Do you like beading and the jewelry-making process and want to learn more about this craft? Then welcome on board, as this article will help you understand the nuance of jewelry making. Whether you are learning it as a hobbyist or want to pursue a career in this field, this article is for everyone. The most surreal part about learning the beading and jewelry-making process are that you get to design your statement pieces. Here you will get familiarized with materials, tools, and techniques used in making different types of jewelry. 

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Imagine how exciting it would be to learn beading and jewelry making for crafting customized statement jewelry pieces. So let us continue our journey of jewelry making. First and forth, let us know about the materials used in making handmade jewelry:

1. Chaton

Chatons are flatback crystals and resemble diamonds in their appearance from the front. These super shiny crystals are generally present on rings and come in the foiled or unfoiled form. This stone shines like a valuable diamond when placed in front of the light, giving depth to its texture.

2. Pearls 

Preciosa pearls, or Imitation pearls, are extensively used in jewelry making. These imitation pearls are made from glass with the layering of nacre, which gives them an opaque and pearl-like finish. On the other hand, cabochon pearls are also used for making different types of pearls. The unique feature of these pearls is their flat back and curved front face, making them easy for beading and jewelry design. 

3. Beads

Beads have formed an integral part of jewelry making from time immemorial. Apart from jewelry making, beads are also used in costume designing, embroidery, and much more. Round, Seed, and Preciosa are the three most popular jewelry-making beads. Round beads are cut at both ends to look flashy and expensive, while Seed beads are completely smooth with a fully round or slightly cylindrical shape. 

The vibrant color Round beads come in different sizes, and the diameter is measured in millimeters. On the other, Seed beads are assigned numbers, and as the number increases, the beads’ size gets smaller.

Fancy Stones

The specialty of the fancy stones is that they look strikingly similar to precious stones like diamonds, ruby, or emeralds. These stones are beautifully incorporated into making cheap but expensive-looking jewelry. 

4. Pendants

Pendants are used as focal objects in necklaces, rings, or earrings and have holes at one end for attaching the rest of the piece to a bail. Faceted crystals are famous for beading and jewelry making as they can be turned into a solid object. 

Developing an insight into the materials used in jewelry making lets us move forward and know more. Next, we will learn about the tools and accessories used in beading and jewelry making. 

5. Metal Findings

Metal Findings are small bits and pieces used in chains of necklaces and bracelets, many types of ear wires, and clasps. The findings are used in turning a length of chain into a necklace. For example, many crimp and metal beads are used to secure loops while working with threads. Similarly crimp is a short metal tube for holding anything between loops. Jump rings are also used for connecting metal components, which act like a chain. 

6. Sterling Silver

Silver jewelry is not made with pure silver, as they are very soft and can’t be used in jewelry making. In most of the silver jewelry-making process, Sterling silver has a composition of 92.5% pure silver, and 7.5% copper is used. These are easy to clean and can be integrated beautifully into silver jewelry. 

7. Silver/Gold/Rose Gold Plated

In the jewelry-making industry, the trend of metal-plated ornaments is evergreen. The process of plating is carried on with the help of the process of electroplating. For example, gold plating is done by chemically coating base metal with loose gold particles. Similarly, the silver coating is also done on base metals. A word of caution for handling silver is that these must be placed away from moisture as it will result in tarnishing, which is not good for the health of silver jewelry. 

8. Pliers 

Pliers and tweezers are the most important tools for making jewelry, but pliers are common tools used in the jewelry industry. Tweezers are used for picking up or moving small and delicate items from one place to another. At the same time, pliers find their place in the core kit of jewelry designers, as they are designed for picking up objects firmly. Bent Nose and Chain Nose pliers are best for holding and bending wires. On the other hand, Scissors are used for cutting to get superb finishing in beading and jewelry designing. 

Threads And Wires

9. Threads

SoNo, Silamide, Wildfire, Nymo, Fireline, and K.O. are some prominent thread brands for beading and jewelry making. Nymo threads are available in varying color options and are made of nylon, which is also used in embroidery. In contrast, Wildfire and Fireline threads are resistant to stretching and breaking. These two threads are conditioned and coated with synthetic conditioners and beeswax. 

The term Poundage is used for determining the strength of the threads before it snaps. Fireline threads are considered best as they are capable of withstanding weight. Moreover, Braided beading thread is utilized in making ornaments, but they don’t fray or stretch and have a nylon coating that protects the strand from wear and tear.

 10. Wires

Wires used in beading and jewelry making are selected on the basis of metal type, hardness, or gauge. The hardness of the wire comes under three categories: Dead soft, which can be easily bent; half hard, the wire is bendable but springier, while the Full hard wire is difficult to bend. However, Memory wire is factory-made and is best for making bracelets as they are thick and capable of holding weight. 

Real-Time Beading And Jewelry Making Procedure

11. Necklace

Before making a necklace, deciding the metal parts of a pendant necklace, the type of clasp, and the bail to be used is of prime importance. The most common one is Snake, Belcher, Curb, or Trace chains; these are available in variable lengths. Toggle, Lobster, or Bolt ring clasp can be used for including attachments to your neckpiece. Choosing the right kind of pendant and bail is crucial as these will be your necklace’s highlight. 

Wrapping Up With The Beading And Jewelry Making Process

In this article, we have presented you with a guide on the beading and jewelry making process. We have thoroughly explained the intricate details like material, thread, wires, or metal findings used in the process. After reading this article, you will definitely have the upper hand in beading and jewelry-making.