For this part of the design, you'll need the following tools:
- Vintaj Bail Making Plier, 6mm And 8.5mm Barrels
- Dremel Rotary Tool
- 1mm diamond drill bit and a block of wood
- Chain nose pliers
To make the bracelet sit nicely, round the connectors by placing them around a small cylindrical object like a bead container. Mine is 3.8cm (1.5") diameter. Use your thumbs to press the connectors against the surface at each end.
Once you have a bit of a curve, use bail making pliers to continue shaping the pieces until you are happy with the shape of the curve.
Shape them as much as you need to, to fit the wearer's wrist.
Place a flat bicone inside the 2-loop setting.
Press the claws over the crystal making sure it stays centred in the setting.
Use chain nose pliers to press the claws flush against the crystal to hold it securely. Take care not to scratch the surface of the crystal. Make a second crystal link.
Use a jump ring to attatch a crystal to the hole you just drilled in one of the connectors. Repeat for the second connector and crystal link.
Working on one side at a time, attach the focal to a bow connector by opening the loops of the eye pins in the focal and hooking them through the bow connector. Repeat on the other side of the bracelet. Lengthen or shorten the bracelet by adding or removing the crystal links.
Attach one half of the fold over clasp to each end of the bracelet.
The finished design - a Baroque-style bracelet with a rich jewel focal. The raw brass filigree gives the piece a vintage feel, adding to the romantic, elegant look of the bracelet..... just what the Creative Bride was looking for.
In my next post, I'll show you how to make the matching earrings.
'Til next time.....
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