Basic Jewelry Making

One of the ancient crafts of the world that has made a quiet comeback but is doing roaring business is jewelry making/designing. It used to be a flourishing craft/art in the golden days of bygone eras.

In contemporary times many people are returning to this unique creative field and taking it up as a hobby or turning to it as a serious profession after honing and sharpening their skills and learning the techniques of jewelry making from jewelry designing institutes.

Those who take up jewelry designing as a hobby or as a means of livelihood are usually seeking a vent/outlet through which they can give expression to their creative restlessness.

Jewelry making is a viable and lucrative career option and jewelry designers are slowly but surely emerging from their shroud of oblivion and making their mark in a field which can easily be compared to fine arts in terms of skill and artistry that are required.

Thanks to a shift in media focus, Jewelry designers are coming under the limelight and the day is not far when jewelry designing will be as glamorous and profitable and famous a profession as fashion/apparel designing.

If you are bristling with creativity, have an artistic flair and an eye for meticulous detail coupled with passion and aesthetic sensibility, jewelry designing should be easy for you.

Instead of starting off with precious metals and precious/semi precious stones, you should begin with the creation of simple pieces with beads, sea shells, corals, flowers etc. You can take tips and look up the patterns/designs/styles from online jewelry designing sites which can be found in abundance. If you are more serious, you can take the help of instructional videos or enroll in online jewelry designing courses to fine tune your skill and techniques.

Handcrafted jewelry is unique and different from run of the mill jewelry, add a touch of class and elegance to your attire and personality and make you stand out in a crowd. Everybody would go wow if you turn up in a party in your own handmade jewelry made of beads and corals and you will be the cynosure of all eyes.

There are wide varieties of beads available in the market which come in different shapes, sizes and colors as well as materials and you can make use of beading wire to string the beads together and create necklaces, earrings, bracelets, ornamental head gear, bangles , pendants and what not.

If you try, you can make many exquisite pieces of jewelry in eye catching unique designs and patterns that will earn you accolades and you can also customize the look of your handcrafted jewelry to suit your mood or outfit.

How much does a jewelry designer earn?

I know this question was bound to come up and from whatever I know about this field, a skilled jewelry designer with more than 5 years of experience can earn $7200 per month. But remuneration often depends on the employer and if you are really creative and can create a celeb fan base, only the sky will be the limit for your earnings. And who knows, you might very well be the Oscar de la Renta of the jewelry making world!

Metal for Jewelry Making

In this article I shall try to enumerate the most popular picks among metals for creating jewelry.

Gold

Gold is definitely the eternal favorite among jewelry making metals and has won hands down on the popularity charts, down all the ages. All the countries separated by geographical barriers and cultural differences are united on this one common front – fondness for the precious yellow metal that has a very high resale value and emanates a dull yellow shine.

It is also one of the toughest metals, second only to titanium and platinum and can therefore, securely hold precious gemstones in its fold. The carat ranges from 10 to 24. 22 carat gold jewelry is the maximum possible purity that you can expect, but it is rather soft. Most jewelry stores stock 18 to 20 carat gold jewelry which is tough and extremely durable. Gold can be mixed with other alloys to create rose gold and white gold.

White Gold

When normal gold is mixed with palladium or silver and given a rhodium coating to impart a white glow, the alloy is called white gold.

Platinum

A very dense, heavy, super strong/tough and 95% pure

White metal that has warmed its way into people’s heart despite its astronomical cost is platinum. It is one and a half times more expensive than gold, but can securely hold precious gemstones better than any other metal.

Silver

It is much more affordable than gold and therefore more popular. Pure silver is rather soft and ductile and prone to breakage. That is why an alloy called sterling silver has been created out of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper to impart toughness. Sterling silver does not tarnish with age.

Stainless Steel

Chromium and steel have been mixed to create this anti-corrosive and rust resistant metal that is slowly picking up its way along the popularity charts because of its dirt cheap cost, durability and hardness.

Titanium

A silver white durable lightweight metal that is making waves in the jewelry industry thanks to its hardness (tougher than gold, thrice stronger than steel, toughest metal on earth) is titanium. One cannot solder titanium.

Tungsten Carbide

A highly strong, durable, very heavy, scratch resistant white metal used for making wedding rings for men is tungsten carbide.

Other metals and alloys that are and have been frequently used in the present and in the past for making jewelry are brass, copper, nickel and bronze.

Jewelry Making Silver

With the soaring sky high prices of gold, people are finding it difficult to stay true to their passion for gold and as far as platinum jewelry is concerned, it is even more expensive than gold and therefore way beyond the budget of middle class people.

But that doesn’t mean that people have stopped purchasing jewelry. Rather customers are giving gold jewelry a miss and flocking towards silver jewelry which has been around for as long as gold, but got overshadowed by its golden glitter.

USP of Silver Jewelry

The best thing about silver jewelry is that although it is a precious metal and a favorite with the jewelers while creating ornamental pieces(because of its malleability and ductility) right from times immemorial, it is way cheaper than gold. So if you are flinching under budget constraints, stop fidgeting and head for silver jewelry that is just as beautiful, mysterious and exotic as gold.

Gold vs. Silver Jewelry

Many young women are of the opinion that gold is clichéd and yellow metal looks cheap. White metal is the “in” thing right now and spells effortless sophistication, class and elegance. If gold is high on the bling factor, then the USP of silver is its understated elegance.

If yellow metal stands for royalty , richness, luxury, pomp and over the top splendor, white metal like silver ,which is an excellent substitute for platinum or white gold, stands for grace, charm, affordable elegance and quiet beauty. Gold bedazzles all.

Silver appeals to the discerning through its elitist shimmering and soothing white color. Silver jewelry is perfect for those who believe less is more and attracts connoisseurs through its minimalist appeal and affordability. The difference is rather like the one between the sun and the moon. Besides it boasts of a 4000-5000 years of heritage.

Sterling Silver

100% silver can be very soft and too ductile for creating jewelry pieces and it is prone to breakage and bending. That is why sterling silver jewelry is created from silver that is 92.5% pure and the rest 7.5% is filled up by copper. Thus sterling silver is basically an alloy that ensures hardness and durability.

USP of Sterling Silver Jewelry

Unlike normal ordinary silver which tarnishes and becomes black with the passage of time, sterling silver alloy can stand up to the march of time, will never deteriorate in color or magnificence and maintain its shine, polish and luster for years and years.

It is also low maintenance, easy on the pocket, requires hassle free storage and can hold precious gemstones just as well. So, it’s time to ring out gold and bring in silver (preferably Larimer sterling silver).

Making Paper Jewelry

Gold prices are sky rocketing every day and passing out of bounds for most. Platinum jewelry looks divine and costs an astronomical amount as well. Since platinum is more expensive than gold, we can only hope to admire platinum designs in shop windows and heave sighs of envy.

Sterling silver jewelry is elegant but quite pricey as well. So what is your option? Giving up wearing jewelry or adding to your jewelry collection altogether? No way. I will provide you with a better solution that will bail you out of your jewelry woes.

Fashion jewelry or costume jewelry made out of innovative materials like wood, paper, buttons, beads, cubic zirconium and costing a pittance compared to precious metal jewelry is the answer to your prayer.

Paper Jewelry

Paper jewelry looks quaint, belongs to the genre of junk jewelry and is an ideal accessory for the boho-chic look. Besides it is dirt cheap. But it can lift the look of your bohemian gypsy skirt in a jiffy. Paper fashion jewelry should be protected from getting wet at all costs and you should put it away carefully and wipe it dry after taking it off.

See to it that you don’t sweat a lot or the sweat doesn’t stick to the paper jewelry. Paper jewelry can cost as little as $1 and yet make you the centre of attraction because of its exotic and different appeal.

Quaint but eye catching rings, pendants, necklaces, brooch, bracelets, earrings in pretty floral/planetary/animal designs can be created out of recycled newspaper, old recycled colorful magazines, recycled paper grocery bag, vintage Victorian and antique postcards, silk screened Japanese Chiyogami paper, Katazome shi Japanese paper etc.

Your paper jewelry can be encrusted with jasper beads in different colors, obsidian beads, sterling silver beads, sapphire swarovski crystals, and other such nick nacks. The main thing is to be creative and let your imagination run wild.

If you are treasure hunting for artistic patterned painted paper for creating innovative offbeat costume jewelry, I will suggest the gorgeously patterned papers from Nepal and Japan.

Japanese Paper Jewelry

The incredible patterns found on Chiyogami have drawn their inspiration from kimono textile motifs and feature breathtakingly beautiful lush floral motifs, scarlet cherry blossom motifs, vines and bamboos and shimmering waves patterns, birds and insects prints, geometric patterns and abstract motifs etc.

Many of the Japanese papers feature patterns of plum blossoms, lotus, lilies, hibiscus, birds like cranes – aviary embodiment and metaphor of good fortune, bountiful long life and elegant grace. Thus Japanese paper jewelry is worth investing in because of their symbolic values.

Creating paper jewelry according to the instructions given in various free websites and e-books will be like child’s play for you. 

Making Resin Jewelry

If you want a break from sleek precious metal jewelry and want to try out something adventurous, bold and “different” i.e. out of the box, then you can experiment with resin jewelry. By resin jewelry I mean jewelry made with lac beads, amber and other such tribal sources.

Resin Jewelry

Resin jewelry belongs to the genre of fashion or costume jewelry or junk jewelry and looks best when teamed with bohemian skirts, or leather attires. If you want to sport a boho-chic look and wear jewelry that screams for attention, resin jewelry is your best bet.

Resin jewelry pieces give an instant lift to your regular ensemble and spice them up by adding some pizzazz. They make for attention grabbing eye catching headturning neck/ear/hand gears which are affordable as well.

Because of their reasonable pricing, you can easily purchase them from fashion jewelry stores or boutiques or better still from online jewelry stores where you can browse through the widest collection and variety of resin jewelry.

Lac Resin Beads

Lac sourced from India, is a very rare and unique resinous substance, derived from the secretion of beetles or tiny little lac insects/bugs called KERRIA LAC KERR in India. This resinous substance is 100% natural, bio-degradable, eco friendly and non toxic. Therefore lac beads do not cause allergic reactions and are considered much safer.

Their shiny luster, unusual colors and shapes and varied designs contribute to their exotic appeal. Shapes range from oval or egg shaped, bell shaped, heart shaped, square to round and are handcrafted with meticulous expertise.

You can make pendants, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings, and bangles with resinous lac beads and throw in other kinds of tiny beads, corals, and sea shells, metal rings, cut stones, mirror work and such kinds of accessorizing and detailing to impart a royal look to your resin jewelry.

Amber Resin Jewelry

Your other option for resin jewelry is amber sourced from fossilized tree resin extracted from conifer trees (Pinites succiniter) that became petrified and turned into fossils since the Tertiary period. Copal refers to semi fossilized resin or sub fossil amber.

This gemstone called amber is typically yellow. But this semi precious stone is also available in hues like red, black, violet, golden orange or green. Amber is basically 90 to 30 million years old fossilized resin or petrified tree sap with bodies/remains of tiny bugs trapped inside the gemstone. The southern shores of Dominican Republic and the coast of Baltic Sea abound in amber.  

This warm beautiful stone can be utilized in many creative ways to give shape to various kinds of resin jewelry.

Making Knotted Jewelry

If precious metal jewelry is out of bounds for you because of their astronomical prices, you need not fret for you can now yourself make or purchase “different” kinds of jewelry from the various online jewelry stores. If you dare to think out of the box and are game for adventurous jewelry, then I will ask you to experiment with knotted jewelry for a change.

Knotted Jewelry

Knotted jewelry belongs to the genre of nautical junk jewelry or costume jewelry and looks best when teamed up with bohemian outfits and gear. Besides they are easy to make or if you want to purchase them, they are easy to find in the numerous online jewelry stores and are very easy on the pocket, being very cheap.

Knotted jewelry consists of necklaces, earrings, bracelets etc. The various attention grabbing designs feature earth toned muted brown ensembles in jute, thread, cords, rustic beads, and natural waxed linen which are all organically woven/knotted into elegant motifs.

The knots that have been used are overhand, double half stitch, square etc.

Material for Knotted Jewelry

Usually knotted jewelry is created out of materials like cords, clasps, jump rings, ivory beads, rust seed beads, natural color waxed linen, matte finish brown wooden beads, glass beads in brown, copper/bronzed patterned wire, brown wool, rust tassels, jute etc.

Knotted jewelry is intricately woven and the rustic flavor of this kind of jewelry helps to enrich the look of Indian ethnic ensembles like saree or salwar kameez. Of course, western gypsy styled bohemian skirts, leather outfits etc can be beautifully accessorized with knotted jewelry of this kind.

Knotted jewelry is wearable artwork that is affordable and makes free use of symbolism in the designs like metaphors of LOVE, LIFE, THE WORD OF GOD, and THE BOOK OF KELLS. It dates back to the Celtic period/ornamental style of the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth centuries, and the early Middle Ages when this symbolic knotted jewelry design spread out to other far off parts of Europe. Knotted jewelry also has a distinct Chinese heritage.

Celtic Knotted Jewelry

Celtic knotted jewelry patterns were much in vogue during the Elizabethan age and were patronized and used by Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci in their works.  Celtic knotted jewelry designs have been a perennial hit with artists and craftsmen in all the ages and in many cultures even previous to seventh century.

Thus when you show off your stunning and head turning nautical knotted jewelry, you are doing your bit to revive and promote a living slice of history - an ancient genre of jewelry making.

Making Button Jewelry

If you are sick and tired of run of the mill sleek and light weight precious metal jewelry and want to try out some thing adventurous and out of the box, button jewelry might just be the right thing for you. Button jewelry is, well, made of buttons, as the name distinctly suggests.

Button Jewelry

It is very cheap, inexpensive, light weight, easy on the pocket and soothing to the eyes, unique, innovative, creative and perfect for party wear. It can be teamed up with casual day wear, party wear, and cocktail evening gowns and thus versatility is its other USP along with affordability.

The designs are breathtakingly beautiful and stunning and will make you the cynosure of all eyes if you sport a button jewelry creation, either handcrafted by you according to instructions given in free jewelry designing websites or purchased from the countless online jewelry stores. If you want to make them yourself, you will find that it is very easy and like child’s play.

Buttons can be utilized to create necklaces, earrings, bracelets, pins, brooches, and cufflinks. There are online stores which sell antique Victorian button jewelry and 19^th century curiosities which will inspire admiring glances and hushed conversations. The meticulous artistry featured on these Victorian era button jewelry will leave everybody spellbound for you will look resplendent in a slice of history come alive.

Antique Victorian Button Jewelry

Antique Victorian button jewelry can feature designs like perfume caskets or bunch of grapes on buttons made of ivaroid, 19^th century metal, mother of pearl, ornate black glass, colorful shell and ivory, pewter, 19^th century tinted metal with picture engraved on it, art deco designs, Czech glass, brass, bakelite, glass, small ocean pearls, unstruck dice, crystal, glass, rhinestone, mixed metals, celluloid, sea shells, vegetable ivory, oxidized silver and ornate metal.

There can be golden or silver or bronze accents on the buttons. Often the buttons are ensconced in sterling silver pendants and in most cases the buttons are in eye catching patterns and bright colors like blue, green, yellow, orange, red, peach, black, pink etc.

Button jewelry is not very difficult to make and you can take the help of BEAD AND BUTTON MAGAZINE for reference, patterns, designs, styles and techniques. There are also websites and e-books and e-magazines galore which contain instructions, techniques, step by step well illustrated guidelines for creating button jewelry and the best part is that these websites are absolutely free.

Let your creative juices flow and unleash the artist inside you by crafting your own button jewelry.

Sea Shells for Jewelry Making

Right from our childhood days we have been accustomed to the tongue twister – “SHE SELLS SEA SHELLS BY THE SEA SHORE”. Did you know that sea shells could be the perfect ingredient for exotic beachside jewelry to be worn with your beachwear during the summer sea getaways?

Currently the hottest trend in summer beachwear jewelry – one that is endorsed by most of the Hollywood celebrities and which occupied reams of newsprint and the cover spread in the People magazine – is sea shells jewelry, belonging to the genre of oceanesque/marine/aquatic beach jewelry.

In fact no Hollywood film or pop music video featuring bikini clad babes is complete without that ubiquitous piece of sea shell necklace adorning the necks of beach beauties!

The fashion jewelry industry is in a tizzy over transforming lobster shells, anchors, clams, starfish, corals, oyster shells, coconut shells and various other kinds of sea shells into Object d’Art which can spice up a regular ensemble in a jiffy.

Sea shells are versatile ingredients and can be used to create large cocktail rings, single pendants, long charm pendants, cuff bracelets, charm bracelets, dangling earrings, ear tops, necklaces etc.

The other USP of sea shell jewelry is that sea shells come with natural readymade patterns on them and the patterns are varied, they are available in all kinds of shapes and sizes from big to small to tiny, from smooth glossy finish to matte finish to a ribbed surface and therefore doesn’t require much additional detailing or patterning.

Moreover sea shells can be colored to match the color of your outfit. The greatest plus point of sea shell jewelry is its super cheap price – you can get hold of mindblowingly pretty and exotic sea shell necklaces at $1 only! The dirt cheap rates are of course because of their bountiful abundance on the sea shores. Most fashion jewelry stores, online stores, boutiques stock exotic and eye catching sea shells jewelry.

If Elsa Peretti of Tiffany’s was responsible for introducing and unveiling the mystical and magical magnificence of sea shell jewelry to a bedazzled awe-struck world, then modern designers have carried the craze further by experimenting with hand painted sea shells and teaming up sea shells with swarovski crystals, colored stones, mother of pearl, corals, oriental pearls and setting them in platinum or sterling silver or white gold or gold or copper or brass to create exquisite pieces of marine art.

In fact sea shells jewelry combined with bones, horn, stones, wooden beads, mother of pearl shells, and other such natural marine materials form the mainstay of Balinese and Philippine and Hawaiian jewelry.