By Devona J. Jefferson

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Coin-pearl earrings

Cash in on this season’s fashion currency

When you take stock of your earring collection, make sure you have some dressy ones for special occasions. These two designs fit the bill nicely, highlighting coin pearls with a cluster of metallic beads or a sweep of chain.

Double-pearl earrings

4 10–12mm coin pearls
32 3mm spacers
38 in. (.97m) 24-gauge half-hard wire
2 1 1⁄2-in. (3.8cm) head pins
4 4–5mm jump rings
pair of earring posts with ear nuts
chainnose and roundnose pliers
diagonal wire cutters

Pearl-and-chain earrings

2 10–12mm coin pearls
2 briolettes, approximately 6 x 10mm
4 briolettes, approximately 5 x 8mm
4 4mm round spacers
21 in. (53cm) 24-gauge half-hard wire
3–4 in. (7.6–10cm) chain, 2mm links
8–10 3–4mm jump rings
pair of earring posts with ear nuts
chainnose and roundnose pliers
diagonal wire cutters

INSTRUCTIONS

Double-pearl earrings

Step 1

Using chainnose pliers, bend the tip of a piece of 24-gauge wire back against itself. Trim the wire 3⁄4 in. (1.9cm) from the end. Make 16 decorative wires.

Step 2

String a spacer on a decorative wire. Make a plain loop. Repeat with the remaining wires.

Step 3

On a head pin, string a coin pearl. Make the first half of a wrapped loop.

Step 4

Attach eight spacer units to the loop. Complete the wraps.

Step 5

Cut a 3-in. (7.6cm) piece of wire. Make a 2mm wrapped loop on one end. String a coin pearl and make the first half of a 3–4mm wrapped loop.

Step 6

Attach eight spacer units to the 3–4mm loop. Complete the wraps.

Step 7

Open a jump ring. Attach the first bead unit’s wrapped loop and the second bead unit’s 2mm loop. Close the jump ring. Use a jump ring to attach the dangle and the loop of an earring post. Make a second earring to match the first.

Editor's Tip

Try substituting 32 decorative head pins for 32 in. (81cm) of 24-gauge wire in the double-pearl earrings.

Pearl-and-chain earrings

Step 1

Cut a 1 1⁄2-in. (3.8cm) piece of 24-gauge wire. Make a plain loop. String a spacer, a coin pearl, and a spacer. Make a plain loop.

Step 2

Cut a 3-in. (7.6cm) piece of wire. String a large briolette and make a set of wraps. Make a wrapped loop above the wraps. Repeat with two small briolettes.

Step 3

Cut two 3⁄8-in. (1cm) and one 1⁄2-in. (1.3cm) pieces of chain. Open a jump ring and attach the longer chain and the loop of the large briolette. Close the jump ring. Use jump rings to attach the remaining chains to the loops of the small briolettes.

Step 4

Use a jump ring to attach the chain dangles to a loop of the coin-pearl unit, stringing the large-briolette dangle in the middle. Close the jump ring.

Step 5

Open the loop of the dangle. Attach the loop of an earring post. Close the dangle’s loop. (If the earring post has a perpendicular loop, attach a jump ring between the dangle and the loop.)

Step 6

Make a second earring to match the first.

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Coin-pearl earrings

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