Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry. This pattern will introduce you to Lilian's 3D style wire sculpture forming method.
Crystal Ring
by Lilian Chen
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Wrapping
  • Skill Level: Beginner
This pattern will introduce you to Lilian's 3D style wire sculpture forming method. The original idea came from origami paper folding.

Materials

14 Gauge Round Dead Soft 1/10 Sterling Silver Filled Wire
H10-14D
  • Lesson Quantity: 12.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $4.54
  • Gold Club Price: $3.40
Add to Bag
4mm Crystal Aurore Boreale 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 10
A13-94A
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $1.67
  • Gold Club Price: $1.25
Out of Stock
8mm Sapphire 5000 Round Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 6
A13-85
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $4.47
  • Gold Club Price: $3.35
Out of Stock
Add All Items to Cart

Tools

Flat Nose Wire Pliers
G2-506
  • G2-506
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
Add to Bag
Stainless Steel Ring Mandrel Sizes 1-15
G7-2
  • G7-2
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
Add to Bag
Memory Wire Cutters - Pack of 1
G2-36
  • G2-36
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $10.38
  • Gold Club Price: $7.78
Add to Bag
Wire Rounder Set, 3 pieces
G14-20
  • G14-20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $13.95
  • Gold Club Price: $10.46
Add to Bag
Add All Items to Cart
Instructions
Step 1
For this project you will be using the wire's original coils directly from the spool. Depending on the size of ring that you are creating, you may need to use a smaller coil of wire such as 1/2 coil, 1/4 coil or 1/8 coil as show below. With this type of measurement, there is no need to straighten your wire to determine the length for your piece.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Sizing the coil.
Step 2
Begin by using one full coil. Cut one coil from the spool.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Cut a coil from the spool.
Step 3
Measure and check the diameter and the end width, keeping them even.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Measure and check diameter.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Measure and check diameter.
Step 4
Grasp the coil on a horizontal angle. It's not critical to mark the center point of the wire, since you are going to be trimming off the excess wire after it's shaped. Just make sure it's approximately the same length from center.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Measuring the center.
Step 5
Bend the full coil into a half coil with your round nose pliers.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Make half coil with round nose pliers.
Step 6
Match the curve on both sides, while you are bending the coil.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Match curve on both side.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Match curve on both side.
Step 7
Check the shape. Continue bending until you've reached a "U" shape. You want to create a perfect "U" with two parallel curves.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Bend into U shape.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Bend into U shape.
Step 8
Grasp the "U"shape tightly, and gently curve the ends of the wire near the "U" into a coil or kidney bean shape.
Step 9
This is what it should look like when fully curved.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, U shaped.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, U shaped.
Step 10
Now, put your curved wire onto the ring mandrel and wrap it around the mandrel to create your ring. You can use the sizing on the mandrel to help you size your ring correctly.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Creating ring on mandrel.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Creating ring on mandrel.
Step 11
While the wire is still on your mandrel, slip the crystal beads onto the wire. Once you have added your beads, gently slip the ring off of the mandrel.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Add crystal beads onto the wire.
Step 12
Grasp the wire close to the hole, and make a vertical bend, about 20 degrees away from the bead side.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Make a vertical bend on the opposite side of the bead.
Step 13
Using a Memory Wire Cutter, cut the remainder of wire off as close to the angle as possible. The little angle will stop the beads from escaping the end of the wire.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Cut the remaining wire as close as you can.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Cut the remaining wire as close as you can.
Step 14
Use a file to clean up the ends of the wire.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Filing wire ends.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Filing wire ends.
Step 15
Pro Tip: To make your piece more interesting you can add additional beads of your choice.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Ring variations.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Ring variations.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Ring variations.
Lilian Chen's Crystal Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Ring variations.