When Sacha Jarmon began hosting pop-ups selling permanent jewelry around the metro area in summer 2020, most Denverites hadn’t heard of the trend popularized by Catbird, a Brooklyn studio that debuted the service in 2017. “People didn’t quite understand it was just a chain that was welded on—clasp-less, custom fit,” says Jarmon, co-founder of Boulder-born jewelry store Love Saro.

Today, the bracelets, anklets, necklaces, and hand chains—painlessly attached with a quick tap from a welding machine node to melt and fuse the metal, a process sometimes called zapping—that only come off if intentionally snipped (or accidentally ripped) make up a large part of her business. Although jewelers’ prices can be higher than what you might see at, say, farmers’ market stands offering welded bling, they coincide with more durable products made from solid gold and sterling silver, rather than plated or filled metal. “The quality of the materials is higher, and the craftsmanship—you know, actual metalsmiths are putting this on you,” says Christy Lea Payne, who’s been offering permanent jewelry at CLP, now with shops in Overland and LoHi, since 2018.

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“We’ve got rock climbers, we’ve got bikers, hikers—people who are super, super active, and not all chains are created equal for those lifestyles,” Jarmon says. So, if you want your permanent jewelry to actually be (more or less) permanent—and continue looking good for years to come—we suggest investing in a piece from one of the five shops below.

Jump Ahead:

Love Saro

  • Bracelets start around $115
  • Locations: 2702 E. 3rd Ave., Denver, and 1722 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder

At their Cherry Creek, Boulder, and Los Angeles studios, classically trained gemologist Sacha Jarmon and her mom, sculptor Carol Ritter, outfit clients (including Kourtney Kardashian, Rashida Jones, and Olivia Culpo) with custom designs using more than 60 chain styles and 180-plus natural gemstones. Unlike most jewelers, who weld a subtle but noticeable connecting piece called a jump ring, Love Saro uses a seamless technique, welding the chain to itself, and they invite clients to bring in their own heirloom jewelry.

Although walk-ins are welcome, appointments allow the shop’s designers to customize the experience: For example, the “in memory” service can include tarot or oracle card readings, and customers are encouraged to bring photos or mementos. “We’ve had, specifically, a lot of mothers who’ve miscarried come to commemorate this moment of loss in their life and make it something positive,” Jarmon says. “I find a lot of empowerment in holding space for those clients.”

CLP Jewelry

Charms from CLP
Photo by Jessica Luann Photo, courtesy of CLP
  • Bracelets start at $98
  • Locations: 1407 S. Broadway, Denver, and 3214 Tejon St., Denver

Christy Lea Payne, who’s been designing baubles for more than two decades, started offering welded jewelry in 2018—and soon found a line out the door of her South Broadway shop. Three years ago, she added a LoHi outpost to meet demand for her Adorned line’s 20-some chains, customizable with house-made charms, and new, perfect-for-stacking bangles. The additional space means Payne can host even more private permanent jewelry events, including a recent proposal in which the couple, with their families and dog there to celebrate, got Adorned pieces to mark the occasion. “It’s anything from a divorce party to a sobriety party,” Payne says. “We’ve seen a lot of variety.”

Aurum's chains
Photo courtesy of Aurum

Aurum

  • Bracelets start at $70
  • Location: 47 W. 11th Ave., Denver

Buying permanent jewelry is more than just shopping; it’s an experience. And that’s what Nikki Nation facilitates—sometimes with sparkling wine and charcuterie—at her Golden Triangle shop, which opened in April 2023. “A lot of people come in to celebrate something, like graduations, birthdays, bridal parties,” Nation says. “I love it when families come in—a grandmother-mother-daughter situation. I just really like the sentimental value.”

Alongside the couple of dozen weldable chains and various birthstones and charms (Nation’s evil eyes are popular), the Aurum showroom hosts Nation’s recycled metal jewelry and handmade goods from other makers.

A Love Weld employee welds a bracelet on a customer
Courtesy of Love Weld

Love Weld

  • Bracelets start around $100
  • Location: 1801 Blake St., Denver

As the name implies, this Texas-born chain with a dozen locations across the United States is dedicated solely to permanent jewelry. Since Love Weld opened inside LoDo’s Free Market in July 2021, the chic shop has been a destination for groups celebrating birthdays and couples marking anniversaries (reserve your appointment or a private party online). Love Weld’s dozen or so styles, from a basic cable to a box chain to a paperclip design, are made from 14-karat gold, and some are available in white and rose gold in addition to yellow gold. Go during happy hour—3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Wednesday—for a complimentary glass of bubbly rosé and $20 off your piece.

Two people's hands overlaid with a hand chains
Courtesy of Link x Lou
  • Bracelets start at $75
  • Locations: Mobile welding machines in Boulder, Denver, and Steamboat Springs

What started as a Denver aesthetician’s pandemic hobby has flourished into an enterprise with representation in 65 markets, where Jordan Louis’ independent contractors, aka Linkers, take mobile welding machines to business pop-ups, corporate events, and private homes. Every Linker carries the Core Collection of four chain styles, but many stock more of the brand’s offerings, including the new Lochbar bangle. In Colorado, there are Linkers in Boulder, Denver, and Steamboat Springs; round up enough friends to commit to five pieces, and they’ll come to you for free.