How to Make a Gem Stone Necklace

A gemstone necklace can be made with a mix of beads.

A gemstone necklace can make a bold statement using big beads in unusual shapes, or it can be simple and understated, made with smaller beads. The wide variety of gemstones you can choose from allows you to unleash your creativity and design a gemstone necklace that suits your style. If you're stumped for ideas on a necklace design, you can find project ideas in craft and beading stores.

Things You'll Need

• Towel or cloth
• Measuring tape
• Side-cutting pliers
• One spool 40 strand 0.14 mm diameter beading wire
• Two 2.5x2 mm round crimp beads
• One 6 mm jumpring
• Crimping pliers
• 4 mm to 8 mm Gemstone beads
• 2 mm to 4 mm spacer beads
• One 6 mm springring clasp

Instructions

1. Lay the gemstone and spacer beads in a line on a towel or cloth. Put the beads in the order they'll be strung onto the beading wire.

2. Measure a 20-inch long piece of beading wire and use the side-cutting pliers to snip the length of wire off the spool.

3. Hold one end of the beading wire between your index finger and thumb. Slide a crimp bead and a jumpring about one inch down the wire.

4. Take the end of the wire above the crimp and jumpring and put it back through the crimp bead. Push the crimp bead up to the bottom of the jumpring, leaving a slight gap between them.

5. Put the crimp bead in the bottom notch of the crimping pliers. Squeeze the pliers gently, but firmly. Turn the dent in the crimp bead so that it's facing the bottom notch and squeeze the pliers around the bead again. Clip off the extra wire.

6. Take the other end of the wire between your index finger and thumb. String the beads onto the wire in the order you laid them out on the towel until you've used all the gemstone and spacer beads.

7. Slide a crimp bead and the springring clasp onto the wire. Put the end of the wire back through the crimp bead as you did in step 4, leaving a slight gap. Trim off the excess wire.

Tips & Warnings

• The gemstone and spacer beads can be any color or shape, depending on the design you choose.

• The number of beads used to make the necklace will vary based on the size and shape of the gemstone and spacer beads you choose. You'll use fewer gemstone and spacer beads if the beads are large to medium in size and use more if they are small to medium in size.

• If you're right-handed, hold the wire in your left hand and slide the beads on with your right.

• If you're left-handed, hold the wire in your right hand and use the left to slide the beads onto the wire.