DIY Horseshoe Necklace

Revered for its protective powers, the horseshoe is a staple design accent in fashionable jewelry.

The timeless appeal of the horseshoe in jewelry design is due as much to it being a symbol of good fortune as it is a perfectly symmetrical, unifying focal element. Whether embellished with crystals, hammered for rich texture or punched with holes to hang gemstone bead drops, horseshoe necklaces are a sophisticated staple in any fashionista's jewelry wardrobe. The power of the horseshoe as a talisman or amulet to project positive energy and protect the wearer is thought to be gently held within its graceful, yet strong upward curves.

Things You'll Need

• 1 mm to 1.5 mm thick or 26-gauge sterling silver or copper flat wire or flat pattern wire
• Hole punch or drill
• Flush cutter
• Metal file
• 16-gauge jump rings
• Flat back Swarovski crystals or hot-fix Swarovski crystals and bejeweling tool
• Pre-made sterling silver or copper chain or sterling silver or copper jump rings for chainmail divided into two equal portions for correct size necklace.
• Sterling silver or copper toggle clasp or wire to make your own
• Ball peen hammer (optional)
• Bench block (optional)

Instructions

Planning and Implementation of the Design

1. Measure your neck or the neck of the person for whom you are making the necklace at the length you wish the necklace to hang. Generally, a choker-length necklace measures 16 inches, a necklace that sits at the collarbone is about 18 inches or a little longer and a longer necklace that hangs a few inches below the collar bone is 20 inches. A 22-inch necklace sits at or above the neckline and a 24-inch necklace sits below the neckline.

   Draw your design on paper to determine the size of the horseshoe focal you desire, the placement of crystals, the placement of holes and the length of chain or chain mail you need to create. Explore the possibilities and your creativity by drawing whatever comes to mind, within the horseshoe design concept. Choose the design that looks the best.

2. Bend the flat or pattern wire horizontally, keeping the wire flat on the work surface. Hammer smooth wire to give it a surface design texture. Leave smooth spots where the crystals will be placed. Punch or drill a hole in each end of the wire, leaving about 1/2 inch at the end. Trim the square ends off the two ends of the wire to create a point at each end. File the ends until they are round and smooth with no sharp edges. Glue on the flat back crystals or use the bejeweler tool to add crystals according to your design plan.

3. Weave the chainmail, if you're using it. Attach the two chain or chainmail sections to either side of the horseshoe with the jump rings. Attach the clasp with a jump ring to one side for the bar and one side of the chain for the toggle.

Tips & Warnings

• Rather than hammering the smooth metal horseshoe, cover it completely in flat back crystals for a glamorous "Sex and the City"-type look.

• Embellish the horseshoe with minimal crystals to mimic a realistic horseshoe and let the beauty of the sterling silver or copper shine through.

• Add crystal bead drops by punching holes along the bottom edge of the horseshoe and attaching the prepared drops.

• Dye base metal such as copper or brass with alcohol dyes.

• Stamp words such as Luck, Faith, Hope, Charity, Love and Trust into the horseshoe with steel letter stamps.

• Stamp designs into the horseshoe with steel design stamps.

• Burnish a pattern into smooth sterling silver or copper horseshoes by placing a design under the flat wire and rubbing with a burnishing tool to embed the design in the horseshoe.

• Patina copper horseshoes with liver of sulphur.

• Blacken sterling silver horseshoes with a silver blacking compound.

• Punch holes in the bottom of the horseshoe and hang varying lengths of fine chain.

Resources

• Handcrafted Wire Findings, Techniques and Designs for Custom Jewelry Components; Denise Peck and Jane Dickerson
• Beaded Chain Mail Jewelry, Timeless Techniques With a Twist; Dylong White
• Wire Art Jewelry Workshop, Step-by-Step Techinques and Projects; Sharilyn Miller
• Chain and Bead Jewelry, Techniques for Creating Dimensional Necklaces and Bracelets; Scott David Plumlee