Create your Own Chain in Jewelry Making

Bracelet by Carol Bradley necklace by Mary Newton on Lucid Moon Studio blog.

Sweet Bead Studio on Etsy

If you enjoy making jewelry, then creating your own chain is something you may want to try at some point. Whether you decide to use a torch to solder the links together, or choose not to, the options vary greatly in chain making. For those who appreciate asymmetric designs you will like these one of a kind links (top) by Carol Bradley and Mary Newton both found on Lucid Moon Studio blog spot. The fun one of a kind link bracelet below them is by Sweet Bead Studio.

 

Braceley by Maison Martin Margiela 

Chain making is more than just connecting round links. The devil is in the details. Linking actual rings is a personalized and / or romantic keepsake. Where the rings come from, ( family, ex, yourself... ) is completely up to you. This great example by Maison Martin Magiela gave me a good idea.

 

Wire Workers Guild

Wire Work Guild

In unit four of Sheffield's Jewelry making course, the forging technique is taught. Hammering different forms from various size wire gauges to create shapes. These shapes can be linked to create a chain, with or without jump rings. The graceful beauty in these forged metal links by wire workers guild are great examples. I see them as being versatile enough to even add stones to them.  

Silver Bench Jewelry

The S hook chain and earrings by Lisa Nortz are one of many spectacular hand crafted chains she creates at her shop Silver Bench Jewelry.

Spanish style chain, also known as the money chain, was mainly made of silver and gold and used as a money since the links are easily removable. This pair of earrings are made by Patrick Ober found on Etsy.

Chain Maille bracelet by Patrick Ober

Of course we can not leave out chain maille chains when talking about chain making, or chain mail, depending on your preference. The origin of the word maille means sheet of metal. Jewelry designers use the term chain maille when creating a flat pattern of jump rings, the interpretation of the word means mesh of net.

If you're interested in learning more about jewelry design, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.