Winter season - Lesson 3: How to make a necklace with chain and pearls?

How do I add beads to a chain?

Welcome to our Learn to create jewelry with gemstones training course. This training course will introduce you to the art of creating costume jewelry through five fun and creative videos. In each lesson, you'll learn the basics of jewelry-making by following a simple, accessible tutorial. Today's lesson is devoted to making a divider using a round-headed nail. We'll also look at the different names for the clasps you'll find on our site.

In the previous lesson, we looked at the different names of nails used in jewelry making. In this lesson, we created a pair of dangling earrings with chain and gemstones. If you participated, you should have enough chain left over to create a necklace in this new lesson. Let's start by studying the names of the clasps.

1- The different clasp names

The list below shows justa few of the clasps available. There are many more. For more information on clasps, see this other article: Which jewelry clasp should I choose?

• Lobster clasp: This type of clasp is very common in jewelry. It's easy to use and secure. It looks like a small hook with a spring mechanism that opens and closes.
• Spring clasp: Similar to the lobster clasp, the spring clasp is round and has a spring mechanism to open and close the ring. It is often used for delicate necklaces and bracelets.
• Buoy clasp: This clasp is circular in shape and either opens with a hinge mechanism, or functions like the spring clasp. It takes its name from its buoy-like design. Large buoy clasps are ideal for heavier jewelry. It is highly decorative and can be worn in front as a pendant on necklaces.
• T clasp or toggle clasp: This clasp consists of a "T"-shaped bar that fits into a loop. It's an aesthetic clasp that has the advantage of being fairly easy to put on by itself, but has the disadvantage of opening easily. In recent years, it has come to be worn on the front as a pendant, just like the buoy clasp.
• Magnet clasp: As the name suggests, this clasp uses magnets to open and close. It's very easy to use and jewelry is quick to put on, but may not be as secure as other types of clasp, as it will tend to snag on metal objects.
• Multi-row sliding clasp: This clasp is designed for jewelry with several rows. One bar with rings slides into another bar with as many rings. This type of clasp can be magnetic or clip-on.
• Manila clasp: Inspired by the world of sailing, this clasp resembles a shackle used on boats. It's very decorative, but not always easy to use and limited to certain jewelry designs. The clasp is the main element of the bracelet or necklace. The design of the jewel should revolve around the clasp.
• Screw clasp: This clasp is closed by screwing a tube onto another part. Unscrewing reveals a small opening. It is often used for jewelry requiring a more secure closure.
• Hook clasp: This type of clasp features a hook that attaches to a loop or chain. It is simple and discreet, but not necessarily suitable for all creations.

2- Attaching a clasp to a chain

There are several things to consider when attaching a clasp to a chain. First, you need to choose the type and style of clasp. Some clasps are very versatile, like the lobster clasp or spring clasp, while others won't suit every design. Pay attention to proportions when ordering your chain and clasp. It's hard to get the right size when ordering online. Always use a ruler or a caliper to check the size, and don't hesitate to sketch the necklace elements on a blank sheet of paper by quickly drawing them at actual size. For a very thin chain like the one we use in our jewelry, it's best to use a lobster clasp of 11 mm or less, or a spring clasp of 9 mm or less.

Secondly, once you've chosen your clasp, ask yourself how it closes. Does it have a second element on which to close the clasp, or not? If not, you'll need a compatible fastener or ring. Pay attention to the diameter of the clasp wire and the diameter of the ring wire.

Thirdly, check whether the clasp has an open ring, and if it's made up of two parts, whether both parts have an open ring. To attach it to the chain, you'll need a ring that can be opened, into which you'll slide the chain. Likewise, add open rings compatible with the chain and clasp to your basket.

The fourth point, which may seem obvious, is to check that the color of your elements is the same. For example, an item described as aged gold and light gold will not have the same hue at all.

You can use the tutorials on our site to find compatible elements.

3- Adding pearls to a chain

There are several ways to add pearls to a chain:

1. The most common is to use a round-headed nail, as shown in our video. Beads are threaded onto a rod already fitted with an open ring and, once all the beads have been threaded, another loop is made on the other side of the nail. We then thread a piece of chain through each ring to connect our beads to the chain.
2. The second method is to use copper wire or another material directly. We cut a piece of wire, form our loop and do the same as with a round-headed nail. This method is used because it's more economical, especially if you need to make a lot of spacers.
3. There's also a more secure style of loop, but one that's a little more difficult for beginners to make. This is the pigtail loop. It has the advantage of leaving no gap through which the chain can exit the ring. This last method is much better suited to very fine creations.
4. Finally, some chains are so thin that beads can be threaded directly onto them.