What are jewelry-making-findings?

Findings are the different metal components use for making or finishing a jewelry.

You will find these metal parts in many different sizes and finishes: Gold, silver, gold plated, vermeil, antique gold, copper…

Charming-Jewelry-Making.com is mostly about making fantasy, fancy jewelry.

As easy as 1-2-3 with a fun and creative spirit!

Therefore we are using mostly findings in copper, antique gold, silver plated finishes.
However, we have decide to make some gemstones jewelry in sterling silver.
Balinese or Thai silver offer very original charms, clasps, chains…

If you wish to make "high quality" jewelry, using sterling silver can be an option.
Silver is much better quality than craft metal and its price is still reasonable. We particularly like Balinese or Thai or Indian silver for their ethnic motives.

There is different types of jewelry making findings:

• The one use to finish a jewelry made with cord, thread wire, nylon, silk.
• Clasp,toggles, earwires, chain, neckwire… ideas.
• Eye pins and head pins , "long metal thread" used to make links or dangles. You will make and eye loop.
  You can watch the videoto see how to make a proper loop.
• Sterling silver clasps, charms, earwires, chain that you can use when you are designing with gemstones or pearls for example.

For this bracelet, you can see a contrast between the black ( cold, strict, heavy) gemstones and the light and joyful silver charm.
The bird clasp really embellish this bracelet, without it it would have been more common!

You have to choose them with care because they can have a strong impact in your design.

To see how to make jewelry click here.

For supplies , click here. This is a free e-book, feel free to download it!

Findings are used with a specific thread with a specific technique.
For example, crimp beads are used only with wire thread, bead tips with silk or nylon.

Eye and head pins are long pieces of metal finished with a loop or a nail and require a basic knowledge of wire jewelry making.
They are used to link 2 beads together or a beads and a piece of chain or to make dangles.

With a cord tip, you can attach a cord to a clasp.

Clasps, hooks for earrings, neckwires, drops, charms are used to finish and embellish a jewelry piece. They are a part of the design and you should pay attention to them when you are designing your jewelry.

However, there is one finding, you should really pay attention to: the Jump ring!
You will use jump rings all the time, even all type of technique, whatever finishes you choose.
look at the video to see how to open and close a jump ring. Practice first with metal craft!