Suspend a gemstone drop from fine chain for a classic necklace
Gemstone-drop necklace by Sara Strauss
This necklace has a little bit of everything (gemstones, pearls, and chain) but the end result remains elegant, not busy. And since you only need a few of each bead, you can make this piece using your leftover stash.
BEADSTYLE
• ONLINE PROJECT
SupplyList 1
Cut a 11⁄2-in. (3.8cm) piece of 24-gauge wire. Make a plain loop (Basics) on one end. String an 8mm bead. Make a plain loop. Make four 8mm-bead units, four 4mm-bead units, and eight pearl units.
• 30–35mm gemstone-drop pendant, top drilled • 4 8mm round beads • 4 4mm round beads • 8 4–5mm button pearls • 3 in. (7.6cm) 22-gauge half-hard wire • 2 ft. (61cm) 24-gauge half-hard wire
4mmbead unit
pearl unit
1¾ in.
3 in.
¾ in.
pearl unit
2
To make a short strand: Cut chains to the lengths shown. Attach the bead units as shown by opening and closing the plain loops (Basics). Repeat. 4mmbead unit 1½ in.
¾ in.
pearl unit
8mmbead unit ¾ in.
EDITOR’S TIP If your gemstone-drop pendant is drilled very close to the top of the bead, you can attach it with a jump ring instead of a wrapped loop. Open the jump ring and attach the chains, then position the jump ring so that its opening is inside the drop.
8mmbead unit
pearl unit 1 in.
• 30–36 in. (76–91cm) chain, 2mm links • 2 3–4mm jump rings • lobster claw clasp • chainnose and roundnose pliers • diagonal wire cutters
1 in.
3
To make a long strand: Cut chains to the lengths shown. Attach the bead units as shown. Repeat.
5 4
Cut a 3-in. (7.6cm) piece of 22-gauge wire. String a drop pendant and make a set of wraps above it (Basics). Make the first half of a wrapped loop (Basics) above the wraps. Attach the strands, positioning the long strands on the outside, and complete the wraps. BEADSTYLE
• ONLINE PROJECT
Check the fit, allowing 2–4 in. (5–10cm) for finishing. Cut two 1–2-in. (2.5–5cm) pieces of chain. Cut two more pieces, each 1⁄4 in. (6mm) longer than the previous pieces. (My necklaces are 151⁄2 in./39.4cm.) Attach each long chain to the end loop of each short strand. Attach each short chain to the end loop of each long strand. On one side, open a jump ring (Basics) and attach one pair of strands and a lobster claw clasp. Close the jump ring. Repeat on the other side, omitting the clasp. ✤
Contact Sara via her Web site, sgsjewelry.com.