How to Wrap a Shark Tooth Necklace

Fossilized shark teeth can be turned into beautiful jewelry using wire-wrapping techniques.

A shark tooth necklace consists of a shark tooth fossil wrapped in wire and threaded onto a leather strip. The fossilized teeth wash up on the shores of Florida and the Caribbean islands. They are widely available for purchase online.

Things You'll Need

• Shark tooth fossil
• Wire cutters
• Flat nose pliers
• Silver jewelry wire (18 gauge)
• Craft cord
• Beads (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut a 12-inch piece of wire. Place the shark tooth on a flat surface. Hold the wire with the round-nose pliers 1 1/2 inch from one end. Place the tooth next to the pliers and wrap the remaining wire horizontally once beneath the top of the tooth, the "gum" section.

2. Bend the end held with the pliers to the flat side of the tooth and then upward at a 90-degree angle. Bend the end around the tip of the pliers to form a loop. Hold the end of the loop firmly with the round-nose pliers.

3. Wrap the other end of the wire four times around one side of the top of the tooth, crossing over the loop wire. Wrap the wire four times around the other side of the tooth and the loop wire. Pull the wire tightly.

4. Twist the wire seven times around the loop wire, moving farther from the tooth with each twist, to give the loop wire a coiled look. Cut off the excess wire.

5. Thread the loop onto the craft cord. Knot the cord on each side of the loop. Add beads to taste, then tie the ends of the cord together.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice with extra wire. It takes time and practice to get the wire snug, and you may not be able to reuse wire you make a mistake with.

• Make sure the wire is snug, or the shark tooth might fall out.

References

• "Wire Fun: a Step by Step guide to beginning wire wrapping"; Barbara Tilley
• "Wire Wrapping: The Basics and Beyond"; Jim Macintosh; 2007
• "Wire Style"; Denise Peck; 2008

Resources

• NatureWatch; Shark Tooth Necklace Activity Kit