Pliers are indispensable tools for jewelry-making, with a variety of models to suit every stage of the process. For beginners, it's essential to know the specific functions of each pair of pliers, whether for cutting, forming or closing elements. Choose the pliers that best suit your needs, such as the double-ring pliers for easy opening without deforming, or the cutting pliers for clean cuts.
When it comes to jewelry making, it’s essential to have the right tools. And pliers are among them. Designers know this—they’re essential at every stage of the process, even the most basic ones.
However, there are as many types of pliers as there are uses for them. There are pliers for cutting, for gripping, for shaping, for crimping… This makes it difficult to know which pliers to use, especially when you’re just starting out.
To help you out, we’ve put together an overview of the main types of pliers used and their functions.
| Name | Appearance | Usage |
| Double-Ring Pliers |  | These pliers help you easily open double rings without deforming them. |
Ring-forming pliers |  | Featuring several templates at its tip, this ring-forming pliers allows you to create rings in six different diameters. It is designed for use with copper wire, 925 Sterling Silver wire, or Gold Filled wire. |
Jewelry Pliers for Shaping Square Rings |  | These pliers are the solution for making square rings with the correct size and wire diameter. |
Ring-Closing Pliers |  | As the name suggests, it is used to close open rings. |
| Wire Spool Pliers |  | These pliers hold wire spools firmly—without crushing them—so you can cut them easily. |
| Name | Appearance | Usage |
| Cutting Pliers |  | These wire cutters are perfect for making clean, precise cuts on all types of wire. |
| Precision wire cutters |  | These high-quality pliers deliver a clean cut. Its very thin blades with built-in springs allow you to reach tight spaces. It’s ideal for bead weaving and jewelry making. It can be used to cut threads for bead weaving, hemp, embroidery thread, and fine metal wires... |
| Parallel-Jaw Cutting Pliers |  | They’re not only ideal for firmly holding metal plates, cylindrical objects, beads, and more—but also for cutting metal wires. |
 | These shears are used to easily cut metal sheets up to 0.8 mm thick. | |
Memory Wire Cutting Pliers |  | Specially designed for hard-to-cut wires, this cutting tool features 90° jaws for effortlessly cutting memory wire. The cuts are clean and safe to handle. They can also be used to cut all types of metal wire: copper, brass, stainless steel, and stranded wire. |
| Flush Cutter |  | Its short jaws are used to make a clean cut on silver and copper wires. Caution: Do not use with memory wire. |
| Flat-Nose Cutting Pliers |  | They are specially designed for precision cuts at the ends of cables, rigid wires, and metal wires. |
| Name | Appearance | Usage |
| Crimp beads |  | Used to create beautiful finishes by crimping beads and crimp tubes. |
| Pliers for rounding crimp tubes and crimp beads |  | These jewelry pliers are used to round off a crimp tube so that it resembles a small bead. |
| Name | Appearance | Usage |
| Earring hook pliers |  | In the blink of an eye, they can make ear hooks out of wire. |
| Double-cylinder pliers for shaping bracelets |  | It shapes flat bracelets or plates quickly and easily. Its double cylinder allows you to create curves without scratching or marking the surfaces. |
| Bracelet-Shaping Pliers |  | These pliers shape metal strip bracelets without leaving scratches or marks, thanks to their nylon tips. |
| Loop-forming pliers |  | It is used to create charms or pendants by helping you form loops at the ends of jewelry wires or posts. It comes in several sizes. |
| Pliers for forming pendant clasps |  | These pliers allow you to make pendant clasps by bending stamped metal pieces, for example. |
| Pliers for bending metal and shaping rings |  | It bends wire and metal strips without scratching or marking them, making it easy to craft rings. |
| Name | Appearance | Usage |
| Short-nose flat-nose pliers |  | These short, narrow pliers have slightly rounded sides. They allow for precise work when shaping or twisting metal wire, opening rings, or closing knot covers. |
| Long-nose flat-nose pliers |  | They are perfect for gripping, closing, or setting in tight spaces |
| Nylon-tipped flat-nose pliers |  | These flat-nose pliers serve the same functions as the others. Thanks to their nylon-coated tips, they allow you to handle your pieces without leaving marks. |
| Flat-nose pliers for metalworking |  | They allow for precise work when shaping wire. |
| Name | Appearance | Usage |
| Round-nose pliers |  | These indispensable round-nose pliers are used to create rings, bend a nail into a loop, bend a pin, or twist metal wires. They are also very usefulfor opening and closing rings without damaging or deforming them. |
| Round-Nose Pliers with Nylon Tips |  | These pliers serve the same purpose as the previous ones. Their added bonus? The nylon tips prevent them from leaving marks on metal wires. |
| Parallel round-nose pliers |  | These are used to firmly hold metal sheets, cylindrical objects, beads, and more. They also help you easily straighten metal wires and create rings and smooth curves. |
Round and Concave Parallel Pliers (3 Sizes) |  | It features a round jaw and a concave jaw. It securely holds metal sheets, cylindrical objects, beads, and more. Its round jaw allows you to make rings in 3 different sizes. |
| Name | Appearance | Usage |
| 2-in-1 Round and Cutting Multifunction Pliers |  | These pliers have a dual function. The round end is used to work with and shape metal wires, rings, or nails. The cutting end is used to cut metal wires. |
| 2-in-1 Multiplier Pliers |  | These dual-purpose pliers feature two round jaws on one side and two flat jaws on the other. You can switch from the flat jaws to the round jaws to work on your wire without wasting time. |
| 3-in-1 Multifunction Pliers |  | With these pliers, you can cut, bend, and loop. No need to switch pliers between steps in the crafting process! |
| Name | Appearance | Usage |
| Twisting Pliers |  | These twisting pliers wrap and twist multiple metal wires at the same time, very easily and evenly. They are ideal for working with copper, brass, 925 Sterling Silver, or Gold Filled wire. |
| Jewelry Pliers for Shaping and Bending Metal |  | These jewelry pliers are perfect for shaping and bending wire. Additionally, the very fine and precise tips of these pliers allow you to handle even the most delicate pieces. The smooth jaws won’t damage intricate pieces. |
| Metal-piercing pliers |  | These piercing pliers can be used to make holes in leather, faux leather, suede, cork, resin, aluminum (up to 0.8 thick), and metal sheets (up to 0.3 thick). These piercing pliers are ideal for attaching charms and pendants, adding a clasp or rivet to a leather bracelet, or making holes before sewing. |
| Angled-Nose Pliers |  | Its stork-beak design allows for precise work with metal wire. |
| Bending pliers for bending wire at a 90° angle |  | The stainless steel jaws feature a triangular concave section and a convex section, allowing you to bend and curve wire or metal strips to a 90° angle. Ideal for making large round rings with small, quick movements, without applying maximum pressure. |
| Tube-cutting pliers |  | The stainless steel jaws help you hold the tube or wire firmly without crushing it, and the central slot allows you to slide in the blade of your wire saw to cut your workpiece. |
| Name | Appearance | Usage |
| Bead Tweezers |  | These small tweezers with flexible tips help you pick up even the most delicate beads. The bead rests in the round notch located at the tip. Thanks to their flexible fiber tips, they prevent scratches. |
One Step Looper pliers are not suitable for use with stainless steel. If your wire is very thin, you can try, but you risk damaging your pliers.
To start with, the basic trio of pliers consists of cutting pliers (for cutting wires), flat pliers (for opening/closing links or rings and manipulating elements) and round pliers (for forming loops and curves). Multi-function pliers such as 3-in-1s are also excellent options for beginners.
They save time and space by combining several actions on a single tool. For example, the 3-in-1 pliers can cut, bend and loop without having to change tools between two manufacturing stages.
Use pliers with nylon tips. Nylon protects metal (copper, silver, gold filled/gold filled) and avoids marking smooth surfaces when bending or twisting.
Memory wire is very hard and can damage conventional wire cutters. You must use a memory wire cutter (usually with 90° jaws).
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