Daily Wire Tip Oct. 3: Wire Wrapping Several Small Gems

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
October 3, 2011

Question:

I am a beginner at wire wrapping and I would like to know how to wrap a gem or stone that does not have any drilled holes in it. I have some very small semi-precious gems that I would like make a cluster-style pendant and don’t want to drill any holes into the stones. Any suggestions for wrapping techniques, books, or DVDs?

-Julie in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Answer:

What a cool idea, Julie! In my opinion, the best way to combine all of those tiny stones would be to use snapsets to set the stones and then to combine them into a wired design. For the technique to set the stones and one way to combine them, take a look at Lesson 6 in my online class series, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow Pendant. Yes, you can purchase just one class at a time.

After learning this project I am sure you will be able to cluster all of the snapset stones together and then shape the wire base into about any shape you’d like, add a bail, and you’ll have an amazing piece!

Related: Daily Wire Tip Sept. 5: Begin Wire Wrapping with Large Cabochons

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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3 Comments

1. 

   Lori

   October 3, 2011 at 12:12 pm

   Julie, thanks for asking this – I have a similar question! What if the stones are rough, Dale? Can you use snap sets with those? I have a whole jar of raw semi-precious stones that I would love to incorporate into jewelry pieces, but due to the small sizes, odd shapes, and the uncut nature, haven’t quite known how to go about it… Any direction would be greatly appreciated!
   • 

     dalecgr

     October 3, 2011 at 1:30 pm

     No Lori, snap-sets have prongs that snap over the girdle and rest on the crown of the stone. These will not work for rough, uncut stones. Depending on how small your stones really are, you might try “caging” several of them into a pendant design. Other than that, they look pretty in a jar of water on a windowsill.
2. 

   Norma shores

   October 8, 2011 at 4:46 pm

   Many years ago I was set up at a mall a lady brought me a very small gemstone she wanted a pendant for her daughter.I wove the 24 gauge round wire into small loops around the top of the gem then did the same on the back entwining the top woven wire at the same time. The piece turned out great and many of my Costomers have had me weave rough and faceted gems into the same piece of jewelry sometimes bringing newly found gems years later to add to the creation a little practice you will do great the same can be done with rings I have many rings with three gems even crystals added still being worn 20 years later.