Jewellery Making for Beginners
Want to learn how to make jewellery? Then you’re in the right place. For years, we have been committed to providing jewellery makers with everything they need at every stage of their creative journey. Whether it’s supplying high-quality essential tools or offering invaluable support and advice, we take pride in our unwavering support for jewellery makers worldwide.
This area is dedicated to jewellery making for beginners, so whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to take your skills to the next level, you’ll find everything you need to bring your creations to life.
We’re here to provide you with beginners’ jewellery making kits, step-by-step guides, project tutorials, and explanations of jewellery making techniques and terminology. We’re here to help every step of the way.
Ready to become a jewellery maker? Let’s get started.
New to JewelleryMaking?
Learn how to make earrings, pendants and more with these beginner-friendly techniques. …
Looking to Develop Your Skills Further?
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Frequently asked questions
As with anything new, it’s good to get to grips with terminology, discover what supplies you’ll need for each technique and understand the purpose of each tool. We have guides on all tools and supplies on our blog, along with ideas to inspire you and lots of jewellery making tips for beginners.
A clear desk space in your kitchen, office, or dining table is all you need when you start crafting your pieces. Ensure you have somewhere where you can work easily and comfortably. Keep all your materials and tools together so they don’t get lost or fall on the floor.
There are so many jewellery supplies out there that it can be a bit overwhelming when you first start. In the beginning, it’s best to keep it simple and use these fundamental tools: • Pliers (flat nose and chain nose) • Saw frame with saw blades • Set of needle files (half round and safety back cut) • Jobbing hammer • Scriber • Emery sticks or paper • Ruler
Copper and brass, often referred to as "base metals," are an excellent choice for beginners. They're user-friendly, adaptable, and budget-friendly. Working with these metals will allow you to hone your techniques, boost your confidence, and develop your skills before you take on precious metals. So, they make for a fantastic starting point.
If you've never tried making jewellery before, you might want to begin with something easy, like beading. As you gain confidence, you can explore more creative techniques, like working with silver clay or metals, such as copper and brass. Jewellery making is far less intimidating than it may seem; it can be as simple as crafting a charm bracelet or pendant for your loved ones – it's all up to your imagination!
Jewellery making glossary
Alloy
A mixture of different metals.
Annealing
The heating and cooling of metal, (often using a torch) to make it softer and therefore easier to work.
Assaying
The testing of metal by a professional body (Assay Office) to determine the percentage of pure precious metal contained within it. Once established, the metal is marked with the appropriate hallmark.
Base Metal
Non-precious metal e.g. copper, aluminium etc.
Bead
A small piece of glass, gemstone, metal or even wood with a hole drilled through. Used for beaded jewellery making.
Borax
A type of flux which enables solder to run, commonly supplied as a powder or solid cone which must be mixed into a paste.
Burnishing
The process of rubbing metal to achieve a high polish. A common step in stone setting.
Carabiner clasp
A popular clasp featuring a flat loop at one end with an open jump ring ready to attach to a chain.
Claw setting
A setting designed to fit a specific cut and size of gemstone, by folding small metal posts (claws) over the gemstone, this style can be used to set a variety of shapes.
Drawplate
A hardened steel plate containing a series of holes of different sizes. Wire can be drawn through the holes to reduce the size or change the shape.
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