Thursday, June 12, 2014

FAQ: Jewelry Findings

If you are new to the world of hobby jewelry making, you may have a lot of questions about the materials and tools which you use to complete your projects. One of the products which people have a lot of questions about are jewelry findings, because there are such a wide range of different findings available. Here are answers to a few of the most frequently ask questions about the findings which are commonly used in jewelry making projects.
1) What are Jewelry Findings?
"Findings" is the name which is given to the wide selection of different items which are used to connect jewelry making components together. Without the correct use of findings, jewelry items would look very pretty but they would not be functional, as they would not be connected together properly, and it might be hard to wear them or attach them to your person properly. Examples of items which are considered to be findings include: jump rings, clasps, earwires, brooch assemblies, crimp beads and eye loops.
2) Why are there so many different types of findings?
Different types of findings serve very different purposes. For example, you cannot (easily) attach a brooch to a dress with a lobster claw clasp, neither can you safely fix a charm to necklace with a pin stem. Each finding has been designed with a specific purpose in mind, and when used for that purpose they are very functional. Whilst some modern jewelry makers like to "mix things up a bit" by using findings for something which they are not specifically designed for, there is no guarantee that these forms of experimentation will work! Because jewelry makers are constantly striving for perfection, new types of findings are regularly being invented to help to make things easier.
3) Is it possible to make my own jewelry findings?
It is possible to make some types of findings very easily if you have a little bit of experience of working with jewelry making tools, whilst other findings are almost impossible to make without the proper training and equipment. For example, it is very easy to make simple eyepins using thicker jewelry making wire and a pair of round nose pliers. Simply grasp one end of your wire and rotate the pliers so that a small, single loop of wire forms around them. Remove the pliers and you should be left with a small loop at the end of the wire which can be used as an eyepin. Being able to create this will give you a lot of versatility in your crafts. However, it is impossible to make your own versions of many of the types of clasps which are available on the market. Luckily, there are lots of different suppliers of jewelry findings available, so you will always be able to pick up these products.
4) Can I buy findings wholesale?
There are plenty of suppliers which sell findings at wholesale prices. Suppliers know that they are essential and are able to sell big packets at affordable prices.
Jewelry findings are an essential part of the jewelry making process. Buy or make your own jewelry findings to help to complete your project pieces.

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