Graduated diamond tennis necklace or same size stones to prevent “flipping”?

[Itsmeagain]

I’m interested in a diamond tennis necklace but have read that some people have problems with their necklaces “flipping”, or it won’t stay diamond side up. I wonder if graduated stone necklaces or necklaces where all stones are the same size have a greater tendency for this? Does the length of the necklace affect the necklace’s ability to stay diamond side up? I don’t want to wind up with a necklace that is annoying to wear, so it stays in my jewelry box. Thanks!

 

[Lookinagain]

Some people with graduated stones feel they flip less. My 18" necklace has stones all the same size and it does flip. I have a shorter, 15" (or 16" don't remember which) vintage necklace that is set differently and it does not flip at all. It is set like this, in bar like sections, but I don't know that you could find a new necklace set like this.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Most should rarely flip if the hinging is well thought out, and on a humid day if they do - they should flip back again by themselves.
The bigger the diamonds the less likely to flip. So graduating does help keep it well behaved where it matters most.

 

[lulu_ma]

I bought 6 or 7 different tennis/ riviera necklaces to try.

Graduation, carat size and length are all factors to consider. My observation is that line style necklaces (all the same size) tend to flip if they are longer than 14-15"L. I found that an 18"L 7 ctw line style still flipped.

I ended up with graduated style. Some necklaces have a design where the largest stones are soldered to together. The soldering seems to help with the flipping issue, as well.

 

[Bron357]

I have an 18 inch graduated and while it was pretty good, it did still flip. Very annoying.
i fixed the problem by adding a pendant, permanent, which means no flipping ever!
Yay.
The other bonus with graduated is that the bigger diamonds are at the front where they are seen while the smaller ones go under my hair at the back.

 

[lulu_ma]

I have an 18 inch graduated and while it was pretty good, it did still flip. Very annoying.
i fixed the problem by adding a pendant, permanent, which means no flipping ever!
Yay.
The other bonus with graduated is that the bigger diamonds are at the front where they are seen while the smaller ones go under my hair at the back.

@Bron357 are the largest diamonds in your necklace soldered together?

 

[Bron357]

@Bron357 are the largest diamonds in your necklace soldered together?

no, individual links but the pendant bale has been “rabbit eared” over and inbetween the diamond links. The links still have movement but its a permanently soldered on pendant.

 

[lulu_ma]

no, individual links but the pendant bale has been “rabbit eared” over and inbetween the diamond links. The links still have movement but its a permanently soldered on pendant.

Hi @Bron357 I think Deejay has slightly changed the setting since you purchased yours. In the 8.54 carat that I purchased, the largest nine stones are more soldered together. Seems to help with the flipping issue.

 

[seaurchin]

Mine is 16" long, 8 carats with stones all the same size and it does flip. I plan to take it to a jeweler and have a thin wire soldered onto the back of the bottom-front part of it to keep it from flipping, or some other stabilizing measure.

Here's a photo I found around here somewhere. It shows a thin wire attached on the back of the necklace to stabilize it. Hope whoever it belongs to doesn't mind:

 

[beaglehouse]

Agree with LuLu_Ma - we purchased the 8.5 carat 18" graduated tennis necklace from DeeJay jewelers for my mom this summer. She wears it every day and am happy to report that it does not flip.

 

[MamaBear]

Mine is 16" long, 8 carats with stones all the same size and it does flip. I plan to take it to a jeweler and have a thin wire soldered onto the back of the bottom-front part of it to keep it from flipping, or some other stabilizing measure.

Here's a photo I found around here somewhere. It shows a thin wire attached on the back of the necklace to stabilize it. Hope whoever it belongs to doesn't mind:

Did you get your necklace stabilized? Im looking for a solution to the flipping of my tennis necklace…. Thanks!

 

[seaurchin]

Did you get your necklace stabilized? Im looking for a solution to the flipping of my tennis necklace…. Thanks!

Not yet.

 

[seaurchin]

I just went to the "jeweler" and learned that he is actually jewelry seller who would just send it out to a jeweler and really didn't seem to know much about it. So I got some metal glue and (aluminum) wire to try to do it myself instead.

If anyone has any words of wisdom before I get started please let me know!

 

[Lookinagain]

I just went to the "jeweler" and learned that he is actually jewelry seller who would just send it out to a jeweler and really didn't seem to know much about it. So I got some metal glue and (aluminum) wire to try to do it myself instead.

If anyone has any words of wisdom before I get started please let me know!

You are very courageous! Good luck. I hope it works out.

 

[MamaBear]

Oooh, I’ll be watching this! I hope it works!

 

[MrsBlue]

I'd be concerned that the flexibility of that wire will cause weird kinking and coiling.

Can it be work-hardened a bit?

 

[seaurchin]

@MrsBlue- It doesn't seem extremely flexible so hopefully it will be okay.

I got my husband to do it for me lol. This is a three inch piece of 22 gage aluminum wire, temporarily attached with tape. When I put it on, it was perfect, NO flipping. However, a little bit of tape does go up the sides a bit to hold the wire on. Hopefully, it will do just as well without the tape. Fingers crossed. Here it is from the back:

 

[lulu_ma]

@MrsBlue- It doesn't seem extremely flexible so hopefully it will be okay.

I got my husband to do it for me lol. This is a three inch piece of 22 gage aluminum wire, temporarily attached with tape. When I put it on, it was perfect, NO flipping. However, a little bit of tape does go up the sides a bit to hold the wire on. Hopefully, it will do just as well without the tape. Fingers crossed. Here it is from the back:

Is this the QVC one?

 

[seaurchin]

Is this the QVC one?

Yes. It's CZ and 14k white gold.

 

[lulu_ma]

Yes. It's CZ and 14k white gold.

Phew! I got a little worried when I saw the adhesive. I’m glad you got the wire to work!

 

[seaurchin]

The glue takes a day or two to fully cure so I'll be back with an update then.

 

[seaurchin]

So far, so good. It's a little stiff across the front-center rather than draping completely into the shape of the neck/chest, since that part is one piece now. But... NO flipping! So far, I consider it a win.

 

[seaurchin]

So far, so good. It's a little stiff across the front-center rather than draping completely into the shape of the neck/chest, since that part is one piece now. But... NO flipping! So far, I consider it a win.

Spoke too soon. The front stays in place but now it rolls up by both shoulders. My husband said the clasp is rolling. We're going to try more stabilizing wire. Not sure exactly where to put it though.

 

[seaurchin]

Oh forget it! Mrs. Blue was right about the wire being too flexible. I just noticed that the wire's nice 'U" shape had morphed into a strange lopsided shape throughout the day. I decided to just wear it as it is and let it roll if it wants to roll.

The wire and glue were surprisingly easy to pull off, with the help of some tiny scissors. Not sure if the glue wasn't completely cured or what but it was rubbery.

Guess I can check it off my list anyway since I've decided to just leave it alone.

I can think of a few more things to try but tbh I'm tired of messing with it.

 

[lulu_ma]

Oh forget it! Mrs. Blue was right about the wire being too flexible. I just noticed that the wire's nice 'U" shape had morphed into a strange lopsided shape throughout the day. I decided to just wear it as it is and let it roll if it wants to roll.

The wire and glue were surprisingly easy to pull off, with the help of some tiny scissors. Not sure if the glue wasn't completely cured or what but it was rubbery.

Guess I can check it off my list anyway since I've decided to just leave it alone.

I can think of a few more things to try but tbh I'm tired of messing with it.

I wonder if wiring just like 8-10 center stones would work…

 

[prs]

Something like coat hanger wire would probably be stiff enough. Not sure if the diameter of the wire would be small enough.