unravelling a gold chain

[janela]

I have a very fine gold chain which is completely tied up in knots. Does anyone have a foolproof way of unknotting it.

[grasscarp]

I use a needle if things get to this stage. Put the mess on a flat surface and tease it up, bits at a time, with the needle using the point into a link. It will gradually sort itself out........

[Rollo]

If you dab some undiluted washing-up liquid on to it before you start the "unravelling" process it helps the links to slip past one another.

[Rollo]

You might well find this of use:

http://74.125.93.104/search?q=cache:oDfzOkHp-2 gJ:adornment.blogspot.com/2006/08/jewelry-tip- tuesday-how-to-untangle.html+%22unravel+a+gold +chain%22&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

[Andyvon]

I bought a watch from the jeweller recently and while I was there one of the staff found a small gold neck chain knotted up. I watched her put the chain on top of the glass display case and use a needle to tease it apart. It only took her about 20 seconds. Obviously a common problem.

[janela]

Thanks all - the washing up liquid and needle worked a treat. It did involve about three hours of patient putting and unthreading, it is a very fine chain, and was completely knotted up and because of the fasteners on each end was difficult to pull the ends through. However, alls well that ends well and I am now able to wear it for the first time in three years.