It turns out that even something marketed as permanent jewelry can have a short shelf life. Nashville resident Lilly Claire, who posts on TikTok under the handle lillianclairee, recently shared her experience with a piece. She had purchased the bracelet in Greece, but it gave out just a week and a half after she got it. The video has since racked up 7 million views, resonating with plenty of people who had strong opinions on what to expect of a $120 bracelet.
In the video, Lilly starts off sitting in her car, holding up her arm to reveal the broken chain. She says, “Oh hi divs, it just so happens I went to Greece and paid $120 for permanent jewelry. A week and a half later, is this screaming permanent to you? Though, we just googled permanent jewelry near me. Let’s go see if we can get it fixed.”
Lilly’s journey was evidently spontaneous and thus an adventure. She admitted, “I also haven’t thought this through. I don’t even have my debit card. So I hope they have tap.” She headed toward the building she found on Google, which she described as a “random sketchy scary looking building.” When she got there, she spotted a small note on the door that read, “For permanent jewelry, please call or text.”
Lilly laughed at herself and then decided to try her luck anyway
She called the number, only to sheepishly realize that appointments were actually required. However, she pleaded her case, explained she was alone, and fortunately for her, the jeweler decided to come out and check. It got her into the shop.
Once she was inside the workspace, she spoke with the woman jeweler about the situation. Lilly explained, “It broke like two days ago and I was like, it’s just been hanging. Everyone’s just staring at me like, what is this hanging off your arm?” In a similar, but much more expensive case, a woman bought a $3,950 Tiffany bracelet for her birthday. However, 2 weeks later, it bent out of shape.
It’s easy to see why she was frustrated. According to Ouros Jewels, permanent jewelry is designed to last anywhere from 5 to 20 years, depending on the metal and how it is worn. However, they note that thin chains are always at risk of breaking if they catch on something.
Permanent jewelry, which is also called Forever jewelry or Infinity jewelry, is designed to be a seamless piece with no traditional clasp. It is typically fused using a pulse welder or laser soldering tool. As Ouros Jewels points out, the term “permanent” refers to the intent of the jewelry rather than its invincibility. If a chain does break, most jewelers can simply re-weld it, which is exactly what Lilly needed.
During her visit, the jeweler offered a deal: if Lilly bought a new piece, the repair for the broken one would be free. Lilly decided to go for it, saying, “Maybe I will because now I’m like obsessed with them.” She ended up walking away with a new addition to her wrist.
Back in her car, she showed off her updated look, saying, “Okay, well, I did end up getting another one. She was so sweet!” She added, “Here is our current stack that we have going on. I got this one. It’s like a little chunkier, and then we have her fixed. So cute and gorge.”
While amused by her adventure, the comment section was hung up on the cost of her jewelry. One user wrote, “For 120 dollars that should stay on for eternity.” Another person added, “Permanent jewelry shouldn’t be more than 55-60 dollars max.”
Others pointed out the reality of the trend, with one user noting, “’permanent’ just means theres no closure…chains still break.” Another commenter shared, “I paid 60 for mine and it’s been on over a year now.” Frankly, people can get very opinionated about jewelry. It was something an archaeologist just learned when a post made about Zendaya’s earrings at the Odyssey premiere allegedly spiralled into death threats.
Ouros Jewels suggests that investing in solid gold or platinum is usually the best way to ensure your piece lasts for years. While the convenience of a clasp-free design is a major draw, you want to make sure the craftsmanship can actually handle the wear and tear of your daily life.
Published: Jul 19, 2026 10:24 am