Every now and then, we find a single bead that is so special, it demands to be featured on its own. When Kitty spotted this faceted Labradorite briolette at a bead show a while back, she knew it would make a stunning pendant. The deep color and fire in the gemstone made it irresistible! She decided to set it off with a gold ring and simple chain.
We’ll show you exactly how she did it in the video how-to and in the written steps below. Shop your own bead collection––we bet you have a spectacular focal bead just waiting to be showcased in a pendant necklace of your own!
Video How-to: Labradorite Gemstone Pendant Necklace
Disclosure: This post has some affiliate links for products we think you’ll like. Even if you don’t want to buy the items online, we think it’s helpful to see what they look like, so you can buy them at your local craft store. If you make a purchase from one of these links, we’ll make a small commission. There is no additional cost to you at all, but it helps us a little so we can pay for our web hosting and the tools and materials we use in these videos and blog posts. All opinions are our own from our own personal experience.
How To Make A Labradorite Gemstone Pendant Necklace
Materials
Faceted briolette bead, Labradorite, 20mm x 20mm
Gold ring, 15mm in diameter
2 Pieces of loop chain, gold, 7.5” each
24-gauge Wire, gold
Lobster clasp with ring, gold, 5mm x 12mm
4 Jump rings, gold, 4mm
Tools
Chain-nose pliers
Wire cutters
Jump ring opener
Steps
1. Cut a piece of wire about 7” long. Feed the wire through the top of the Labradorite briolette. (This is why we’re using a briolette that’s drilled across the top rather than through the middle.) Slide the briolette to the middle of the wire.
2. Using your fingers, fold each wire up and over the top of the briolette alongside the point. You’ll end up making a triangle shape, and the wires will crisscross.
3. Straighten one wire up from the point at the top of the briolette.
4. Wrap the other wire around the straight neck two times. We like to hold across the wire triangle at the top of the briolette with chain-nose pliers, then use our fingers to wrap the wire around the neck.
Gemstones are often fragile, so holding the wire that goes through the bead steady while you work helps keep it from chipping or breaking.
5. Now you’re ready to wire the briolette component you just made to the gold ring. To do this, hold the ring in the nook at the top of the briolette. While holding the left wire against the left side of the ring, take the right wire and feed it up through the back of the ring.
Then wrap the wire around the ring three times.
6. Repeat to wrap the left wire around the ring three times.
7. Press each cluster of wraps together using the chain nose pliers.
8. Then use the pliers to press both sets of wraps together so they touch.
9. Turn the briolette and ring pendant over and trim the wire ends on the back with the wire cutters. Use the chain-nose pliers to press any wire ends down that could be sticking out after cutting.
10. Open each jump ring using the jump-ring opener. To do this, pick up a jump ring with the tip of the pliers and look for the opening or split in the jump ring. Position the jump ring in the pliers so the split is to one side of the jaws.
Now, slide the jump ring into a slot in the jump-ring opener (test to see which slot it fits in first) and rotate to open the jump ring. Sounds complicated, but really it’s magical! Go ahead and open all four jump rings so they’re ready to go.
11. Slide the open jump ring through the last link of chain. We think it helps to keep holding the jump ring with the pliers, then “fish” on the chain.
12. Next, slide the gold ring into the open jump ring.
13. Close the jump ring by pressing it across the open ends with the chain-nose pliers.
14. Repeat steps 11 through 13 to attach the other piece of chain to the gold ring with one of the open jump rings.
15. Use the same jump-ring technique to attach the lobster clasp to one of the pieces of chain.
16. Repeat to attach the other half of the clasp to the other piece of chain.
Isn’t that pendant gorgeous?! We love the way it showcases the beautiful Labradorite. It’s a great way to make a statement necklace with one big, dramatic bead! Let us know if you make a Labradorite Gemstone Pendant Necklace. We’d love to hear how it went! And, of course, we are here if you have any questions along the way!
Happy Crafting,
Jennifer & Kitty
Leave a Reply