Handmade Jewellery- Making your own clasps and findings.

Handmade Clasps, Links and Earwires

When I started making jewellery last year I bought my  jewellery findings from local supply shops.

I hit problems when they stopped making the cord clasps that fitted the strength of cord I used and when the jump rings would fall apart no matter how tight I closed them. I tried some different suppliers. One was too cheap, with supplies shipped in from China every 46 days, the clasps would twist as I tried to  secure them to the jewellery I had made. The other was expensive with similar problems. At the same time the colour of the findings did not always match my jewellery.

So I started making my own clasps and findings

The handmade findings  are made with the same wire as the pendants so match perfectly. They are the same thickness so also match the delicate or chunky look of the piece and of course they are good quality. Each clasp and link is made carefully by hand using the correct gauge of wire, it is hardened using a nylon capped hammer to avoid marking it. I also forge most of the findings to flattens the wire around the lovely curves you can see the difference from one that is not forged. It hardens the wire and  gives a lovely hand forged appearance enhancing the curves and scrolls and details of wire work. You can tell the difference from machine made clasps.

After spending hours making a pendant is is essential to give this attention to detail to finish off the handmade piece of jewellery the way it deserves. This is why I like handmade jewellery  so much.

I now make all my own findings including ear wires and links and have just made some lovely handmade chain.