How to Add a Bail to a Pendant

Pinch bails are a simple way to add a decorative touch to your handmade necklace designs, without the use of any special tools or equipment. Pinch bails, also known as ice pick bails, have two prongs that fit inside the drilled hole of your pendant. You have a wide assortment of styles and metal types to choose from. Pinch bails work best on pendants with a hole drilled front to back, near the top of the pendant.

Things You'll Need

• Pinch bail

Instructions

1. Hold the pendant between your thumb and forefinger, with the drilled end facing up.

2. Place the pinch bail into the drilled hole of the pendant, with one prong on each side of the hole.

3. Gently pinch the bail together until the two prongs meet inside of the drilled hole.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a larger pendant, you can expand the size of the bail by pulling the prongs out gently until they can fit easily into the drilled hole.

References

• Wire to Jewelry: Jewelry Bails

Resources

• "The Complete Jewelry Making Course"; Jinks McGrath; 2007