attaching flat elements to chain

[belfrybeads]

I recently took apart a vintage bracelet with flat oval onyx links.  I am making it into a necklace with another matching oval onyx pendant. The problem I am running into is how to make sure the oval links lay flat, and facing up, when I actually wear it.  It looked fine while working with it, but then when I put it on some of the oval links flip over.  I have only recently started working with chain, so maybe there is some trick that I'm missing. 

Any help would be appreciated. 

Belfry

[Polly]

What does it do when you pin it to a board/wall/windowsill/clipboard and let it hang naturally?  I realize it will spin a bit - but what are the angles when it comes to rest?  To get desired links to lay straight you generally need to have an odd number of links in between them (1, 3, 5...: O-O---O-O---O-----O ). So, you might need to add a connector link to some places to get the link to lay the way you need to.

Or, if you already did that and some still flip over, it could be a weight or balance issue. These vary from necklace to necklace, and can take a lot of adjustment to work out.

[belfrybeads]

Thank you.  I think just even the odd number of links may do the trick.  I had them all six links apart.  It's a very well made chain, all the links hang perpendicular to each other.  That, and maybe I need to make a board to pin it to while I'm working with it.  I will try changing the number of links! 

Belfry