Crystal Drop Earrings

Skill Level: Intermediate

Technique: Coiling, shaping wire

Materials

• 18-gauge half hard round wire
• 26-gauge dead soft round wire
• 2 jump rings, 6mm OD
• 2 5x14mm faceted flat briolette beads
• One pair of ear wires (or make your own!)

Tools

• Flat nose pliers
• Round nose pliers
• Chain nose pliers
• Wire cutters
• Round shaping object with a diameter of 14mm
• Fine-point marker

Instructions

1. Determine the place on your round object (mandrel) where the size of the briolette matches with object's diameter.
   
   
2. Shape the wire around the mandrel so you have a teardrop shape. While shaping, one end of the wire has barely to cross another wire end.
   
   
3. Cut the wire. The teardrop wire frame will be slightly bigger than the briolette.
   
   Tip: Make the second wire frame after finishing the first one, so both of your frames will be identical.
   
   
4. Place the briolette inside the wire frame. Mark the frame across the briolette's holes. Notice that wire ends are slightly crossing each other.
   
   
5. Leaving 2" (5cm) wire end, start coiling the wire frame with 26-gauge wire.
   
   
6. While coiling, move the coil towards the mark on the other end.
   
   
7. Continue coiling until the space between the marks is filled. Cut the wire end leaving 2" (5cm) tail.
   
   
8. Pass both wire ends through the briolette.
   
   
9. Place the briolette facing you. Using round nose pliers, make a loop away from you. Repeat with another end.
   
   
10. Using flat nose pliers, bend the loop towards outside, so it is vertical.
    
    
11. Repeat with another loop. After that, the loops have to be parallel.
    
12. Using 2" wire tail, make two wraps around the frame and then wrap two times around two wires coming from briolette’s hole (red arrow).
    
    
13. Using round nose pliers, center the loops bending them towards you.
    
    
14. Open the jump ring and slide it through the loops. Slide an ear wire on the jump-ring. Close the jump-ring.
    
    
15. Finish the second earring in the same manner. Here is Albina's Kidney Ear Wire Pattern - you can make those ear wires yourself!
    
    

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