In this blog post, we show you how to make elegant chandelier-style earrings with a sparkling garland of small beads around a large center bead. The technique is simple and can be used in a multitude of combinations and color schemes. In the examples we have used different semi-precious stones, but freshwater pearls can also be used, as long as you take into account the hole size in relation to the thickness of the silver wire used, as the wire must be able to pass through the same hole twice. At Smyks.dk we have many different small semi-precious stone beads as well as larger beads in different materials that are well suited for earrings.
Please note, the examples may use beads that have been discontinued in our assortment since the blog post was made, but the technique can be used for most kinds of beads. Have fun with it!
Earrings with Bronzite and Cat's Eye Beads
We used the following DIY components to assemble these earrings:
- 1 pair of earstuds, hammered oppen arch with eyelet, gilded sterling silver
- 2 headpins with 1.5mm ball, gilded sterling silver
- 2 x 20cm wire, 0.4mm, gilded sterling silver
- 2 jumprings, 3mm, gilded sterling silver
- 2 bronzite beads, oval
- 2 teardrops, yellow candy jade
- approx. 50 cats's eye beads denim blue, 2mm
(see basic set with 4 jewellery pliers)
(see Smyks' complete range of jewellery tools)
First, you thread the bronzite bead and place it in the middle of the wire. Next, you thread 11 small cat's eye beads ...
... and pull the wire backwards and through the bronzite bead.
Tighten the wire.
Turn your work ... and thread 11 beads onto the other end of the wire.
Pull the wire through the bronzite bead ... and tighten it.
Thread 1 cat's eye bead onto the wire ...
... and form a loop with windings (see Smyks' guide on how to make a loop).
Thread 1 cat's eye bead onto the other wire end...
... and make another loop with windings.
Next, you take the jade teardrop and thread it onto the headpin.
Form a loop (don't start with the windings yet!) ...
and hook it into one of the loops of the pendant.
Now you make the windings over the teardrop.
Connect the pendant to the earstud with a 3mm jumpring.
Your earring is done. The second one is made in the same way.
Earrings with Green Agate and Onyx
We used the following DIY components to assemble these earrings:
1 pair of earwires with ball, gold-plated silver
2 bails with cup and peg, gold-plated silver
2 x 20cm wire, 0.4mm, gold-plated silver
2 jumprings, 3mm, gilded sterling silver
2 lapis lazuli, faceted teardrops
approx. 44 green onyx beads, 2mm
(see basic set with 4 jewellery pliers)
(see Smyks' complete range of jewellery tools)
Fasten the small green onyx beads to the agate bead in the same way as described above.
For this earring, you glue the bail into the teardrop. Once this is done, you can connect the teardrop to the agate pendant with a 3mm jumpring.
Earrings with Sunstone and Zirkonia
We used the following DIY components to assemble these earrings:
1 pair of earwires with crystal and open loop, gold-plated silver
2 headpins with 1.5mm pad, gilded sterling silver
2 x 20cm wire, 0.4mm, gilded sterling silver
approx. 46 zirkonia, 2mm, faceted, mixed colours
These earerings are made in the same way as described in our first example.
The eyelet on this earwire can be opened. That's why you can connect the pendant to the earwire without the use of an extra jumpring.
Ørekrog med burma jade og cat eye
We used the following DIY components to assemble these earrings:
1 pair of earwires with loop, open, round, gold-plated silver
2 headpins with 1.5mm pad, gilded sterling silver
2 x 20cm wire, 0.4mm, gilded sterling silver
approx. 42 cat's eye beads, denim blue, 2mm
These earerings are made in the same way as described in our first example.
Ørering med ametyst og pink zirkonia
We used the following DIY components to assemble these earrings:
1 pair of earwires with ball, gold-plated silver
2 headpins with 1.5mm pad, gilded sterling silver
2 x 20cm wire, 0.4mm, gilded sterling silver
2 amethyst beads, fat, round
approx. 38 zirconia, 2mm, fuchsia
These earerings are made in the same way as described in our first example.
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