If you recently picked up a new hobby of jewellery crafting, you must have hunted for pliers, beads and chain links. Are you familiar with the meaning of “jewellery findings,” though? Have you ever considered that “findings” and “components” are synonymous? If you are starting in the beading world, this is an excellent guide to the various beads and findings you will need to create beautiful jewellery. The greater your depth of knowledge, the more likely you are to succeed at this fantastic pastime. If you want to learn more about jewellery design, keep reading.
What are Findings in Jewellery Making Used For?
To begin, what exactly are the findings? They’re the essential components of any jewellery creation, the “stuff” that holds everything together. Before now, you might have yet to pay attention to them. Accessories are the finishing touches that help you put your creations together, such as clasps, links, and rings. There is a wide variety of alloys, sizes, and designs of jewellery findings to choose from, so you can find the perfect one for any project.
However, what are the most popular jewellery components? What are their duties, exactly? If you’re starting with jewellery making, these are some of the most popular earring, bracelet, and necklace findings you’ll likely encounter.
Typical Jewellery Components and How They Work
Clasps
Necklaces and bracelets require clasps to be completed. A clasp must be present to secure the connection between the two halves. Since clasps come in a wide variety of forms and designs, they may not only serve as a practical component to your creation but also as the perfect final touch.
Earwires
You probably already know that earring wires are used to create dangling earrings. The ear wire itself is designed to pass through a piercing. The connection hole allows you to customise your earrings by adding beads, beadwork, metal components, or even buttons.
Bails
Bails connect a pendant’s focal bead or component to the chain. You don’t need to be a metalsmith or know how to solder to use bail to attach a pendant to a chain.
Bead Caps
It’s helpful to have bead cap findings on hand to give your beads a little extra flair. You may quickly add a decorative touch or hide defects by simply sliding a bead cap onto the end of a stringed bead. A simple bead may become the pendant’s focal point by glueing on a bead cap.
Chandeliers
An everyday earring accessory is a chandelier. With the addition of beads (on a headpin) or chain through the corresponding holes, they may be transformed into lovely dangling earrings. If you want to wear them with ear wires, there is a small loop at the top.
Jump Rings
Jewellery clasps are called “jump rings” because they function as connectors. In addition to the more typical round shape, jump rings come in the less common oval form. Jump rings can be either opened or closed.
Open jump rings are dimpled so that jewellery pliers may be used to open them. Closed jump rings are permanently sealed by being soldered shut on both sides. Because of their superior strength, closed jump rings come in helpful for joining together precious or heavy jewellery findings.
Connectors and Links
There is a wide variety of link and connection types to choose from. The perfect coating for your project is waiting for you here. Craftspeople use them to join different pieces of jewellery; the names of the components are self-explanatory. You can use them for earrings, chains, or bracelets.
The time spent in contemplation before beginning a jewellery project is crucial. The imaginative, strategy-building phase is when you choose the jewellery findings you want to create and the specific beads and other jewels you will use. Although this may be the most enjoyable element of crafting jewellery for some, the vast array of options for use with beads and other components may be intimidating to others.
