Pearl earrings are simple objects to make, but at the same time capable of giving an excellent touch of elegance and refinement. By reading this article you will learn how to make them with your own hands quickly and easily; you can then keep them as a personal accessory to wear on countless occasions, give them to friends or relatives or start selling them, as a chore for your free time.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Prepare the Pearls and Equipment
Step 1. Choose some beautiful real pearls
Non-artificial specimens will have a slightly rough and non-slippery surface, and will never be perfectly spherical. Make sure the pearls are the size and shape you are looking for and that they have a small hole where a jewelry peg can fit.
Step 2. Use clean pearls
Refreshing your pearls in the most appropriate way is simple and effective and will not damage anything: just use a little jewelry cleaner and a soft cloth, avoiding ammonia or other very strong chemicals, ultrasonic cleaners, toothbrushes or other abrasive items. Use only detergents suitable for pearls, so as not to risk damaging them.
Step 3. Create both earrings at the same time, step by step
It is not strictly necessary, but fitting the two earrings together will help you carry out all the steps correctly, especially if you are still learning how to proceed; moreover, you will have the certainty of performing the various actions in the same way, obtaining a pair of practically identical jewels.
Step 4. Prepare your safety gear and all equipment
Never forget to wear protective goggles to keep your eyes safe; you will also need to have two pegs about 5 cm long, two hook nibs, round-tipped pliers and a small nipper at hand.
- The nails suitable for this work are those with a round or flat head large enough to block a pearl or a bead without it slipping over. It is up to your taste to decide between flat or round head and also between silver, golden or copper colored nails.
- The ear hooks are long, curved hooks that go into the ear hole, able to stay in place without using an additional stop.
Part 2 of 2: Assembling the Earrings
Step 1. Insert the nail into the hole in the pearl
Slide the pearl all the way, so that it stops against the head; then check that it is firmly locked and that it cannot come off.
Step 2. Bend the nail stem
Make the fold near the pearl, about half a centimeter ahead; deform the shank of the nail with your hands, until you make a curve of about 80 degrees.
Step 3. Take the nail with the pliers
Hold the folded part just above the pearl tightly with the tool.
Step 4. Create a ring
Start by bending the stem clockwise around one tip of the caliper, adjusting its position if necessary.
Step 5. Continue bending the stem until it makes one full turn
The buttonhole obtained should be quite narrow and well adherent to the tip of the pliers, with a diameter equal to that of the narrowest part of the round tip.
Step 6. Cut the remaining part of the tack
Use the wire cutters to cut the part of the stem beyond the ring, being careful not to nick the one just bent. Always wear protective lenses when performing such actions.
Step 7. Open the ring slightly
Use the pliers to widen the ring just enough to allow the nun to enter it.
Step 8. Close the buttonhole
Close the folded part completely, so that there is no chance that the nun will slip out of it. Congratulations, you got a pair of handmade pearl earrings!
