By Linda Arline Hartung

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Golden pearls jewelry set

Mix colors with these Crystallized pearls for a touch of luxury and versatility!

TIP: You can attach the chaton crystals to the clasp and bail before you begin to string your jewelry or after it is completed.

Adding a magnetic clasp set with coordinating crystals lends a touch of luxury and versatility. I can clasp the bracelet to the necklace for a longer style. For more design options, add a removable wire-wrapped crystal coral pendant and repeat the look with a quick pair of earrings.

SUPPLIES

pendant

40 mm crystal coral branch pendant
6 mm crystal pearl
5 mm crystal pearl
4 mm crystal pearl
3-in. (7.6 cm) head pin
3-in. (7.6 cm) crystal head pin
chainnose and roundnose pliersdiagonal wire cutters

necklace 18 1/2 in. (47 cm)

36 12 mm crystal pearls
2-yd. card of silk cord with attached needle
2 crimp beads
barrel magnet clasp, with magnets and chaton crystals
flair bail, with chaton crystals
bentnose and roundnose pliers
adhesive putty
emery board or file
scissors
toothpick
two-part epoxy

bracelet

13–15 12 mm crystal pearls
silk cord with attached needle, left over from necklace
2 crimp beads
barrel magnet clasp, with magnets and chaton crystals
bentnose and roundnose pliers
adhesive putty
emery board or file
scissors
toothpick
two-part epoxy

earrings

2 30 mm crystal coral branch pendants
2 5 mm crystal pearls
2 4 mm crystal pearls
2 3 mm crystal pearls
2 3-in. (7.6 cm) head pins
2 4 mm jump rings
pair of crystal earring wires
chainnose and roundnose pliers
diagonal wire cutters

Clasps, bail, and chatons from Alacarte Clasps, alacarteclasps.com. Check your local bead store for supplies.

INSTRUCTIONS

Pendant

1. On a crystal head pin, string a crystal coral pendant. Leaving 1⁄8 in. (3 mm) between the head of the head pin and the crystal, bend the wire upward. About 1⁄8 in. (3 mm) above the top of the crystal, bend the wire back at a 45-degree angle.

2. Place the jaws of your roundnose pliers above the bend and curve the wire around the pliers.

3. Rotate the jaw of your pliers to the other side of the curve. Squeeze and rotate the pliers to make a loop. Bend the wire tail away from the crystal.

4. Holding the base of the loop with one set of pliers, wrap the wire a little more than one full rotation behind the head of the head pin. Trim the excess wire and tuck the end.

5. On a 3-in. (7.6 cm) head pin, string a 5 mm pearl, a 6 mm pearl, and a 4 mm pearl. Starting at the bottom of the pendant, twist the head pin around the crystal, positioning the pearls as shown.

6. Wrap the end of the head pin around the bail’s crystal. Use chainnose pliers to gently shape the loop if necessary. Trim the excess wire.

Necklace

1. Unwind the cord from the card. On the end without the needle, tie an overhand knot 3 in. (7.6 cm) from the end.

String a pearl and tie a loose overhand knot. Place the tip of your roundnose pliers inside the knot, flush with the pearl.

2. Pull the cord to close the knot around the tip of the pliers. Remove the pliers.

3. Tighten the knot by pulling up on the cord while pushing down on the knot with your pliers or your fingers.

String pearls, knotting between each, until the strand is within 3⁄4 in. (1.9 cm) of the finished length. Make sure you’ve strung an even number of pearls. End with a knot.

4. On each end, string half of a barrel clasp and a crimp bead.

5. Mix two-part epoxy according to the package directions. On each end, apply a thin layer of epoxy inside the well of the clasp. Slide the clasp next to the pearl, pulling the end knot into the clasp’s hole.

6. On each end, allow the crimp bead to fall into the clasp’s hole. While pulling up on the cord, use bentnose pliers to flatten the crimp bead. Allow the epoxy to dry. Trim the cord, leaving a short tail extending from the crimp bead.

7. On each end, lightly file the dimpled side of the magnet. Apply epoxy to the well of the clasp. Firmly press the magnet (dimpled side down) in the well of the clasp. Wipe any epoxy that seeps out. Let the epoxy dry with the magnet facing straight up.

8. Open the loop of a flair bail and attach the pendant. Close the loop. Open the latch and center the bail on the pearl strand. Close the latch.

9. Use a toothpick with a bit of adhesive putty to pick up chaton crystals and use epoxy to set them into the indentations in the clasp and bail components.

To make a matching bracelet, follow necklace steps 1 to 9.

Earrings

1. On a 3-in. (7.6 cm) head pin, string a 5 mm, a 4 mm, and a 3 mm pearl. Then string a 30 mm crystal coral pendant. Wrap the head pin around the pendant as in pendant step 5. Use roundnose pliers to form the end of the head pin into a triangle over the top of the crystal, tucking the end into the hole.

2. Open a jump ring. Attach the dangle and the loop of an earring wire. Close the jump ring. Make a second earring.

Pearls of wisdom

Tip!

Pearl strands are available both knotted and unknotted in various lengths. Knotted pearl strands have a few unknotted pearls on both ends so you can adjust the length. If you use a knotted pearl strand, you won’t need silk thread.
Make sure the magnets fit flush in the clasp before applying the epoxy.
If you are pregnant or wear a pacemaker, consult your doctor before wearing a magnetic clasp.
If you get glue on the putty, use a fresh piece. Dried glue will make the crystals look dull.
Make sure to position the positive and negative magnets on the necklace and bracelet so the pearl pattern is consistent when you connect them.

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Golden pearls jewelry set

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