Bohemian Sapphire Earrings

These bohemian-inspired chandelier earrings are truly elegant. With ice-coloured crystals dangling gracefully from the bottom of the loops, they sparkle as they move to create an air of elegance and sophistication. The delicate look combines cool coloured crystals with a lightweight silver filigree chandelier fitting. Add a sparkly cubic zirconia-set earring wire to make them even more upmarket and they'll look like they were handcrafted by a master jeweller!

Silver filigree chandelier earrings with dangling blue crystals

You'll need:
Twelve 4mm Sapphire bicone Crystals
Four Light Sapphire briolettes. (I used 9x5mm but you can also use 12x6mm briolettes for this design)
Twelve silver/gold headpins
Two filigree silver chandelier fittings with 7 loops (Or, try these in gold)
Two cubic zirconia-set silver earring wires (here's a gold version)
24g non tarnish silver plated wire (gold plated wire)
Tools: round nose pliers, flat nose pliers, flush cutters

Set aside half the components and work on one earring at a time. String a bicone on each of the 6 headpins.

Row of head pins strung with blue crystals

Bend each one just above the crystal at a 90° angle.

Crystal head pin bent at a right angle with pliers

Trim the head pin to approximately 10mm (3/8").

Turn a simple loop.

Crystal component with loop on round nose pliers

Create a triangle jump ring: Place the end of the wire (approximately 2mm (1/16") in the jaws of the flat nose pliers and bend it at a 60° angle to create a short prong.

End of jewellery wire placed in the tips of flat nose pliers

Place the pliers on the other side of the bend you just made and bend the wire on the other side of the pliers at a 60° angle. This will be the first side of the triangle.

Jewellery wire being being in jaws of flat nose pliers

Place the pliers in the bend of the last angle formed and create another 60° angle. This forms the second side of the triangle.

Pliers bending wire into the shape of a triangle jump ring

Trim the wire to approximately 2mm (1/16"). This will be the second prong.

Trimming the excess wire away from a handmade triangle jump ring

Make two of these triangle components and set one aside for the second earring.

Hook the triangle jump ring through the top loop of the chandelier component.

Triangle jump ring hooked through loop in silver filigree chandelier earring fitting

Position one of the prongs into the briolette and then insert the other prong into the other side of the crystal. Gently squeeze the two sides together until the crystal is secured. Attach the second triangle jump ring and briolette to the middle loop along the bottom of the chandelier fitting in the same way.