Rings & Things Jewelry Blog

Created by: Veronica GreenwoodDesigner TipsCreate a colorful beaded drop for each wine glass marker, using gemstones or other beads of your choice. New to jewelry-making? See Basic Jewelry-Making Technique Sheet (PDF) for how to make wrapped loops using eye pins.Add an oval jump ring to each charm so they face the proper direction (twist sideways to open and securely close each jump ring).Add approximately 10 seed beads to each hoop, then a charm and beaded drop, then 10 more seed beads.Use chai …

Black Stone beads and pendants provide basic black gemstones that will perpetually remain in style! This semiprecious gemstone closely resembles black onyx, but since we have been unable to verify its true classification, "black stone" is the most honest descriptive name we can give to these beads and pendants. Black stone jewelry components generally appear less shiny than black onyx components.

Richly striped tigereye is a variety of quartz with a fine luster. These semiprecious beads are available in their natural, unenhanced brown-gold state, and sometimes in heat-treated blue or red. Also known as African cat's eye, crocidolite, and tiger's eye, this gemstone contains oriented fibers of crocidolite (a mineral of the amphibole group) that have been replaced by silica. The fibers are twisted or crumpled instead of straight, reminiscent of sand and sunlight. Tigereye is also vitreous ( …

Onyx is a striped, semiprecious variety of agate, with white, black, brown or red alternating bands. It is different from regular agate only in that the bands of which it is composed are parallel and regular. The name onyx originates from the Greek word onyx for "fingernail" or "hoof," probably because of its weak transparency or possibly its color. Onyx may chip or scratch rather easily, so store it carefully.Onyx is one of the 12 stones mentioned in the Bible as adorning the breastplate of the …

Created by: Mollie ValenteDesigner TipsCreate a bail using a 5/16" x 3" piece of 24-gauge copper sheet: Cut, file, stamp, punch and ream the holes a bit larger. Use bail-making pliers to bend the stamped piece into a bail (dead center so the holes line up). Patina after bending.Stamp the brass star charm: See Techniques for Creating Stamped Metal Charms.Create gemstone donut chainmaille: Add four 10mm jump rings to each donut. Connect two per side with 8mm jump rings. Use 8mm jump rings on the e …