Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry. This pattern was specifically designed to encase a natural fluorite octahedron crystal; however with a few adjustments, a

Chained Fluorite Pendulum

by Dale Armstrong
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Wrapping
  • Skill Level: Beginner
This pattern was specifically designed to encase a natural fluorite octahedron crystal; however with a few adjustments, a "chained cage" could easily be configured to fit about any geometric shape with points. One such example is a pyrite cube. This pattern shows the chained crystal being used as a pendulum, but it could also be worn as a pendant or hung in a sunny window. (I am going to hang mine on our Christmas tree.)

Really, as all natural crystals are as unique as fingerprints, there is no "one way" to create a chained cage such as this example. Therefore I present the following directions as "inspiration."

Materials

21 Gauge Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-21H
  • Lesson Quantity: 3.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $2.14
  • Gold Club Price: $1.61
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Octahedron fluorite crystal
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Sterling Silver Cable Chain Oval 3X2.4mm - 10 Feet
C8-125U
  • Lesson Quantity: 8.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $44.40
  • Gold Club Price: $33.30
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Jump Ring --- PerID - 1ozot Enameled Copper --- 20g 4.0ID - 1oz
FIN-JRCE204PER
  • Lesson Quantity: 6.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $11.00
  • Gold Club Price: $8.25
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Tools

Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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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
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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
  • PLR-487.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.97
  • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler
G7-30
  • G7-30
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.23
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Instructions
Step 1
Choose a jump ring size that will best fit over the points on your crystal; you will need a minimum of 6. Attach one jump ring to the end of a length of chain. Place the jump ring at the crystal's point to determine how long the chain needs to be to reach the next "point."
Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Measuring chain and picking jump rings.
Step 2
Using the measurement in Step 1, cut four lengths of chain and open one jump ring.
Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Opening jump ring, cutting lengths of chain.
Step 3
Insert one end of each chain length onto the jump ring and close it firmly.
Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Add chain to jump ring.
Step 4
At the end of each attached length of chain, add one jump ring.
Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Adding jump rings to each chain.
Step 5
Place the main/bottom jump ring onto a crystal point and determine how long the next chain segments must be to reach the other end of the stone.
Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Adding to the crystal.
Step 6
Cut four more pieces of chain at the length determined in Step 5. See Sherrie Lingerfelt's video on Cutting Equal Lengths of Jewelry Chain for tips!
Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Cutting more pieces of chain.
Step 7
Connect each of these new chain segments to one of the jump rings as shown.
Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Connecting the chain segments.
Step 8
Using the last/sixth jump ring, join all four of the new chain segments together. When all of the chains and jump rings have been connected, the results should resemble a cage.
Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Joining all chain segments to make a cage.
Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Joining all chain segments to make a cage.
Step 9
Carefully fit the octahedral crystal into the chain, either by slipping a jump ring over each point, OR by running the chained jump rings along the sides of the stone.
Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Fit the chains to the crystal.
Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Fit the chains to the crystal.
Step 10
On one end of chained cage, insert a curved piece of 21-gauge round half hard wire through two chain links that are diagonally opposite each other. Use this 21-gauge wire to make a figure-8 link, inserting a final piece of chain before wrapping the loop closed. Enjoy!
Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Adding 21 gauge round half hard wire through the chain links to create a loop.
Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Adding 21 gauge round half hard wire through the chain links to create a loop.
Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Adding 21 gauge round half hard wire through the chain links to create a loop.
Dale Armstrong's Chained Fluorite Pendulum - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Adding 21 gauge round half hard wire through the chain links to create a loop.