Jewellery Making Applications of Silver Findings

No jewellery workbox is complete without a selection of silver findings. Essential to any form of jewellery making, silver findings are cheap, plentiful and have a huge range of applications in every aspect of the craft. Used in everything from earrings to broaches, bracelets, necklaces and rings, silver findings are a cheap alternative to gold, allowing everyone to explore the fascinating world of creating their own jewellery.

Silver findings also make it possible to incorporate other aspects into your designs such as the inclusion of precious and semi-precious gemstones. Jewellery making suppliers have catalogues full of silver findings specifically designed to take stones, ranging from pre-cut cabochons to unique, one-off designs that can be adapted to suit a specific stone. The reflection from the silver finding gives the stone added depth and warmth, particularly when working with more translucent stones such as opal or the ever-popular amber.

Silver findings also have an added advantage in that they can be worked and re-worked to create a specific effect. If the jeweller is unhappy with the final result, the stone can be removed easily and the silver finding adjusted to give a better fit or finish. Silver is harder than gold but does tend to scratch easily so it is essential that you use the correct equipment when working with silver findings to ensure that the surface of the metal is not damaged. Deep marks can be very difficult to polish out and may detract from the beauty of the final piece, especially if they are on an exposed surface.

For those who may be allergic to nickel coated findings, silver and in particular Sterling silver findings are a useful alternative as they rarely cause any form of allergic reaction with the skin. It does depend on the copper content of the finding, which if high can turn the skin a green colour, but by selecting good quality findings from a reputable supplier this problem can be easily avoided. Silver findings used in earrings are relatively cheap and easy to use, so it is worth the extra small expense in selecting these over nickel plated findings to ensure that your jewellery can be worn by everyone.

The tiniest finding in anyone’s workbox is also the most useful – the humble jump ring. This circular ring, which is split to allow it to be linked to other findings, is used in almost every type of jewellery making, particularly in the manufacture of necklaces and bracelets. Its most usual application is to fix clasps to the ends of strings of beads or chains and means that bracelet and necklace lengths can be adjusted to various sizes. It is always advisable to silver solder the jump ring once it is in place to avoid it catching on a piece of clothing, for example, and opening up allowing the necklace or bracelet to separate.

Silver findings are readily available from all good jewellery making suppliers and a quick scan on the Internet will give you plenty to choose from in your area. However, if you’re looking for more unusual findings, don’t be afraid to hunt further afield to add a bit of adventurous flare to your designs.