Gemstone Jewelry - Bling!

Making a Pendant Style Necklace

Our second project will be to make a pendant style necklace using one of our simulated gemstones.  Making the pendant itself is very simple and requires just a simulated gemstone and a pendant snap-fit finding in the same size.  Adding this to a necklace requires 18 inches of commercial chain, a commercial clasp, 6 inches of 21 or 22 gauge wire and two 3mm round metal beads.  The steps for making this pendant necklace using a snap-fit type of setting follow.

Step 1:  Position your simulated gemstone on a smooth, flat surface like a cutting board, with the flat side of the gemstone down and the pointed side up.

Step 2:  Position your snap-fit pendant finding on top of the gemstone as shown at right.  Hold the setting in your non-dominant hand.  Be certain to use a setting that matches the size of your gemstone. 

Step 3:  Using the thumb of your dominant hand, push down gently and symmetrically on the setting until all 6 prongs snap into position.  The only error that you can make is to push too hard.  If you push too hard it will flatten the finding and you will need to re-shape it as we describe in blue, below. 

Step 1	Step 2	Step 3

Step 4:  As we did for the earrings, you will need to squeeze each opposing pair of prongs gently in the jaws of your bent chain nose pliers to ensure that they are snugly seated against the gemstone.  Do this for all three pair of opposing prongs.  This completes the pendant portion of the necklace. 

Step 5:  To complete the necklace, we need to cut 18" of fine or medium commercial chain.  Using the gold-filled pendant setting shown, the links of the chain must be 2mm wide or smaller so that they will fit through the loop in the setting.  You can purchase pre-made chain and modify it as shown here if you prefer.  You can view our Sterling Silver Jewelry Chain here and our Gold-Filled Jewelry Chain here. 

Step 4	Step 5

Step 6:  We need to connect a clasp to the end of this chain.  Please select here to view our free instructions for how to convert a commercial chain into a necklace with a pendant finding.  In the necklace chain shown above, we make this connection using about 3" of 21 or 22 gauge wire on either side.  1/2 hard wire is preferred if available.  Connect each side of the chain to your clasp, using a wrapped bead link and a 3mm metal bead.  You can find instructions on how to make a wrapped bead link here.  The clasp shown above-left is a 6mm magnetic clasp, but any commercial clasp will work. You can view a video on making a Wrapped Bead Link here.

Please note that very rarely, the prongs in a snap type setting can be bent during shipping.  This doesn't happen often, but it has happened.  If this happens, in almost all cases, the prongs can be easily bent back into shape.  If you have a pair of chain nose pliers, this is the preferred tool to use to straighten the prongs.  If you don't have pliers, your fingers will work.  Please note the position of the prongs in the above photographs.  The six prongs should form a circle that is smaller than the gemstone that you are setting. 

Parts Required:

Below, we will discuss a different type of pendant setting. 

Setting a Gemstone in a Fixed Post Type of Setting

Our third project will be to make a pendant style necklace using one of our simulated gemstones and a silver pendant setting.  This setting is not a snap-fit setting like the one in the prior page.  This setting is a more conventional jewelry setting using four prongs, with a notch in each prong.  Notice in the picture at right, that the stone, when set, is below the tops of the four prongs in the setting.  The stone fits in small notches cast into each prong. 

Step 1:  Begin setting a stone in this setting by placing the setting down on a flat surface then place the same size gemstone on top of the four prongs.  It should rest symmetrically as shown below-left. 

Step 2:  Push the stone down symmetrically into the setting with the thumb of your dominant hand.  This will begin to set the stone and one or more sides of your gemstone should fit into the notch on the prongs.

Step 3:  You probably won't be able to fully set the gemstone in this setting with the pressure of your thumb alone.  Once the stone is close to being in position, use your bent chain nose pliers to gently squeeze the gemstone so that it rests in the notches on all four prongs as shown in the picture below-center.  The steel in your pliers has a hardness of 5, the CZ has a hardness of 8.5, so you won't need to worry about scratching the stone, but you can scratch the setting so be careful with your pliers. 

Step 1	Step 3A	Step 3B

Step 4: Now, using your chain nose or bent chain nose pliers, squeeze the tops of the opposite prongs in your setting gently with your bent chain nose pliers to make sure that the stone is held tightly.  Try to squeeze until the prong above the notch is bent slightly in.  Do this for both opposing pairs of prongs.  At this point your gemstone should be snug and secure in the setting.  You can test this by trying to spin the gemstone in place.  It it will rotate, that indicates that you need to squeeze the opposite prongs a little more firmly.  Please select here to view our instructions on how to use our gemstone setting pliers to help set your gemstone in this type of setting.

Step 5:  Complete your chain the same way we completed the chain on the prior page.  With this finding you can use any fine or medium sized silver chain.  You can also use a pre-made commercial chain with a clasp like our Item 3006 or Item 3007. 

In the following paragraphs we will discuss several easy projects for making gemstone jewelry by setting gemstones into appropriate findings. There are eight really quick and very, very easy jewelry making projects.  The only tools required are some fingers, thumbs and occasionally a pair of bent chain nose pliers.  If it happens that all your fingers are thumbs, don't give up.  A few of these projects are even suitable for someone who is all thumbs.

10 Minute Castlite Earrings Jewelry Making Project

This jewelry making project uses our Castlite brand post style earring findings to make a pair of earrings. While this is a ten minute project like the previous five jewelry making project, using the Castlite findings requires a little more experience than the findings used in the prior five projects. This is an intermediate jewelry making project while the previous projects were truly beginners projects.

The steps in making these earrings are almost identical to the steps for using our Snap-fit findings. The difference is that occasionally, these findings will be slightly bent in transport and may not fit perfectly on the first try. One of more of the pegs may need to be bent slightly in our out so that it can perfectly accommodate the gemstone.

To set the gemstone, place the stone, upside down on a flat, smooth surface like a cutting board. Place the finding on top of the gemstone as shown below-left. If all four pegs are properly aligned, then slight pressure will cause the gemstone to pop into position, with the edge of the gemstone set in a notch in each of the four pegs holding the stone. If one or more pegs aren't properly aligned, you may need to remove the gemstone, and slightly bend the peg so that it is properly aligned. To bend one of the mounting pegs, grasp the peg with your bent chain nose pliers, while you hold the finding between the thumb and forefinger of your non-dominant hand. After aligning the peg or pegs, position the gemstone face down and place the finding over the gemstone as shown. With light pressure the stone should pop into position.

With this type of setting it is very important that each of the four mounting pegs be squeezed and bent slightly inward. Grasp the earring as shown below-center and one at a time, squeeze the mounting pegs so that they bend slightly toward the center of the gemstone. Because the mounting pegs extend only about 3mm beyond the edge of the gemstone, you will be trying to bend only this final 3mm of mounting post. If you look closely at the finished earring below-right, you will be able to see that the final 3mm of each mounting peg is bent about 1-2 mm inward. This way, it is impossible for the gemstone to accidentally slip out of this finding. Using the thumb and fore-finger on your dominant hand, try to spin the gemstone in the setting. If the gemstone is loose and will easily spin, the stone is not set firmly enough and you need to use your pliers some more to bend the mounting posts in. If you can not spin the gemstone in the setting because the metal is holding the stone too tightly to allow this, then the stone is properly set.

When you have completed setting the gemstone in both Castlite earring findings, then add your ear clutch to the back of each earring. This will complete this jewelry making project. Please see page 18 to view how to use our gemstone setting pliers to help with setting gemstones in these Castlite findings.

This same approach to setting gemstones can be used for our Castlite Lever Back Earring findings.

Parts Required:

These free jewelry making instructions continue below with our instructions for making Low Wall Bezel Earrings.  

10 Minute Low Wall Bezel Earrings Jewelry Making Project

This jewelry making project uses our Low Wall Bezel Setting in either 6mm, 8mm or 10mm. The earrings that will be made have plenty of bling and have the added attribute of motion since the Low Wall Bezel dangles from your ear wire. In a low light setting, these earrings will capture the available room light and reflect it, making them really sparkle. If you want to look like a million dollars but not pay a million dollars -- these earrings may be what you need.

This is a project that is suitable for a beginner, even a beginner who is all thumbs. It requires a pair of our Low Wall Bezel findings (item 3209 and Item 3210 in Gold Filled or Item 3211 and Item 3212 in Sterling Silver from our Internet store.) It also requires a pair of ear wire findings like the post finding with the ball and loop shown above (Item 2660 or Item 2659 with an ear clutch like Item 2662 or Item 2661). You will need to purchase round gemstones in either 8mm or 10mm to match your round bezel setting.  You can view our free video on making low wall bezel gemstone earrings here. The steps involved in making these earrings can be found below.

Step 1: Position one round, low wall bezel finding upside down on a table top or other flatsurface. These low wall bezel findings are Item 3209 and Item 3210 in gold-filled and Item 3211 and Item 3212 in sterling silver.

Step 2: Place your gemstone face down in the finding as shown below.

Step 3: Now hold the finding and gemstone between the thumb and forefinger of your non-dominant hand while you use your bent chain nose pliers to press two opposing tabs flat against the gemstone as shown below center-left.

Step 4: Finish setting the stone by pressing the opposite pair of tabs down. With all four tabs pressed down, then re-visit each tab in turn and gently squeeze it flat against the gemstone. See the picture 4A below.  When completed the setting should appear as shown below center-right (picture 4B) when viewed from the front and the gemstone will be held securely in position by four tabs.

Step 5: Now you are ready to connect the setting to your ear wire finding. Open the loop in your ear wire with your bent chain nose pliers, connect the setting, then close the loop. Instructions for opening and closing loops can be found in our free video here. The ear wire findings we recommend are items 2659, 2660, 0117, and 0421 from our Internet store.

Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4A	Step 4B	Finished Earring

Make your second earring using the same steps.   Now you are ready to look like a million dollars! Although when wearing the 10mm gemstones you may look more like a billion dollars. These 4 carat sized stones are "Oprah" size.

Parts Required:

These free jewelry making instructions continue below with instructions on making Round Bezel Earrings.  

10 Minute Round Bezel Lever Back Earrings Jewelry Making Project

This jewelry making project uses our Round Bezel Lever Back Ear Wire Setting (Item 3353) to set a 6mm gemstone. This is a project that is suitable for a beginner, and requires bent chain nose pliers like our Item 4002 to complete the earrings. Setting the 6mm gemstone in this ear wire finding is very similar to setting a gemstone in our round bezel finding for making a necklace as described in page 8 above.

Step 1: Position one round, bezel ear wire finding upside down on a table top or other flat surface. These low wall bezel findings are Item 3353 in sterling silver.

Step 2: Place your gemstone face down in the finding as shown at right.

Step 3: Now hold the finding and gemstone in place between the thumb and forefinger of your non-dominant hand while you use your bent chain nose pliers to press two opposing tabs flat against the gemstone.

Step 4: Finish setting the stone by pressing the opposite pair of tabs down. With all four tabs pressed down, then re-visit each tab in turn and gently squeeze it flat against the gemstone. When completed the setting should appear as shown and the gemstone will be held securely in position by all four tabs in the setting.

Make your second earring using the same steps.

Parts Required: