The Best Jewelry Findings

If you’ve ever looked for that perfect piece of jewelry, you understand the value of making your own. With a little creativity and the right products, you can craft eye-catching items to either wear yourself or give as gifts.

To get started with jewelry making, you first need to know about findings. Jewelry findings are the small parts on any necklace, bracelet, ring or other accessory that keep your decorative items secure. They include parts like spring rings, crimp beads and eye pins—all things professional jewelers know well, but crafters quickly learn as they get started.

The first step when you’re choosing findings is to ensure they match. You’ll need a selection of yellow gold if you plan to make yellow gold-toned jewelry, for instance, but it can always help to have neutrals like stainless steel clasps. Visuals are only part of your findings selection process. There are some key features to consider as you start stocking your craft room.

There are a few basics you’ll need to master if you’re getting started with jewelry making. One is how to open and close a jump ring. For this, you’ll need a good pair of pliers, which will be one of your handiest tools as a crafter. You can use either flat-nose or snipe-nose pliers. Experiment with both until you find what works best for you.

As your jewelry-making skill advances, there are a few other tools you’ll likely acquire. Wire cutters will come in handy, and you’ll eventually want some metal stamps to make custom-designed charms and pendants.

For all this, of course, you’ll need storage. Some jewelry findings come in cases of their own, and that’s great, but you might want to invest in larger cabinets to handle all your supplies as you get more experience. Some people set up an entire room, or at least a corner, in their home for jewelry making. Having your own space can also help you move into crafting mode and possibly even keep household members from interrupting you when you’re hard at work.

• Jewelry making can be a fun art to learn, but keep in mind that making earrings differs from making necklaces, which is different from making bracelets or rings. Start by making jewelry for yourself and expand from there. If you’re making jewelry you want to wear, you’ll have fun while you learn, plus you’ll have some items you can show off.
• If you’re new to the craft of jewelry making, look into kits that include all the basics you need, including pliers and tweezers. This can help give you a foundation you can later build on.
• When you’re starting out, you might want to keep your collection smaller, getting just enough findings to learn what you do and don’t want to make. You can then think about expanding into kits with thousands of findings.
• The quality of any metals will make a big difference, even in small pieces like clasps and hooks. Look for metal that won’t rust or corrode. Some are even coated in an alloy specifically designed to maintain the integrity of your metal over time.
• Chances are, you know the type of metals you prefer. You might want to start by building a collection of findings in that metal. However, as your skills grow, you could consider expanding into other metals just to get a little variety in your jewelry collection.
• A jewelry-making hobby can come in handy for those instances when you have a piece of jewelry that breaks. You’ll always have an extra clasp or hook that you can use to make those emergency repairs.
• One of the simplest types of jewelry making is hoop earrings. All you’ll need are the hoops and the ear hooks and you can easily add beads, charms and other items to decorate them.