DIY | Jewellery with half-drilled beads

Smyks has gotten a hold of numerous new, delicate half-drilled beads and this collection aims to give you some ideas, as to how they can be used as earrings and necklaces. Half-drilled beads are beads, where the hole does not penetrate all tthe way through. The hole is only a couple of mm deep, which makes the beads ideal when combined with a bail or the like. I.e. when making necklaces or earrings.
 

Earrings with labradorite

For these earrings, the following materials were used:

2 pcs. half-drilled labradorite, faceted, 8mm
1 pair hoop earring, gilded sterling
1 pair earstuds, 3mm ball, gold-plated sterling
1 pc. side-cutter plier
1 pc. chain-nose plier eller flat-nose plier
+ adhesive

These earrings are also available in sterling silver.

Begin by taking the side-cutter and cut the hoop-ring in half.

Next, you attach the bead on the hoop-ring with adhesive and bend the eye of the hoop-ring, with the chain-nose plier, like shown in the image above. The eye needs to be fixed in a vertical position.

You then attach the earstud by using the eye of the hoop-ring, like shown above. Your earring is now finished.

This design is intended to have the eye of the hoop-ring situated behind the earlobe.

Necklace with labradorite

For this necklace, you will need the following materials:

1 pc.hoop earring, gilded sterling, 25mm
1 pc. half-drilled labradorite bead, 10mm
ca. 60cm ball chain, gilded sterling, with connector
+ side-cutter plier
+ chain-nose plier eller flat-nose plier
+ adhesive

This necklace is also available in sterling silver.

The process is the same, as with the labradorite earrings above.
You simply cut the hoop-ring in half, glue the labradorite onto the lower end. Then bend the eye of the hoop-ring in a vertical position, attach the chain by leading it through the eye of the hoop-ring, and you are done. If you choose a chain with a minimum length of 50cm, you can avoid having to use a locking mechanism in the neck area.

Earrings with aquamarine

For these earrings, the following materials were used:

1 pair earwires, extra long
2 pcs. aquamarine, half-drilled bead
+ side-cutter plier
+ adhesive

These earrings are also available in gilded sterling.

Begin by cutting the lower part of the earwire off, using the side-cutter plier.

Now, attach the aquamarine bead with adhesive as shown in the image above. Your earrings are now done.

Necklace with aquamarine

For this necklace, you will need the following materials:

1 pc. half-drilled aquamarine bead, 8mm
1 pc. bail, cup with peg/eye pin
1 pc. sterling silver rings, brushed
1 pc. jumpring, sterling, 3mm
1 pc. jumpring, silver, 4mm
ca. 60cm ball chain, sterling silver, with connector
+ adhesive

This necklace is also available in gilded sterling.

Start by applying the bail, to the bead, using adhesive. Check to see if the bail needs to be cut down to fit before attaching it to the bead. You now have to connect the eye of the bail, with the sterling ring, by using the 3mm jumpring. Next, attach the 4mm jumpring to the sterling ring, pull the the ball chain through the jumpring and you are done. In this creation, we have chosen to use a 60cm ball chain, to avoid having to use a locking mechanism in the neck area.

Earrings with onyx

For these earrings, the following materials were used:

1 pair hoop earring, gilded sterling, 20mm
1 pair hoop earring, gilded sterling, 25mm
2 pcs. half-drilled onyx bead, 4mm
2 pcs. half-drilled onyx bead, 6mm
1 pair earstuds with flat pad, gold-plated
+ side-cutter plier
+ chain-nose plier eller flat-nose plier
+ adhesive

These earrings are also available in sterling silver.

This process is the same as with the labradorite earrings above. You cut a piece off of the 20mm hoop-ring and attach the 4mm onyx bead, through adhesive. You then cut a piece off of the 25mm hoop-ring and attach the 6mm onyx bead, again through adhesive. How much you choose to cut off of the hoop-rings depends on how wide a gap, you want between the beads. Lastly, you lead the earstud through the eye of the hoop-rings and your earrings are done. The intention here, is to have the smaller piece placed in front of the earlobe and the bigger piece behind it.

Necklace with onyx

For this necklace, you will need the following materials:

2 pcs. onyx bead, half-drilled, 6mm
1 pc. gilded sterling rings, brushed, 25mm
2 pcs. jumpring, gilded sterling, 3mm
ca. 60cm cable chain, gilded (dublé)
+ side-cutter plier
+ adhesive

This necklace is also available in gilded sterling.

Begin by cutting a piece off of the ring, by using the side-cutter plier. How much you choose to cut off of the rings, depends on how wide a gap you want between the beads. You then attach the beads to the ring as shown above, using adhesive in the process. Finally, you connect the chain with the ring through a jumpring in each end of the cable chain.

Earrings with citrine

For these earrings, the following materials were used:

1 pair earwires with ball, sterling silver
2 pcs. citrine teardrop, half-drilled
+ side-cutter plier
+ adhesive

These earrings are also available in gilded sterling.

Begin by using the side-cutter to cut off the end of the earwire. Then attach the citrine teardrops as shown in the image above, with adhesive.

Necklace with citrine

For this necklace, you will need the following materials:

2 pcs. citrine teardrop, half-drilled, 5mm
1 pc. sterling silver ring, brushed
2 pcs. jumpring, sterling silver, 4mm
ca. 60cm cable chain, sterling silver
+ adhesive

This necklace is also available in gilded sterling.

Step one: attach the cable chain to the silver ring, by using 2 jumprings, one in each end of the chain. You can also choose to do this as the last step. Now, by using a side-cutter plier, cut out a piece of the ring as shown above.

You can place the teardop beads by the ring to figure out, how much space you want between them, before you cut out the piece of silver ring.

Step two: attach the teardrops with adhesive as shown above, and your necklace is now finished.

Enjoy your new creations.

For questions, comments or suggestions – please write in the commentary field below.