How to Make a Beaded Watchband

A beaded watch tells more than just the time, it tells others that the wearer is creative and unique. The best part is that it takes very little time to make a beaded watch. Personalized watches can be a great gift for bridesmaids or hostesses. Consider hosting a jewelry-making party and invite friends to bring their best beaded watch-making supplies and tips to share with everyone.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Watch face
• Glue
• Seed beads

Make the Wristband

1. Purchase the beads, watch faces and cording that you need for your project or find a craft kit that has all the pieces already put together for you. Get friends to order as well to decrease the shipping expenses and use the purchase as an excuse to have a night out with the girls (just to do the crafts, of course).

2. Measure the target wrist and cut the wire to fit the full length of the wrist plus about four inches. Some slack will be used to attach the toggle clasp and the watch face. Cut the wire in half, creating two equal pieces.

3. Attach each piece of wire to half of the toggle clasp using a fisherman’s knot or some other knot for securing the wire.

4. Thread the beads on to each piece of wire using the same pattern. Be sure to leave about an inch or so to secure the open ends of the wire to the watch face.

Complete the Beaded Watch

5. Use glue to attach beads around the edge of the watch face to match the beads on the wrist band that you have already created.

6. Attach each side of the wrist band to a side of the watch face. Secure in place.

7. Test the fit. The watch should be snug, but not tight.

Tips & Warnings

• Make several different watches all at one sitting so that you only make the mess (and have to clean it up) one time.
• If you don’t want to make your own wristband, buy an unadorned existing watch and just decorate it with your own style.
• Keep the beads away from small children and animals because they can become a choking hazard.