How to Make Your Own Silver Bangle Bracelet

© GeltDesigns 2009 All rights reserved.

You want to learn how to make jewelry and an argentium or sterling silver bangle bracelet is at the top of your "to do" list. This tutorial is a nice introduction to the art of wire wrapped jewelry. Follow these simple instructions demonstrating basic wire jewelry techniques and, using only a few jewelry making supplies available at your local bead shop or craft supply store, you can make a stunning wire wrapped silver bangle bracelet.

Things You'll Need

• 14 gauge round argentium or sterling silver wire
• wire tools (round nose pliers, needle nose pliers, wire cutters, wire rounder, needle nose file or cup burr)
• bracelet mandrel
• ball pein hammer, raw hide or plastic mallet

Instructions

1. 

   Gather your wire tools and materials.

2. Select your favorite bead to serve as a dangle. You can use any of many loose beads from you jewelry supplies, including heart beads, craft beads, lampwork beads, blown glass beads, dichroic beads and contrasting gold filled beads. In this example, we chose a gemstone bead carved in the shape of a flower.

3. Begin creating your argentium or sterling silver bracelet by measuring your wrist (or the wrist of the person for whom you are making the bracelet) to determine the correct size of your silver bangle bracelet. Add one to two inches to the size of the wrist, depending on how loose you want the bangle.

4. 

   Cut the 14 gauge wire to your desired length with a wire cutter. File both ends until they are smooth with a cup burr (also called a wire rounder) or needle file. In this photo, we are filing the end of the wire with a cup burr attached to a flex shaft.

5. 

   Using your round nose pliers, create a large loop at the now smooth end of the wire.

6. 

   Adjust the loop so that it sits centered on top of the wire.

7. 

   Bend the other wire end to create a catch.

8. 

   Wrap wire around the bracelet mandrel until it is a nice round shape. Tap the completed bracelet with your ball pein, plastic or raw hide mallet to harden the wire.

9. 

   Feed your selected beads onto a argentium or sterling silver head pin.

10. 

    Using your needle nose pliers, create a loop at the top of the head pin just above the beads.

11. 

    Attach the beaded drop to the eye of the bracelet. Wrap the wire three times so that the loop is secure (as you would for any wire wrapped jewelry). This will create a beaded drop that dangles from the clasp of the bangle bracelet.

12. Wear and enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• You can use either argentium or sterling silver in this project. Argentium wire will resist tarnish when the end is burned and will not need pickling. Sterling silver will need to be pickled after burning to remove oxidation.

• You can also substitute gold, gold filled, copper, brass or nickel silver wire for the silver wire used in this project. You can not substitute bead wire (softflex or beadalon).

• You can make your own head pin to create the beaded drop. If you do not know how to do so, see the resource links at the bottom of this page.

• Wire tools can be purchased at your local bead shop, craft shop and where ever metalsmith supplies are sold. Many wire tools can also be bought at the hardware store.

• Wear eye goggles when cutting wire.

Resources

• GeltDesigns
• How to Ball the End of Wire
• How to Form a Simple Head Pin
• How to Make a Ball Head Pin
• How to Make A Simple Head Pin
• How to Make an Eye Pin
• How to Make a Paddle Head Pin
• How to Make Hoop Earrings (with or without Beads)
• How to Make a Beaded Zipper Pull
• How to Twist Wire
• How to Measure Wire
• How to Refine Your Scrap Silver and Gold
• Sterling Silver Wire Half Round Dead Soft 16 Gauge (5 Feet) at Beadaholique h
• Sterling Silver Wire Half Round Dead Soft 16 Gauge (5 Feet) at Beadaholique
• MANDREL BRACELET ROUND by Grobet
• MANDREL BRACELET OVAL by Grobet
• 15" WOODEN ROUND BRACELET MANDREL by Hawk
• Bracelet Mandrel Tool Jewelers Silversmith
• Classic 16 Oz Leather Mallet for Woodworking, Jewelry, Gunsmithing by Hawk
• Classic 1" Leather Mallet for Woodworking, Jewelry, Gunsmithing by Hawk
• BooK Jewelry Making: Techniques for Metal by Tim McCreight
• Complete Metalsmith, Professional Edition by Tim McCreight