on hand and come in a wide variety of sizes to meet your needs. We have also included some sterling silver extenders that are hypoallergenic and won’t leave any unsightly marks.
Our Favorite Necklace Extender of 2024
D-buy Extender — Best Overall
This set of eight extenders includes four different lengths for a variety of necklaces and bracelets. Made of high-quality stainless steel, these extenders are solid and durable and have classic lobster claw clasps making them easy to put on and take off.
Pros
- This set includes both silver and gold options
- The stainless steel will not tarnish
Cons
- These may not blend in with any extra thin jewelry pieces
Honeycat Necklace Extender — Lead-Free
Here's another great necklace extender set to consider if you're looking for a simple and seamless way to make your necklaces even longer. Available in a range of styles like gold rose gold, and silver, this necklace extender set features top-quality construction. You get a range of size options from as small as 1 inch all the way up to 6 inches with these necklace extender sets, giving you lots of options to get the right length and look for your favorite jewelry pieces. Plus, the manufacturer is a female-founded brand that provides amazing customer service, so you can shop with confidence.
Pros
- Multiple color options
- Lots of sizes
- A caring company
Cons
- Spring closure can be tricky
Naler Jewelry Extenders — Runner Up
This set of 10 extenders comes with five different lengths, ranging from two to six inches, with two in each size. Similar to the one above, these are made from stainless steel and have a handy lobster clasp to make putting on and removing fast and easy.
Pros
- These come in both gold and silver options
- The thin chains match dainty jewelry well
Cons
- It is advised to not wear these during exercising or bathing
Paxcoo Chain Extenders — Honorable Mention
If you need a large set of extenders, this option comes with 12 in both silver and gold. Perfect for use on a necklace, bracelet, or anklet, these extenders also come in different lengths depending on your needs. These chains are strong and durable and are made to fit most necklaces and bracelets.
Pros
- These extenders are tarnish-resistant
- Make necklaces with small clasps easier to put on
Cons
- These may stand out slightly on more dainty jewelry
Benique Extenders — Best Sterling Silver Option
These sterling silver necklace extenders are a great option for those who don’t want stainless steel. This set of three comes with one of each size including two, three, and four-inch extenders that are delicate yet durable. Use these to lengthen any necklace, choker, bracelet, anklet, and/or to adjust multiple chain necklaces to achieve the perfect on-trend layered look.
Pros
- These extenders are designed for thinner-chained jewelry
- The sterling silver will not tarnish
Cons
- The spring closure may not be ideal to work with
Menkey Necklace Extenders — Best Budget Buy
This is another great set of 10 jewelry extenders made of premium quality stainless steel. These come in assorted lengths and will allow you to add extra length easily to all your jewelry.
Pros
- These have a high tarnish resistance
- Double lobster-clasp design is easy to use
Cons
- These extenders should not get wet
Sllaiss Extender — Also Consider
Here we have another great set of sterling silver necklace extenders. With this set, you get three pieces in three different sizes to ensure all your needs are met. They adjust easily by simply attaching to any necklace, bracelet, or anklet to achieve the desired length and have a spring-ring clasp for secure closure.
Pros
- These extenders are lead- and nickel-free and hypoallergenic
- Comes in gold, silver, or rose gold finishes
Cons
- Silver should be cleaned regularly to avoid any tarnishing
Buying Guide: Necklace Extenders
Not all necklaces can fit around all necks, and you’ll need a necklace extender to help deal with the smaller ones. This guide should help you find the right necklace extender for your jewelry.
What Are Necklace Extenders?
Necklace extenders are sort of an accessory tool that is used in tandem with necklaces. They extend the length of your necklace by connecting the necklace on both ends. This results in a longer chain or strap, allowing you to wear necklaces that would otherwise look too short around your neck.
Necklace extenders can be made out of various materials, though many of them are chain-like in structure. They’re also either available in gold or silver, though you can probably order a special one if you need unique requirements from a professional goldsmith or jeweler.
Why Do You Need a Necklace Extender?
They can help deal with gifted necklaces
Getting gifted a necklace can be a pretty wild experience. You find out that you’re getting a necklace, and as you’re putting it on, excited as you can be, you realize that the centerpiece is hanging a little too close to your throat. Then, once you put it on, you can almost feel the thing right up against your larynx. Of course, this was an accident, and the one who gifted you that necklace probably already feels sorry for getting the wrong size at this point. But, that doesn’t change the fact that you can’t wear this necklace properly - or can you?
There are two solutions to this problem - you either replace the chain entirely or get an extender. Extenders are great for gifted necklaces because you still preserve the necklace that was given by your friend or loved one while also making it wearable. They probably would be fine with you replacing the strap, but they’d probably take it as a very kind gesture if you used an extender instead.
They’re cheaper than replacing necklace chains and straps
The only alternative to using a necklace extender is to simply replace the entire chain or strap. This is easier said than done, however. If the chain was made out of expensive material, then it’ll cost you a lot to get a replacement made out of that same material. And even if it was made out of something relatively cheap, like gold-plated chains, then it’d still be quite a bit of money spent from your wallet.
With a necklace extender, you save up money by only buying an extender instead of an entire chain for both ends.
The extenders come in different lengths
While using extenders for your necklace is usually seen as a solution to a problem rather than an improvement, it can actually be pretty beneficial in certain situations. Let’s say, for example, that you like the way the centerpiece of your necklace looks at different lengths. You can’t just adjust the chain all the time, as that’d be expensive and time-consuming. With extenders, however, you can just extend the necklace to your ideal length, and change it up whenever you feel like it. It’s more of a silver lining than anything, but a benefit nonetheless.
You can use the same extender for multiple necklaces
If you thought replacing the chains of one short necklace was expensive, imagine having to do that for multiple necklaces. It’d obviously cost you a lot, even a small fortune depending on the costs and materials involved. But with just one necklace extender, you won’t have to pay for any of that. One of the advantages of necklace extenders is that they can be used in more than just one necklace.
Things to Consider When Buying Necklace Extenders
Color/material and pattern
Ideally, you’ll want your necklace extender to resemble your actual necklace chain as much as possible. That way, no one can tell that you’re using an extender unless they really look at the back of your necklace carefully. Fortunately, there are necklace extenders for various chain types and for various metal types, too, so you can pick a chain that matches the look of your necklace with a certain degree of accuracy.
When picking the chains, first consider the type of metal, such as gold or silver. The most obvious difference will lie in the metals themselves, so picking the same or similar one will be crucial. Then, you’ll need to pick the right chain pattern as well as the chain thickness, though these are secondary to the metal itself.
Length
Necklace extenders won’t do much for you if they don’t extend the necklace enough to make them wearable. Alternatively, if they’re too long, the necklace will end up looking too long instead of too short. Fortunately, necklace extenders come in sets of varying sizes, so if one size doesn’t work, you can use another size instead and hope that’ll do the trick.
A great way to find the ideal length is by working with a partner and placing the centerpiece of your necklace at the desired level. Then, let them pull the chains behind your neck as far back as possible, and have them get the measurement of the distance between the two chains. You can then find an extender with at least that length, and you’re good to go.
