A Guide to Jewellery Findings

Sometimes the beading world can seem a little daunting, with so many materials and techniques to choose from. But fear not! Here at The Bead Shop we want your beading journey to be as fun and smooth as possible, so we have created this easy to use guide of the most common jewellery findings you will need so you will never be left wondering again!

Bell Closer- These end findings are glue in and are ideal for thicker cords and kumihimo weaved pieces. One end is a large hole for your cord to be glued in to and the other end has a smaller loop, allowing you to attach your clasps and extension chains with jump rings. Bell closers can also come ready made, so the lobster clasp and extension chain are already attached for you.

Crimp Beads – These small, metal round balls or tubes are slid over your nylon coated beading wire and crimped (squashed) in place to create a stopping point in your wire. This can be to keep an accent bead in place, with one crimp either side of the bead, or at the end of your wire to allow you to create loops for attaching a clasp.

Crimp Covers- As the name suggests, these findings cover your squashed crimp beads to create a more professional looking finish to your jewellery making. They are more suited for use with round crimp beads as they give a better fit over the crimp.

Extension Chains- These findings are usually a few inches long, made of a few links of chain with a piece on the bottom such as a teardrop. They are perfect for those horrible moments when you have create a piece that is slightly too short, or just need an extra bit of length on an existing piece.

Fish Hook – These are the most common type of earring hooks. They loop over and swoop down in an arc shape with a loop from which you can attach beads, pendants and anything you fancy to create drop earrings.

Headpins and Eyepins – These pins are small straight lengths of metal, with either a flat ‘foot’ (headpin) or small loop (eyepin) at the bottom. These are usually used with beads, threading them on and then attaching the headpin or eyepin to chain or other findings by creating a turned loop. They are an essential for creating drop earrings, linked chain and cluster jewellery.

Jump Rings – Small metal hoops that connect other findings and pendants together are a staple of the beading world. These can be closed jump rings, which are complete circles, or open jump rings which have a small cut in them so you can open and close these and you wish.

Toggles- These come in a range of shapes, sizes and colours, but each works in the same way. There are two parts, one bar section and one rounded toggle section. The bar slide through the toggle side to secure your piece of jewellery. Each section has a loop in one side, allowing you to attach your finished piece with jump rings or simply tying securely with a knot.

Trigger clasp – The most common jewellery making fastening, these are sometimes known as lobster clasps or parrot clasps. One side is an oval shaped loop, opened by pulling a trigger and closed on release. The other side has a small loop, allowing you to thread your stringing material or attach with a jump ring.

We hope that this easy to use guide will have taken the fear out of findings for you to create and finish your next piece with ease. These are just a few of the most popular findings so go ahead and explore the wonderful world of findings!