How to Make Gold Filled Jewelry

It is virtually impossible to distinguish gold-filled jewelry from solid-gold jewelry.

Gold-filled jewelry offers all the lustrous yellow glow of solid gold jewelry at a fraction of the cost. Gold-filled jewelry is made by plating a core of base metal, such as brass, with a relatively thick layer of solid gold. The layer of solid gold plating on gold-filled jewelry is considerably thicker than that on gold-plated jewelry. Consequently, gold-filled jewelry is more resistant to discoloration and fading. You can make gold-filled jewelry using gold-filled jewelry-making supplies, which are accessible at many bead and craft stores.

Things You'll Need

• Gold-filled chain
• Wire cutters
• Gold-filled clasp
• Gold-filled jump rings
• Flat-nosed pliers
• Gold-filled ear wires
• Gold-filled head pins
• Beads
• Round-nose pliers

Instructions

Making Gold-Filled Bracelets and Necklaces

1. Cut a length of gold-filled chain using wire cutters. Make sure the gold-filled chain is long enough to form either a bracelet or a necklace. Keep in mind that a clasp will add between ½ to 1 inch to the length of the bracelet or necklace.

2. Unclasp the two portions of a gold-filled jewelry clasp.

3. Open a gold-filled jump ring, which is a metal ring with a split in it, using flat-nosed pliers. Hook the jump ring through the last link at one end of your gold-filled chain. Then hook the same jump ring onto the small ring attached to one portion of the jewelry clasp. Close the jump ring with the pliers.

4. Bend open a second jump ring with flat-nosed pliers. Slip the jump ring through the last link at the opposite end of your gold-filled chain. Hook the same jump ring onto the small ring attached to the other portion of the jewelry clasp. Close the jump ring with the pliers.

5. Hook the two portions of the jewelry clasp back together. You now have a gold-filled bracelet or necklace.

Making Gold-Filled Earrings

1. Choose a pair of beads in any color, shape, size and style that you desire. Beads are made of glass, wood, ceramic, plastic and other materials. You may even find gold-filled beads in a variety of shapes.

2. Pick up one gold-filled head pin. Push the head pin into the hole of one bead until the flattened end of the pin meets the bottom hole of the bead.

3. Allow ¾ of an inch of gold-filled pin to emerge from the top of the bead. Snip off any excess wire with wire cutters.

4. Curl the ¾ inch of wire emerging from the top of the bead downward to form a closed loop using round nosed pliers.

5. Bend open the small ring at the base of a gold-filled ear wire using flat-nosed pliers. Hook the opened ring onto the closed wire loop at the top of the bead. Close the small ring of the ear wire around the wire loop using flat-nosed pliers. Repeat steps 2 through 5 to make a matching gold-filled earring.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you make your gold-filled bracelet or necklace with gold-filled chain that has links large enough to accommodate the jump rings. Generally, 2mm chain has large enough links.

References

• "Jewelry Techniques: The Essential Guide to Using and Choosing Materials, Stones and Settings"; Anastasia Young, 2008
• Gilden Script: 14 KT Gold Filled vs. Gold Plated Jewelry
• eBay Guides: What is Gold Filled Jewelry vs. Gold Plated and Why Buy?
• "The Encyclopedia of Jewelry-Making Techniques: A Comprehensive Visual Guide to Traditional and Contemporary Techniques"; Jinks McGrath, 1995.