Silver Sea Urchin Bracelet Tutorial

Created by: Polly Nobbs-LaRue

Designer Tips

Memory wire is steel, and unkind to most jewelry tools.
- Use heavy-duty flush cutters to cut the desired length: Most memory wire bracelets are 3-5 coils. The design pictured is about 3.5 coils. Tip: Flush cutters cut the wire flat, rather than pointed, so you don't have to file the end flat (flush).
- Use memory-wire bending pliers (or other strong round-nose pliers) to make a loop at one end of the wire.
String a bit more than one full coil's worth of the silver "cornerless" cube beads (1 coil plus about 7 beads). Push to the end.
String a bit more than one full coil's worth of the bronze tube beads (1 coil plus about 5 beads). - Important Note - Dec 2017: Current batch of bronze tube beads has TINY holes that do not fit on memory wire!
String silver cornerless (corner-cut) cube beads to almost the end; leave just enough wire for the final loop.
Make the final loop.
Place a 10mm crystal sea urchin stone in a setting. Use your fingers or nylon-jaw pliers to begin pressing the points of the "crown" evenly over the stone.
Finish by using a burnishing tool (or the rounded smooth end of a Sharpie marker) to smooth all the points firmly down over the stone.
Repeat with other stone.
Use the memory-wire pliers to twist an end loop slightly open, just enough to slip the setting onto. Completely re-close the loop.
Optional: Use a jump ring for more freedom of movement.
Repeat at other end of bracelet.

Suggested Supplies

1 oz [use 3-5 coils] #61-177 Beadalon Stainless Steel Memory Wire Coil, Bracelet, 0.025", 1oz
1 strand [use about 3/4 strand] #21-583-324 Electroplated Hematine Gemstone Bead, Cornerless Cube, 3mm - Silver
1 strand [use about 1/3 strand] #21-612-325 Electroplated Hematine Gemstone Bead, Tube, 4mm - Bronze
2 each #01-695-10-01 Swarovski 1695 Sea Urchin Stone, 10mm - Crystal
2 each #41-878-01-10-6 JBB Findings Antiqued Brass Plated Pendant Bezel Setting, 1 Loop, 10mm I.D.

Many crystals by Swarovski are nearly gone, but these settings also work with most other brands of 10mm rivolis and similar round pointed-back stones. Shop remaining colors while they last!

Tools