Glass Faceted Prismatic Multistrand Necklace
Hi there! It's Dominique here. Today on the blog, I am going to show you how to make an elegant multistrand necklace using the high-quality glass, faceted beads from Just Bead It. These beads are perfect for reflecting prisms of light, and would make the perfect showstopping piece for a special occasion such as a graduation or other event. The beads used in this piece are so unique and, by using eye pins to space each bead apart, I believe this design really showcases their individuality and prismatic nature.
Just Bead It products used:
- JBSV84 - Diamond-shaped glass faceted beads
- JBRF60 - Round faceted and offset bicone glass champagne-coloured beads
- JBSV21 - Small bicone glass faceted champagne-coloured glass beads
Additional products used:
- Gold eye pins
- Small gold jump rings (x4)
- Large gold jump rings (x2)
- Gold chain segments (one with a teardrop charm, known as the extender chain, and one with a lobster claw clasp)
- Gold lobster clasp
- Bent-nose pliers
- Round-nose pliers
- Wire cutters
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| NOTE: I didn't end up using the JBSV07 beads in this design |
The gold chains, lobster clasp and jump rings used in this design were actually repurposed from a vintage necklace that I found in an op shop! It was a great find, as the gold chains are of a very high quality, and I suspect them to be gold filled (rather than gold plated which is a lot more common). It pays to look around for secondhand jewellery in op shops, as you will sometimes find something that is of a high quality that can be taken apart and reused in a completely different design :)
Firstly, start by threading an eye pin through two of the offset-drilled champagne glass beads from the JBRF60 strand of beads, with a round gold spacer bead on either side (from the same strand of beads), as shown below. These beads protect the fragile glass beads from being scratched by the metal eye pin or pliers. Make sure that each of the offset beads oppose each other in orientation (so, if the top bead is facing upwards, the bottom bead should be facing downwards, and vice versa), in order to highlight their uniqueness.
Next, take round-nose pliers and turn the tail of the eye pin to a 90degree angle, and cut any excess wire so that only a tail of about 1cm in length remains.
I like to call these mini bead 'charms' or double-sided charms, since they will be linked together to form the necklace. So, after you've created one of these, you can proceed to thread an eye pin through the round faceted bead from the same JBRF60 strand of beads. This one doesn't need spacers on either side, so just thread the eye pin through as normal, and turn to a 90degree angle as before. Similarly, cut any excess wire and grip the edge of the wire tail, turning it towards yourself until it forms a tight loop (being very careful not to scratch the glass).
Now, you should have two 'charms' that will start to comprise the first strand of the necklace. Take a pair of bent-nose pliers and gently twist the loop on the eye pin (like an 'S' shape), to open in and link it to the adjoining bead 'charm'.
Continue making these bead 'charms' and linking them in an alternating fashion until the chain length reaches about 23cm in length.
Once you have reached a sufficient length for the first strand, set it aside and start working on the second strand. This one is shorter than the first as it is designed to fit above the first strand, and therefore must sit higher on the neck.
Start by taking two (JBSV21) small glass bicone beads and threading them through an eye pin just as before, and making them into a bead 'charm' using the technique mentioned earlier. Using the same technique, take one of the large diamond-shaped champagne glass beads from the JBSV84 strand, and thread it through an eye pin (with no spacers on either side). Again, carefully use the techniques already mentioned to turn it into a bead 'charm' with loops on either side, being very careful not to scratch the glass with pliers.
Once you make these charms, you can link them together by opening the loops on the eye pins, joining them to their neighbouring 'charms' and closing the loops back up.
Continue making these bead 'charms' and linking them together until the chain reaches the desired length. For me, I used five diamond-shaped bead 'charms', and six small bicone bead 'charms' in total. This reached about 17cm in length, which in my opinion, was the perfect length in terms of the way the necklace fell when worn on the neck. The effect I wanted was for the necklace to have about two centimetres of space between the top and bottom chains when worn, so that the individuality of each bead and strand could be highlighted. If the chains were too close together, the beads wouldn't be showcased properly.
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| NOTE: I later decided that this length was too long, so I ended up removing one of the small bicone 'charms' on either side. As such, this length, in reality, only has a total of six small bicone bead 'charms', not eight as shown here. |
Next, once you have two beaded chains that have each reached the desired length, you will need to attach small gold jump rings to both ends of both chains. Just like when joining eye pin links together, gently twist the jump ring open and attach it to the eye pin loop on the outer end of the chain. Repeat this on both sides of each length of beaded chain.
Once all the small jumprings have been attached, you can now add one large jump ring to complete both ends of the design. Use bent nose pliers and round-nose pliers (or flat nose pliers) to twist the large jump ring open, and attach one end of both chains to it, making sure that the large diamond-shaped beaded chain is above the other one. Close the jump ring and repeat the same thing on the other side, adding the other end to their own respective jump ring, and close shut.
Now, you should have both the chains joined together in a multistrand fashion. Now, to complete the design, add the chain segment with the teardrop charm (the extender chain) to the right side of the necklace in front of you, or the left side if you imagine the necklace on the wearer. Next, take the chain segment that contains a gold lobster clasp, and add that to the other side (the side of the necklace that is held in the right hand of the wearer as they fasten the clasp).
Now, the necklace is complete! This design is straighforward to make, yet produces a very effective necklace that is reflective and prismatic, which makes it a great statement piece for a special occasion, such as a graduation. I also adore the offset drilled champagne glass beads, as their unique side-drilled design is unlike any bead I've seen before. I've thoroughly enjoyed making this piece, and sincerely hope you've enjoyed this tutorial! This will be my last jewellery blog for the year, so I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Thanks for reading, happy beading! :)
If you would like to view more of my designs, I also have an Etsy store called DominiquesWares which features more beaded jewellery. This particular multistrand faceted glass necklace will soon be uploaded to my store, so stay tuned for that :)
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