How to Make Necklaces With Turquoise
An ancient stone, turquoise is a symbol of life and a gift of friendship. Ancient Egyptians, Aztecs and Native Americans have revered turquoise. Prized for its healing properties, turquoise acquires its blue from copper and its green from iron. Beads are available in ovals, rounds, heishi, chips and more. Complement pale blues with sterling silver. Combine turquoise with red coral or copper. Pair the stone with smoky topaz. Make turquoise necklaces to suit all moods and wardrobe choices!
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Silver, copper and antique copper toggle clasps
- Silver and copper lobster clasps
- Silver, copper and antique copper crimp beads
- 1 silver headpin
- Assorted turquoise beads: flat ovals, rounds, heishi, spider web and chips.
- Wooden beads: mix of patterned, mango, oval, Bayong and rondel.
- Terracotta coral beads
- Coco flower beads
- Beading wire, .46mm
- Wire cutters
- Crimping pliers
- Needle nose pliers
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How to Make Necklaces with Turquoise
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Go natural. Create a turquoise necklace with recycled wood beads from The Mykonos Beads. (See resources) Lay bead pattern on a bead board or bead cloth. Cut 24-inches of wire. Attach one antique copper crimp bead and one part of a toggle clasp. Loop wire back through crimp bead. Squeeze with crimping pliers. String a combination of turquoise rounds, followed by one or two wood beads. Repeat the pattern until near the end of the wire. Crimp the end as before.
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2
Opt for eco-fashion. Make a pattern of turquoise heishi beads and soft sky or indigo recycled beads from Ecobutterfly on a bead board. (See resources.) Cut 21-inches of jewelry wire. String a silver crimp bead and one silver lobster clasp. Push wire back through crimp bead. Secure with crimping pliers. Thread the pattern onto the wire. Close the end of the necklace by fastening one silver crimp bead and the last part of the lobster clasp.
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3
Head to the beach with this contrasting necklace. Lay out a bead pattern of turquoise chips and coco flower beads from Wood Beads Online. (See resources.) Cut 19-inches of jewelry wire. Place one copper crimp bead and one portion of a lobster clasp. Loop and press the wire back through the crimp bead. Tighten with crimping pliers. Assemble the beads onto the wire. Attach another crimp bead and the remaining part of the lobster clasp and squeeze closed.
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4
Wear a spider-web turquoise pendant. Use a black veined turquoise bead from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads. (See resources.) Drilled lengthwise, it adds a stunning touch. Choose round turquoise beads with silver e-beads. Create a pattern of choice. String the beads on wire. Close with clasp and crimp bead. Place pendant bead on head pin. Add one silver e-bead. Using needle nose pliers, bend wire 90-degrees. Curve over to form an open loop. Place pendant at the middle point of the necklace. Secure loop.
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5
Step out with an elegant turquoise necklace made from flat oval beads, which are consistent in both size and polish. On a beading board, alternate turquoise flat oval beads with silver round beads. Cut 19-inches of jewelry wire. Place a crimp bead and silver toggle clasp onto the wire. Loop wire back through crimp bead, then secure. Thread bead design to make a 16-inch necklace. Repeat the same method for crimping the wire to complete necklace.
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Tips & Warnings
To improve the stone's strength and polish, most turquoise beads are stabilized. When purchasing, prices for turquoise beads should reflect this. Experiment with the various hues of turquoise available from chalk turquoise to various colored turquoises.
Keep turquoise away from heat, bright light and cosmetics.
