Findings
Findings is
an all-inclusive term for the components used in jewelry design that aren’t
stones or focal components. Findings
are used to finish, enhance, or add interest to your pieces. Bails, clasps,
settings, jump rings, headpins and ear wires, nuts and posts are all considered
findings. These jewelry components are called “findings” because before mass
production, jewelers fashioned their components by hand from “found” leftover bits and
pieces of metal. Thus, they became known as “findings.” These days the process
of making most findings lies in the hands of manufacturers, making them a
convenient timesaver for hobbyists and professional jewelers alike
Our selection of jewelry findings are available in .925 sterling silver, gold filled, 14K white and yellow gold and platinum. Sterling silver is a more economical choice for
finishing a design, while 14K gold and platinum are the
perfect options for your higher end pieces, adding luxury to your designs and
increasing their value.
Bails are used to attach a pendant or charm to a chain or cord. We offer solid and open cast bails, screw eyes with and without caps, pinch bails, and snap-on bails. Open cast bails make it easy to add your focal or dangle but need to be soldered shut. Screw eyes are meant to be screwed into your bead or pearl to become a drop in a cluster of beads or a single bead design. Pinch bails are used exactly as they sound. You add your focal and just give the bail a pinch shut. Snap on bails allow you to hang a pendant on a chain without having to solder the bail to your piece. No tools needed, just snap the ring or loop of your piece through the opening in the back of the bail.
Clasps are used hold the ends of your necklaces and bracelets together. We offer pearl clasps, lobster clasps, spring rings, toggle and magnetic clasps. Pearl clasps come in two types, box style and fishhook style. They have added safety features to securely hold your strands together. Lobster clasps and spring rings are simple spring loaded, self- closing clasps. Toggle clasps have a “t” bar on one half of the clasp and an open shape on the other half. The bar is simply slid through the open shape locking it into place. Toggles are best used with heavier necklaces as the weight helps the bar from slipping out. Magnetic clasps are true to their name. They are made up of two magnetic halves that effortlessly join the ends of your piece together.
Earwires are relatively thin, hook shaped earring findings for pierced ears that have loops to hang dangles, beads, pearls or stones. French earwires, also known as shepherd's hooks or fish hooks, pass through the earlobe but do not fasten in the back allowing gravity to hold them into place. Kidney wires pass through the earlobe and hook onto themselves to form a closed loop. Leverbacks slide into the earlobe and have a mechanism to securely snap them shut.
Earring posts are straight posts for pierced ears that are notched or threaded in the back. Posts can have settings in which to place your stone, loops to hang dangles, pads to adhere stones to, cups to hold beads or pearls, or can be plain to solder onto your designs. Posts go through the ear and a removable backing, referred to as a nut, goes over the post to hold it in place at the back of the ear. There are different types of nuts you can use depending on the type of post used and the weight of your earring. Screw-ons work for threaded posts and the push on type are for notched posts.
Omega clips are used along with earring posts to create a secure clip on type of earring. The Omega clip is made to be soldered onto the post. Once soldered you place the clip on the earlobe, fold up the back and it goes over the post to solidly hold it into place.
Headpins are pins with a flat end that are used with beads or pearls to make dangles or components for necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. The end serves as a stopper to keep your beads or pearls from falling off. After you slip your beads or pearls onto the headpin, the other end is wire wrapped to form your dangle.
Jump Rings are a staple in jewelry making. They allow you connect findings to chain and other findings or can be soldered onto components to make connectors or pendants. There are two types of jump rings: open and closed. Open jump rings have a slit that can easily be opened and shut with chain nose pliers. They are perfect for linking components together and adding charms, pendants or clasps to chain. Closed jump rings are rings that have been either cast in one piece or soldered shut. They offer a more secure connection, assuring the durability of your piece.
Other silver and gold findings you’ll come across include crimp beads, bead tips, cord ends, open ring shanks and settings. Crimp beads are
clamped down onto wire or other stinging material to hold your beads in place. Bead tips fold over stringing materials to give you a place to connect a clasp.
Cord ends are squished onto, folded over or adhered to cord allowing you to add
a clasp to your bracelet or necklace. Ring shanks are premade ring bands that
have an opening to allow you to add a setting or mounting of your choice.
Settings hold your stones and come in several different shapes, sizes, and
prong counts. They can be soldered onto ring shanks, bails, and earring posts.