Smoky Quartz Teardrop Double Jointed Earrings

How would you like to make these beautiful smoky quartz teardrop earrings? They are really easy to make (as long as you have a little experience in wirework).



You can use any stones that you would like to use. I chose smoky quartz for my teardrops and garnet and smoky quartz as my other stones. I also work with sterling silver- but again, the wire you choose is your choice. It's all good :)

I love the look of long, french earwires. It really adds style and elegance to some types of earrings- especially long dangles. These are posted on etsy, available for purchase at the above link.




Instructions to Make your own Elegant, Teardrop Earrings.

Materials

2- 2-1/2" Sterling Silver 20 or 22 gauge wire
2- 1" Sterling Silver 20 or 22 gauge wire
2- 1-1/2" Sterling Silver 20 or 22 gauge wire
2 Teardrop Stones (mine are 12mm)
4 accent stones (mine are 4mm)
2 accent stones (mine are 6mm)

Round Nose Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Flush Cutters

3 Step Plier *bail maker pliers* (optional)
Cloth to smooth and straighten wire or fine steel wool '0' or straightening pliers

Jewelry Files

I want to make it clear before we start- this is how I make my earrings. This may not be the way the professionals tell you to do it. But this is what works for me. I think jewelry making is as personal as jewelry design. You have to find what works best for you and as long as your jewelry is of good quality when it is completed, it doesn't matter how you get there :)

The first thing you want to do is cut 2, 2-1/2" of your wire. If you want to make your earring wires a bit shorter, than you need to cut your wire shorter.

Take your 3-step or round nose pliers and hold it just below the tip (or lower if you want your loops bigger) and let just about a 1/4" of your wire stick out the other side .

I'm using the last size on my bail maker pliers, but you will want to determine where to use yours, depending on the size of pliers you have.

If you are using round nose, you'll probably want to position it at the bottom of your round nose.

Hold the pliers with your dominant hand and the wire with your chain nose, a cloth or your bare hand. Hold tight and roll the pliers toward your body. Stop at a half turn. Remove your pliers- now, your wire should look similar to this:

Next, you want to take your round nose pliers and position the end of your wire in-between the top tip of your round nose's. Have just a hint of wire sticking out of the other side, where you can feel the point of it with your index finger.

If you notice, my hook is a little crooked. So I took this time to straighten my wire, by holding it secure with my chain nose at the top curve and took my jewelry cloth and firmly swiped down on my wire several times to straighten it. If you have a pair of 'straightening pliers' you may prefer to use them. When it's a small amount, like above, I prefer a cloth.

Again, hold the wire with your non-dominant hand and your round nose pliers with your dominant hand. Make a complete turn toward you, making a little circle with at the tip of your earring wire hook. This will look similar to a 'P'.

Congratulations! You now have the curve part of your earwire completed!

Now take your 2- 1" wires. You want to make a double wrap eye pin. Start by holding your wire at the tip of your round nose pliers. Make a complete turn, making a small circle on one end of your wire:

Now turn the wire where the loop is on the bottom. After making loops like this, you want to break the neck. This makes the eyepin stronger and more secure. Many tell you to break the neck, before you make the closed loop on the end. I like doing it afterwards. Hold your chain nose pliers over the loop, and use your index finger to bend the wire up to meet your pliers:

If you prefer to do it the traditional way, then grasp the straight wire with your chain nose pliers and bend it backwards to make like an upside down 'L' then take your round nose and place them on the piece of wire you bent backwards and curve it toward you to make the loop.

Now slide one of your 4mm stones on first, then one of your 6mm stones. Close the other end with a loop, just like you did on the other end. (I leave mine opened just a bit to slip onto the earwire, then close it after I hang it). Now you have completed a double wrap eyepin.

Now take the double wrap eyepin that you just made with the stones, and hook it onto your 'P' loop earwire:

Whoo-hoo! You're on your way to finishing a beautiful pair of earrings! The rest is all down hill :)

Now, we're going to do the same thing with our bottom dangle- this is what makes it a double jointed pair of earrings, with free movement.

Take your 1-1/2" wires and complete the closed loop on one end, just like you did above. Then hang your 4mm stone, bead cap and then your teardrop pendant. Now close your end with another closed circle on the end. If you want, you can make it a wrapped circle at the end, or close it with whatever style you like to use.

Now all you have to do is make the little curve at the end of your long, straight earwire. This is the part that you will insert into your ear. Clasp the end of your wire, have about a 1/4" hanging over the other side. Make about a 45% bend:

File the end to a nice smooth finish. Make sure all of your excess wires are cut flush and smoothed with your files. This is a very important last step for the comfort of the wearer of your jewelry.






Congrats! Now hold up your finished earring and admire your excellent work! If you made both of them at the same time (like I do) I find this helps me make them both even, much easier.








Now this is your finished creation, in your own colors and choice of stones, of course :)




















I'd love to hear from you if you made a pair. Be sure to share your pics with us!

If you are an artist who would like to be interviewed, please contact me :)



Have a great day everyone and happy creating!


Tracey