Closure Focal Necklace

by Judy Larson

Category: Classic
Technique(s): Making Jump Rings, Tumbling, Butane Torch Techniques
Skill Level: Intermediate

Every design begins with a spark-and this one started when I "found" three round closures tucked away in my stash. Their sleek, modern look immediately caught my eye, and I knew they had the potential to become a striking focal point. From there, the ideas started flowing, and the sketches followed.

The finished necklace is stunning on its own, but it's also incredibly versatile. Add a pendant, and you instantly transform the look-whether you want something more casual or something dressier, it all depends on the pendant you choose.

Materials

Silver Solder Wire Variety Pack, 6 Inches Each of Soft, Medium and Hard

SOL-VAR-3PK

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.95
Gold Club Price: $7.46

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Optional Materials

16 Gauge Round Dead Soft Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-16D

Lesson Quantity: 10.00 feet
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 10FT
Price: $96.31
Gold Club Price: $72.24

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Sterling Silver Clasp Round Ring 15mm - Pack of 1

K3-78

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $15.10
Gold Club Price: $11.33

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Sterling Silver Spring Ring w/ Ring 16mm - Pack of 1

K3-199

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $11.14
Gold Club Price: $8.36

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Tools

8 Piece Mandrel Set - From 1/16 Inch to 5/16 Inch

G7-38

G7-38
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.97
Gold Club Price: $5.98

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6 Step Barrel Plier - Pack of 1

G2-503

G2-503
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.95
Gold Club Price: $11.21

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5 1/2 Inch Nylon Flat Jaw Pliers with Replacement Jaws

G2-1

G2-1
Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
Price: $9.97
Gold Club Price: $7.48

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Round Nose Wire Pliers

G2-507

G2-507
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Master Jewelry Soldering Kit

G32-MASTER

G32-MASTER
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $239.93
Gold Club Price: $179.95

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Magnesia Soldering Block

SOL-455.00

SOL-455.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.95
Gold Club Price: $5.96

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GasOne Butane Canisters, 4 Pack

GAS-1-4PK

GAS-1-4PK
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $17.99
Gold Club Price: $13.49

Out of Stock

Scotch 0.94 Inch Painters Tape for Taping Wires Together

G13-5

G13-5
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $5.97
Gold Club Price: $4.48

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Foredom K.1070 High Speed Rotary Micromotor Kit

G22-K.1070

G22-K.1070
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $479.28
Gold Club Price: $359.46

Out of Stock

WET/DRY PAPER 9 X 11 ASST- 20PC- 2EA GRIT 180-3000

ABR-500.90

ABR-500.90
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $24.95
Gold Club Price: $18.71

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Unmounted Silicone Polisher, Square-Edge, Black, Medium Grit, 12 Pack

POL-300.20

POL-300.20
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $6.97
Gold Club Price: $5.23

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Miniature Screw Mandrel, Reinforced, 3/32 Inch

BRS-275.00

BRS-275.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.95
Gold Club Price: $7.46

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12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler

G7-30

G7-30
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.97
Gold Club Price: $2.23

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Lindstrom Multi-Purpose Shear, 5-3/4 Inches

G2-6000

G2-6000
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $39.95
Gold Club Price: $29.96

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WireJewelry Pro-Series Single Barrel Tumbler, Jewelry and Metal Polishing Kit, Includes 1 Pound of Jewelers Mix Shot and 8 Ounces of Shinebrite Burnishing Compound

G25-1-KITSS

G25-1-KITSS
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $173.27
Gold Club Price: $129.95

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Optional Tools

Bow Opening Pliers, 5-1/2 Inches

PLR-729.00 on JewelryTools.com

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

The Quad Jump Ring Former

DUR-1312

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $388.00
Gold Club Price: $291.00

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Instructions

Step 1:

Make Your Jump Rings

Coil 16-gauge dead soft round Argentium wire around an 8mm mandrel.

Pro Tip: You only need two small 5mm ID rings (also 16-gauge) for each necklace, so make just what you need or prep extras for future designs.

Judy Larson's Closure Focal Necklace - Make Your Jump Rings, Classic Wire Jewelry, Jump Rings, Jump Ring, Making Jump Rings, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Close half the rings

Step 2

To make cutting easier and keep the coil together, wrap it in painter's tape before sawing or slicing into rings.

Step 3

Helpful Tip:

A 17" necklace like the one shown here uses about 36 rings.

9½ feet of 16-gauge dead soft wire makes roughly 100 rings.

If you're using half-hard wire, expect to need up to 10 feet for the same amount.

Step 4

Using two soft jaw pliers, close half of the soldered rings completely.

Open the other half just enough for easy linking.

Step 5

Keep the open and closed rings in separate containers-this will make the chain construction process much smoother and faster.

Step 6:

Solder the Jump Rings

Place a small dab of medium paste solder directly under the closed seam of each ring on your soldering surface.

Step 7

If you're soldering multiple rings at once, be sure to space them at least two fingers apart to prevent heat overlap.

Step 8

Using a small Blazer butane torch, evenly heat the ring until the solder flows up through the seam.

Let the rings cool slightly before moving them to avoid distortion or burns.

Step 9:

Shape Rings into Oval Links

The easiest one-handed tool for shaping your rings into ovals is a ring-opening plier.

Position the ring seam on one of the plier jaws, then squeeze until the ring becomes an oval shape.

Repeat for all your rings, aiming for a consistent length and shape.

Step 10

Helpful Tip:
You can also use round-nose pliers, but it will take two hands to open the jaws and stretch the ring into an oval.

Step 11

Use a variety of files and sanding pads or a medium grit square edge silicone polishing wheel on a micro machine handpiece to clean up and smooth the solder joins.

The first time I made this necklace, I cleaned the joins before shaping.

Later, I discovered it was actually easier to clean them after shaping-the shaped link is easier to hold steady.

Step 12

Whether you clean before or after shaping is up to you. Try both and go with what feels more natural for your workflow.

Step 13:

Choose and Prepare Your Closure

Your approach here depends on the type of clasp you're using.

When I discovered three 15mm K3-78 closures in my stash, I knew they'd make a striking front focal clasp.

They're perfect for my daughters and granddaughters.

But for anyone with arthritic fingers, the K3-199 is a better choice-it has an easier trigger-style opening.

Step 14

If you're using a thicker clasp like the K3-78, the shaped necklace links may not fit directly-so you'll need to make chain end links:

Connect a 5mm ID ring (16 gauge) to a shaped, soldered link.

Apply a small amount of medium paste solder to the seam of the shaped link.

Press the seam of the small ring into the solder.

Hang the shaped link on a third hand tool.

Using a small Blazer butane torch, heat the area until the solder flows.

Pro Tip: As soon as the solder flows, remove the torch immediately. Too much flame can shift the small ring, causing it to sit at a crooked angle.

Step 15

This is what the finished chain end looks like when attached.

Step 16

Connect two oval shaped links with an open 8mm ID ring. Close the ring. Repeat the process to make eight sets of three connected links.

Pro Tip: Make and set aside two extra sets of three links for Day 2 Earrings.

Step 17

In a magnesia soldering block, dig a narrow trough wide and long enough to accommodate two shaped links. Place the two shaped links in the trough, soldered seam facing away from the round jump ring.

Place a bit of medium paste solder under the seam of the 8mm ID round jump ring. Using a small Blazer butane torch, heat half the ring with the seam until the solder flows up through the seam.

Cool the assembly slightly before moving it. Repeat the process for the remaining connected shaped links.

Make sure each assembly is cool before continuing.

Step 18

As shown in the first photo, use ring opening pliers to shape the center connecting ring (or use your preferred method from Step 4) on all the Step 8 assemblies.

Step 19

Using the instructions in Steps 7 and 8, connect the sets of three with an 8mm ring-first photo. Shape the links. Clean and refine the joins.

Step 20

Connect the sets of seven links with an 8mm ring-second photo. Shape the links. Clean and refine the joins.

DO NOT connect all the link section together until the length is determined in Step 13.

Step 21

Connect a chain end link from Step 6 to one of the Step 11 assemblies using a 16 gauge 8mm ID ring. Follow the instructions in Step 8 to solder the ring.

Step 22

Shape the ring and clean and refine the join. Repeat the process on a different chain assembly from Step 11.

Step 23

Connect the remaining three links section to one chain end. Lay out the chain on a grid to determine how long it will be. Add as many rings as necessary to achieve the desired length.

Shape the rings. Clean and refine the joins.

Step 24

Pickle the finished chain. Try my Homemade Pickle recipe, its easy to follow!

Step 25

Tumble the chain for several hours to bring up a nice shine.

Step 26

To attach the chain to the "no trigger" clasp, depress the opening lever with the small ring on the chain end and slide it onto the ring.

Step 27

Your Closure Focal Necklace is now complete!

Reviews

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Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!