Plated Findings Source List for Necklaces or Bracelets
In many of my videos, I am making or repairing jewelry with Sterling Silver findings. If you spend any time looking through those links, you can see that the price of real silver has made those items pretty expensive.
Sometimes, when you are just getting started with beading, or when you are repairing costume jewelry, there is no reason to spend that much money. There are perfectly functional Plated Findings that will do the job. Plated findings come in an array of finish colors: silver, gold, antique brass, gunmetal (black) and more. The plating color is applied on the surface of the finding through a process called ‘electroplating’ and it is very thin.
Please be aware that ALL plated findings (no matter who manufactures them) will eventually have the plating wear off, and they will revert to the underlying ‘base metal’ color (which usually can be dull silver-ish to brassy to copper-colored).
Funky, artist inspired jewelry can look just fine when the plating wears off. In fact, some designs just let the beads shine through when the shiny plating goes away.
Here is a list of Plated findings to get you started. In many cases, the links go to a color assortment, so you’ll get a variety of the most commonly used finish colors.
Plated Jewelry Findings commonly used for Necklaces and Bracelets
These plated Lobster Clasps are the Oval (vs the 'rectangular') kind and they come in six colors: 2 colors of silver, 2 colors of gold, copper and gunmetal (blackish). The kit is supplied with a case (functional) and matching round jump rings (I wouldn't use them > use your oval rings instead and you will be happier with the result).
If you are repairing costume jewelry and just need economical rings, this set of plated rings comes in three color (silver plated, gold plated and antique bronze plated). You get four sizes of oval rings in each of the colors. The kit contains 1860 pieces (you may never need to buy rings again) and they come packaged in a case to keep things sorted.
Please be aware that ALL plated findings (no matter who makes them) will eventually have the plating wear off. If this is a problem for your project, consider paying the price for Sterling Silver or Gold Filled findings.
This set of crimps from Beadalon is a personal favorite! You get 125 crimps of each of four colors: silver, gold, copper and hematite (what I call 'gunmetal'). They crimp perfectly every time and can be 'double crimped' with a crimping tool (smashed, then rolled) without deforming. They come in tiny glass tubes that have caps that are secure, yet you can lift them easily with your fingernail.
For convenience, here is the link to beading wire:
This beading wire from Beadalon is a great product that I've been using for over 20 years. I'm sending you to the 7 strand, nylon coated beading material in the .015 inch (medium thickness) variety. Be sure to look at the options, though: it comes in other colors, other thicknesses, and in 19 strand (more flexible than the 7 strand, but a little more expensive) and in 49 strand (even more expensive, but it's very flexible and 'drapey'). You get 30 feet on a spool, which will last you through a lot of necklaces or bracelets.
Plated Findings Commonly Used for Earrings
Here is a very affordable kit that will get you started making earrings with both Silver Plated and Gold Plated choices. You get a BUNCH of Earring Wires, Eye Pins, Head Pins, Open Jump Rings and rubber earring backs (to keep from losing your earrings when wearing them). The kit also includes handy tweezers and a jump ring opener. Everything comes packaged in a nifty container that has 24 compartments to store your earring parts.
The plated findings above have NOT BEEN evaluated for allergies. There are some people who are reactive to findings that contain Nickel or other materials. If you are making jewelry that is intended for someone who has an allergy like this, consider using findings made from Sterling Silver, Surgical Steel or other hypoallergenic materials appropriate for your situation.
Looking For Sterling Silver Findings?
Visit our Sterling Silver Source List for findings that are typically used for Necklace and Bracelet creation and repair. Also find recommendations for bead stringing material.
Looking For Gold Filled Findings?
A link for Gold Filled Finding that are typically used for Necklace and Bracelet creation and repair is coming soon!
Jewelry Making & Repair
If you are looking for detailed, yet simple instructions for creating your own jewelry, or repairing jewelry that you’d like to be able to wear again, you should check out some of these articles:
- 5 Essential Beading Tools – will get you started with the jewelry tools that you need to get started. I’ll wager that you may already have two of these ‘tools’.
- Make This Easy Beaded Necklace – Instructions for making the necklace shown above. This article also contains some links to sources of glass beads similar to what I used.
- Do you have any necklaces that you don’t wear because they are too short or pinch your neck? This article can help: Necklace Too Short? What to Do to Adjust the Length.
