Jewelry Making Tutorials

Creation of jewelry – be it in precious metals like gold, silver, platinum or titanium and encrusted with precious or semi precious gemstones such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, cat’s eye, pearl, moonstones, garnets – or simple tribal jewelry made of sea shells, corals, wood and such or contemporary fashion jewelry or hand crafted jewelry- is an ancient art that dates back to the inception of civilization.

Women and men have loved adorning themselves and decking themselves up in various kinds of jewelry in all ages and in all countries and in all the chapters of history.

It is only a few centuries ago that some people – notably goldsmiths and silversmiths – started taking up jewelry making as a serious profession and the whole family got involved in the jewelry making industry and business.

Selling jewelry in plush showrooms and from jewelry stores started around 250 years back, roughly in the pre-Romantic period. Now the jewelry industry all over the world is a huge and flourishing one and is one of the most lucrative professions around.

One can go for jewelry making both as a hobby, to fruitfully utilize one’s spare time and leisure and indulge one’s creative side or take it up as a full time serious occupation.

Whatever might be the reason behind your taking up jewelry making, the essential qualities you need to have are creative flair, style, a sense of aesthetics and design, an eye for meticulous details and oodles of diligence.

If you are aspiring to be a professional jewelry designer, you should enroll yourself in a jewelry designing institute or college or school after cracking their entrance examination where your aptitude and passion for the profession will be put to test.

The courses usually last for 2 to 3 years after which you are awarded a diploma or degree. By attending their tutorials you can learn all the techniques and methods of jewelry making and fine tune your skills.

Your other option is to go for online jewelry making tutorials, available in plenty with the click of a mouse, where you may attend virtual jewelry making sessions from the comfort of your home.

A few good and reputed tutorials are offered by WIG JIG UNIVERSITY, WHITE SWAN, PRESTON J. REUTHER, GEMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA, ENI OKEN’S JEWELRY, COLORADO ACADEMY OF SILVERSMITHING AND ART METAL, TOPICAL PROJECT LIST etc.

Or you can opt for free tutorials and training videos over the internet where they will teach you the basic and fundamental techniques and steps involved in the craft of jewelry making. 

Jewelry Making Tips

In this article I will provide you with a few tips which you will find helpful if you want to take up jewelry making as a hobby or a pastime.

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Go through the magazine and books I have listed here to get a few quick tips on jewelry making:

·        THE BEAD AND BUTTON MAGAZINE

·        THE ART OF JEWELRY DESIGN: FROM IDEA TO REALITY authored by Elizabeth Olver

·        THE ART OF MAKING JEWELRY written by Jessica Wrobel, Tammy Powley and Deborah Krupenia

·        THE BOOK OF BEADS: A PRACTICAL AND INSPIRATIONAL GUIDE TO BEADS AND JEWELRY MAKING authored by Robert Budwig and Janet Coles

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Helpful tips can also be found online from the free instructional videos and free jewelry making/designing websites/courses available in plenty over the internet. They are accompanied by photographs or video footages and step by step graphic illustrations and easy to follow guidelines. They are your best bets if you are a beginner.

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Another mind blowing tip is to become friends with the neighborhood jeweler, sit by his side and observe his techniques and methods of making jewelry. You can receive hands on training, secure some trade secrets and apply them. His years of experience in the related field will enrich your jewelry making knowledge base.

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Keep an eye open for television shows targeted at women and homemakers, usually telecast during the afternoon slot. They often feature jewelry making episodes. They bring in a jewelry making expert as their guest who gives quite a few demonstrations of and tips on jewelry making techniques, styles, patterns, materials, supplies etc.

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Ladies’ clubs, kitty party circles, jewelry malls/stores and NGOs often organize jewelry making sessions for women who want to take it up as a hobby. Enroll in these workshops.

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Start off with something easy, like making a necklace or a bracelet out of beads or corals or sea shells or wood. You will of course have to learn the techniques of beading by using a beading wire, stringing, soldering, applying glue, adding finishing touches, polishing etc.

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When you are thorough with the basics and the fundamentals you can graduate to working with metals like titanium, silver, steel or gold and precious or semi precious gemstones like rubies, pearls, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, moonstones, garnets, cat’s eye etc.

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Try to know the composition and mixing ratios of metals and alloys, equip yourself with knowledge about terms like hardness, softness, carat, clarity, cut, weight, color of metals and gemstones, how to take care of them etc.

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Lastly, give a free run to your imagination and creativity when it comes to the designs and materials, have lots of patience and diligence and work with passion.

Making Silverware Jewelry

By silverware we typically mean a plush dinner set in silver metal that is brought out on the dinner or supper table during special occasions like Christmas, engagement, wedding, or some other kind of ritualistic event.

Silverware

Seven pieces of cutlery make up a typical European silverware set – coffee spoon, dessert spoon, fruit knife, dessert fork or fruit fork, soup spoon, knife and fork. The North American silverware dining set is a bit different and comprises 5 pieces of cutlery - teaspoon, dessert fork or fruit fork, soup spoon, knife and fork.

You can opt for either expensive or inexpensive silverware sets. Those that are at the lowest rung of the broad spectrum are simple elegant pieces that can be found in any silverware store or in online shops.

And if you are eyeing ornately decorated and intricately carved hand crafted exquisite silver ware dining sets, you have to head towards the boutique stores or again browse through the catalogues of online stores. You need to have deep pockets and have to shell out huge amounts for laying your hands on the latter kinds of expensive silver tableware.

While purchasing silverware you need to feel the texture of the cutlery in your hands and also keep in mind the kind of table setting which you are planning. These last two points are indispensable in making a right purchase.

Silver Jewelry

Silver jewelry has been in vogue right from ancient times and dates back to some 6000 years in the hazy past. In fact silver had been the staple metal for creating beautiful jewelry before the advent of gold and has enjoyed boundless popularity from times immemorial to the contemporary age.

Ordinary pure silver is rather soft, ductile and malleable. It is prone to breakage and bending and therefore jewelry created with it is not very strong or durable.

Sterling Silver

So nowadays silver is mixed with other stuff to give rise to alloys which are strong, tougher than pure silver and more durable and yet pliable enough to be easily made into jewelry. 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper are combined to give birth to sterling silver – the alloy that is commonly used for jewelry purpose nowadays.

Sterling silver has a nice shine and polish and glow and does not tarnish with age nor is it rendered black with the passage of time, unlike normal pure silver.

Market Demand for Silver Jewelry

Silver jewelry is popular and has a loyal customer base because of its affordability. In fact it is the only of the precious metals that is reasonably priced even now and it is way cheaper than gold. Because it is a white metal, it is a preferred choice and a cheap alternative for super expensive platinum.

Jewelry Making Supplies Wire

You need oodles of patience and practice if you want to use wire to create jewelry designs. The most cost effective and cheap wire that you can use as a beginner is 18 gauge copper wire. This wire is available in plenty at local crafts stores, hardware stores or online stores and you should first master and practice the fundamentals of wiring with this elementary piece before graduating to other varieties of wires.

Before deciding on the kind of wire, you need to make sure about the kind jewelry piece you will be creating, the type of metal, its color, hardness, cut, size of jewelry to be made and carat (10-24). Based on that you need to decide on the shape of the wire.

The diameter of the jewelry to be made will determine the size of the wire. Thinner the wire, higher is the gauge number. By gauge I mean the size of the wire. Gauge is a term used in USA.

You need a thick wire to create jump rings. A thinner wire will be sufficient for an earring wire. Gold wires are the toughest. Silver is much more soft, malleable and ductile. Sterling silver is more hard and durable. Fixed gauge copper wires are the softest and the most ductile of the lot. It is because of their immense malleability that they are recommended for beginners.

The hardness of the wire will depend on whether they are being used to make jump rings or connectors or clasps. You can choose from 3 degrees of hardness based on your needs – full hard, half hard and dead soft. The hardness will depend on whether you are using gold filled wire or a silver variety.

A wire will become harder and harder as you increase the number or frequency of times it is pulled through the tool. Dead soft happens to be the first variety of hardness. As the name suggests it is very malleable and ductile.

Half hard wires are comparatively stronger but they can still be bent into desired shapes with ease and are ideal for necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

Full hard wires are used to eliminate the need for soldering pieces together.

The available shapes of wires are square, half round, round among others.

When you have graduated to a seasoned pro from a beginner, you can move on to more expensive wires like gold wires, white gold or rose gold wires having a carat of 14 or 18 or 22. 24 carat gold will be too soft.

You can also use the nylon coated wires.

Making a Jewelry Box

People store away their expensive tuxedos and evening gowns with a lot of care, but when it comes to storing their jewelry, most people simply stash away their collection inside drawers, on countertops, in some random box or inside cupboards very carelessly and in a higgledy-piggledy manner after returning from a party and later on cant find accompanying pieces of a particular set.

It is important to store away your collection of jewelry carefully, safely and in one particular place so that you don’t lose them or so that they may not get damaged or stolen. Your jewelry storage needs the same amount of attention and care as your expensive attires.

One of the best places to store your jewelry is a jewelry box. Don’t try to force all your jewelry pieces into one jewelry box. You can store your rings in a jewelry box specifically made for rings and bracelets or necklaces in others designed exclusively for bracelets or neckwear. 

Or you may consider investing in a jewelry organizer which can store all your different jewelry pieces together. This is ideal for those who own few select pieces of jewelry.

Before rushing off to purchase an ornate and intricately carved jewelry casket or trying to create a simple jewelry box on your own, you need to decide what the items that will be going inside it are and what will be their quantity or size. Once you are sure about this you can purchase or make a suitable jewelry box.

The latter is made of different kinds of materials, the chief among them being wood or plastic or metal and is available in various sizes, shapes and for different storage requirements. Jewelry boxes are equipped with inlays, multiple drawers, chests, recesses, secret chambers and pretty designs. They are often fitted with tiny compartments for storing little nick nacks.

Jewelry boxes make for ideal girlie or feminine gifts. Young girls love musical jewelry boxes engraved with cartoon character themes.

Jewelry boxes for adult women are created out of costly wood like walnut, oak, maple, teak, mahogany or ceramic with glass inlays, multiple swing doors, a pretty musical chime clock and intricate patterns in front. These are extremely sturdy, protect your precious jewelry from the elements, look graceful and are showpiece decorative items by themselves.

While selecting or purchasing a jewelry box, don’t just harp on its beauty and elegance, see to it that it is functional and choose a color that will be in contrast with the color of the metal to be stored in it. Don’t choose a silver colored jewelry box for storing white metal jewelry.

Making Wire Wrapped Jewelry

Jewelry making involves various kinds of techniques and methods. One such off beat technique or process is making wire wrapped jewelry. Gemstones can be intricately wrapped by artisans using a wire which is of superior quality and tough enough to securely contain the stone.

This is called wire wrapped jewelry. The wires, in the next phase, have to be twisted and turned to give rise to novel designs and styles. The patterns that are created this way are unique to say the least and exclusive as well.

Wire wrapping can be used to create earrings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants and rings. The jewelry pieces created in this way are minimalist in their approach. Wire wrapping method is popular with designers and jewelers for it can impart unusual and irregular shapes to statement pieces and make them peerless and unparalleled.

However the designs have to be blended into the stones that are being set. There is no need for any machine or adhesive or jeweler’s glue to stick the stones on to the piece. The wrapped wiring takes care of that.

As you can understand wire wrapped jewelry is a contemporary technique and belongs to the genre of contemporary jewelry. You can use any kind of wire in this kind of jewelry, as long as you feel comfortable with it.

If you are creating affordable and reasonably priced fashion jewelry, you should opt for copper coated wires which are strong yet malleable, available in a wide array of colors and in different types of thickness. Select one that is suitable for your purpose. Silver or gold wires in wire wrapped jewelry impart some much needed luster and shimmering shine to the finished product. Silver wires are softer than tough gold wires.

Besides silver is also cheaper than gold and looks elegant and classy when wrapped beautifully around gemstones.

Silver and gold wire wrappings suit all kinds of skin tones and match with various kinds of outfits. It is because of their attractiveness and versatility, that gold and silver wires are such popular picks for wire wrapped jewelry. They also look very fetching when they are encrusted with the colored stones.

However you should avoid gold plated wire since the coating peels off with wear and tear and the base metal is exposed in an ugly way.

The best thing about wire wrapped jewelry is that they can make you the cynosure of all eyes and make you the subject of whispered conversations in parties and balls, without burning holes in your pockets. 

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!