New Years Eve Pendant

by Wanda
(Los Angeles, CA)

My inspiration for this New Years Eve Pendant came when I saw a sparkling diamond necklace in a department store catalog.

To get sparkle I used Swarovski® crystals instead of diamonds.

I was short on time, but I wanted to make the pendant versatile. I thought about using an enhancer bail. But with the price of sterling silver being way up, I didn't want to splurge on buying an enhancer bail.

So, I sat down and figured out how to make an enhancer style bail using small link chain and a miniature lobster claw clasp. Turns out, this was an easy bead jewelry project. I just used simple wire loops, which is a beginner wire jewelry making technique.

You can adjust the width of the bail by fastening the lobster claw clasp anywhere along the length of the chain.

Jewelry Making Supplies

2 1/2 inches (6.4 cm) length of small link chain (textured rolo chain)
1 28mm pendant (Swarovski Elements crystal flat baroque pendant, crystal silver shade)
1 7mm open jump ring
7 1 inch (2.5cm) head pins
1 4mm split ring
1 5mm lobster claw clasp
1 4mm cube bead (black diamond)
1 4mm round bead (crystal AB)
5 4mm bicone crystals (one jet, one black diamond, one crystal, two crystal silver shade)

Jewelry Making Tools

wire cutters
split ring pliers
chain nose pliers (two pair) OR
chain nose and flat nose pliers (one pair each)

Finished Length: 3 inches (7.6 cm)

Jewelry Making Instructions

Step 1:
Make seven (7) simple wire loop bead units using the 3mm and 4mm crystals (Photo 1). One by one, thread the 3mm and 4mm beads onto a head pin and make a simple wire loop (How to Make Wire Loops). Leave the wire loop open.

Step 2:
Using wire cutters cut a 2 1/2 inches (6.4 cm) length of chain.

Step 3:
Using the chain nose and/or flat nose pliers, open the jump ring.

Step 4:
Slide the last link of one end of the length of chain onto the jump ring. (Photo 2: Steps 4 - 7)

Step 5:
Slide the 28mm pendant bead onto the jump ring.

Step 6:
Using the chain nose and/or flat nose pliers, close the jump ring.

Step 7:
Using the split ring pliers, open the split ring.
Slide the second end of the length of chain onto the split ring.

While the split ring is still open, slide the lobster claw clasp onto the split ring until it is securely on the split ring.

Step 8:
Arrange the wire loop units along the length of the chain, leaving about one inch (2.5 cm) of chain free of bead units (on the lobster claw clasp end). Arrange the bead units with largest bead units near the pendant end of the chain. (Photo 3: Steps 8 - 9)

Step 9:
One by one, about every two links of chain, use the chain nose pliers to space and attach the wire loop of each bead unit along the length of the chain. Use the chain nose pliers to close each wire loop.

You're done. Enjoy wearing your New Years Eve pendant. Tell everyone at the party that you made it. That will start a conversation for sure!