May 25 2007
by Damien Zielinski

Follow this 7-step guide to make a beautiful necklace and set of matching earrings!

Recipe

1x18 inch Sterling Silver Long & Short Oval Chain
1x Sterling Silver Lobster Claw Clasp
2x Small Brushed Sterling Silver Flat Cable Ovals
1x Large Brushed Sterling Silver Flat Cable Oval
2x Sterling Silver Earring Hooks
0.35m (18 inches) 26 Gauge Soft Sterling Silver Wire
3x Dyed Freshwater Potato Pearls
2x 8mm Faceted Oval Cubic Zirconias
1x 30mm Faceted Oval Cubic Zirconia
1x 13mm Puffy Square Opal

If you're missing any of the above components, be creative with substitutions!

Tools

Round-nose Pliers
Chain-nose Pliers
Wire Cutters (or nail clippers, in a pinch)

Making the necklace

Step 1

Thread sterling silver wire through the opal bead and use the chain nose pliers to curl a very small loop. Curl another (slightly bigger) loop on the other side of the bead, and wrap the sterling silver wire completely around the base of the loop. Use the pliers to flattenthe loop and wire wrapping, and then trim the excess wire with wire cutters or nail clippers.

Step 2

Thread another strand of sterling silver wire through the opal bead's bigger loop, through the large cubic zirconia bead, and through the large flat oval sterling silver soldered ring . Curl an open loop with the Round-nose pliers, and then slide the flat sterling silver oval soldered ring onto it. Then wrap wire completely around the base of the loop to fasten the oval. Instead of trimming the extra wire as usual, simply slide the zirconia up next to the oval so that the extra wire tucks neatly into the zirconia bead. Now, on the other side of the zirconia bead where the opal is, curl an open loop that you can slide the opal bead piece onto. Wrap wire around the loop twice to fasten the loop, thereby securely connecting the opal with the zirconia. Trim the excess, and you've just about finished the pendant!

Step 3

Now it's time to finish the pendant with a pearl bead, and connect it to the necklace chain. Thread wire through a link at the middle of the sterling silver chain , through the pearl bead, and through the sterling silver flat oval soldered ring at the top of the pendant. Curl a loop around the sterling silver flat oval soldered ring and wire wrap completely, trimming the excess with wire cutters. Now do the same on the other side of the pearl, where the chain is. You can go back over and flatten the loops with the broader section of the chain-nose pliers, twisting and crimping them appropriately so that they line up the way that you want them to.

Step 4

All you need to do now is attach the sterling silver lobster claw clasp to the chain, and your necklace will be complete. The clasp's loop comes closed, so use both sets of pliers to gently pry the loop apart. After you slide the end link of the chain around the opened loop, use the broad part of the chain nose pliers to re-close the loop tightly and securely. Finished! Now let's make a matching set of earrings to go with the necklace.

Making the Earrings

Step 5

Start by threading the sterling silver wire through the small sterling silver flat oval soldered ring and the small cubic zirconia bead. Then use the tips of the round-nose pliers to curl a small, tight loop on the other side of the zirconia bead to prevent the bead from falling off. Curl a slightly bigger loop at the other end of the zirconia bead, slide the flat oval onto it, and wrap wire completely around to seal the loop and connect the oval to the zirconia bead. Then trim the excess sterling silver wire and flatten the loop with the broad part of the pliers.

Step 6

Slide the sterling silver wire through the sterling silver flat oval , and then through the pearl. Curl the sterling silver wire into a loop on the other side of the pearl bead, wrap the sterling silver wire once around completely, and trim. Now do the same on the first side of the pearl bead, sliding the pearl bead onto the loop before wrapping the sterling silver wire around to seal the connection. Trim the excess, and the earring is essentially finished, requiring only a hook. Now repeat Step 5 and Step 6 to make the other earring in the pair.

Step 7

The sterling silver earring hooks, like clasps, come with closed loops, so you'll need to pry the loop apart wth the tip of the chain nose pliers. After sliding the earring onto the loop, use the broad flat part of the pliers to crimp the loop tightly closed, much like you did with the sterling silver lobster claw clasp in Step 4. Repeat for the other earring. Voila! A wonderful matching set of necklace and earrings. Wasn't that easy?