How to Make a Quick and Easy Pendant Necklace

Everything needed for this project is available at WigJig!

JEWELRY SUPPLIES:
Commercial Clasp
Jump Ring or Split Ring (2)
18"-24" of fine commercial chain
Snap-Fit Pendant setting (8mm shown)
Stone for setting (8mm)

JEWELRY TOOLS:
Flush Cutter
Chain Nose or Bent Chain Nose Pliers (2)
Ruler
15 minutes of free time

JEWELRY SKILLS REQUIRED:
Ability to make cut chain.
Ability to open and close jump rings.
Ability to use a split ring.
Ability to use a press to fit pendant setting.

To view these instructions WITH PICTURES, click here to visit the WigJig Jewelry Making Project page.

Once you have assembled the materials to make this simple chain with pendant necklace, you will have accomplished the most difficult part.
Step 1: If you decided to make an 18" chain, use your ruler and measure 18" of chain and cut your chain to that length. It is probably a good idea for this project to have both end links on your figaro chain as the long links.

Step 2: Now we are ready to add the clasp to one end of your chain. If you are using jump rings as shown on the left hand side of the lobster clasp at left, you will need to use chain nose pliers or bent chain nose pliers to open and close the jump ring. It is worth a few words to explain the concept of opening and closing jump rings. Normally a closed jump ring is a flat circle of wire with a segment of the wire that has been cut. An open jump ring is one where the two sides of the jump ring have been twisted apart as shown at right. The important concept is that instead of pulling the sides apart, you twist one up and the other down. This preserves the round shape of the jump ring. The picture at left shows how you grip one half of the jump ring with your bent chain nose pliers as you prepare to open it. You would use a second pair of chain nose or bent chain nose pliers to grip the right side of the jump ring and then you would twist the left side down while twisting the right side up. The picture at right shows how the jump ring would appear after you twisted it open.

Step 3: With an open jump ring, you would then thread one end of the chain and your clasp on the jump ring, then you use your bent chain nose pliers to twist the jump ring closed.

Step 4: At this point we need to make our pendant and add it to our chain. The first step is to set your gemstone. This is done by placing your gemstone with the flat side down on a cutting board or table, then positioning your snap-fit setting on top of the gemstone as shown at right. The final step is to push down on the top of the setting with your thumb from your dominant hand. When you are done, the setting should appear as shown at right, with all the prongs from the setting gripping the stone. It is a good idea to lightly squeeze the opposite prongs in the setting to ensure that the are tight. Do this for all of the prongs in your setting. Once the pendant is completed you need to thread the chain through the opening in the setting.
Step 5: Now you need to add the loop on the end of the chain that allows the clasp to connect to the opposite side of the chain. This step will complete this project. In the clasp shown at left, the final loop is a split ring. A split ring is a jewelry finding that is just a smaller version of a key ring. You add the split ring to the end of the chain in the same manner that you would add a key to a key ring. You can hold the split ring open by sliding your finger nail between the two layers of wire on the split ring, or you can use a pair of pliers called "Split Ring Pliers" to hold the split ring open so that you can slide it into position. If you plan on making a lot of these necklaces, we suggest that you purchase the split ring pliers. If you are only making a few, your fingernails will do.

We hope that you like this necklace design. The same approach can be used to make a necklace with the add your bead pendant shown below-left. This item can be found as item 3036 (gold-plated) or 3037 (silver-plated). Please search on the four digit part number to find these findings in our Internet store.