Jewelry Measurement Tools: Planning Board, Sizers and Gauges

As a jewelry designer, do you measure down to the exact millimeter or do you go by gut and do a visual estimate?

If I'm doing it for a client I go for the exact measurements, there's nothing far worse than a necklace than turns out to be quite a choker. However, as hobbyists our enthusiasm gets the best of us and we just want to create and do away with the math.

Luckily, there's a great array of jewelry and beading design tools that focus on Measurements and Sizes:

Necklace Planning Board
The Necklace Planning Board is the best guide for designing necklaces. It helps you plan your design, the placement of your beads as a whole. You can foresee what your necklace will look like without the string or chain. As you are creating, you would soon realize what textures and colors would go together seamlessly.


Photo and Product sold online by Beadfx.com

Some jewelry shops refer to them as Bead Design Boards. Some have a bead counter which provides a visual placement for round beads. Measurements also go by inches. Some boards have 3 rows (Beadalon brand) enough for you to envision multi-strand necklaces. Like in making movies, the Necklace Planning Board is the cutting room floor for necklaces. Best of all, they serve as a bead tray to keep all your beads from rolling away.

Bracelet Sizer
The Bracelet Sizer is used to get the right size of the wrist before you can start on your bracelet. This is a good peg especially if you are receiving orders online and you can't personally measure your client's forearm.


This Bracelet Sizer can be found at Beadfx.com

In any bracelet, the thread or chain will curve around the wrist, the bracelet sizer helps you allot the right amount of space or allowance between the skin and the beads. Please consider that not all beads are round- some are stone flat, irregularly shaped or bulky. If you are creating a bracelet of mixed beads and stones, you need to compensate for the length of the thread.

Bracelet Gauge
They look like metal bracelets and like handcuffs, they provide an opportunity for you to do a fitting on your client. The client can now gauge how tight or loose she may want her bangle, cuff or bracelet to be.


Check out this Bracelet Gauge at Beadfx.com

Ring Sizer
This is the most popular among the jewelry measurement tools- this is how they get the right fit for engagement rings. Imagine, buying something that pricey then it doesn't fit. As for jewelry making, Ring Sizers are there to gauge finger diameter.

I usually use my ring sizer as a dummy finger for freeform peyote stitch projects (aka glass bead rings). In Manila, I bought mine at Wellmansons in Quiapo for P150, I got the aluminum kind though I would have preferred the wooden one (P400-P500).

Here are some online shops that sell Jewelry Measurement tools:

• Beadfx.com
• Beadalon

Angelina Jolie's Bracelet: Of Salt and Serpents

Stylishly coiled around her wrist, Angelina Jolie wore a gem-studded serpentine bracelet from the Protector Collection by Asprey at the Salt Premiere in Los Angeles.




The limited edition Protector Collection was designed and inspired by both Brad and Angie in support of The Education Partnership for Children in Conflict


The Snake has been a recurring theme among jewelry artisans for centuries. Its an ancient design that draws power from nature- the snake is considered a symbol of fertility and protection. The most common symbol being the Ouroboros, a snake eating its tail is a symbol of infinity and rebirth.



Hot Mama Angelina Jolie wore Armani to her Salt premiere- black, strapless & yes, beaded! Alongside her is the hottest accessory known to womankind- a freshly shaved and beardless Brad Pitt!

Functional Jewelry: Draw, Color and Propose with Crayon Rings!

One can never be too old to write on the walls. Or easily take note of an idea - who needs a pen anyway? When you got crayon jewelry to jot down those sudden spur of the moment ideas.

A clever use of color: Ingenious Crayon Rings by furniture designer Timothy Liles. The man is my jewelry pop icon :)



"Will You Marry Me?"

Get on one knee and propose with a crayon ring. Bet she'll love it! :)

Basic Jewelry Tools: Beading Pliers

Specialist Crafts stores often carry a wide range of jewelry beading tools. Such tools can help beginners and Pros create impressive and elegant jewelry pieces. Some of these tools can also be found at hardware stores. But a craft store is your best bet in finding the right size tool for your beading projects. I would suggest investing in a reasonably price stainless steel set of tools whether it be a plier or a cutter. Cheap ones don't last long and rust easily in storage.

To begin with, any one trying to get their groove into jewelry making or beading should have a reliable plier in the toolbox. You don't need to purchase all the pliers just specific ones tailored to the kind of material you'll be working on.

A good pair of Pliers equal a good grip on the material you are handling.

Here are the types of Pliers used in Jewelry-Making or Beadwork:

Crimping Pliers

Primarily use for fastening strings, wires and creating an end loop as a lock. This is usually done by using crimps, french crimps, bead crimps and folding clasps.


Crimps are cylindrical tubes you can insert wire ends of a necklace.

Folding clasps once crimped provides a hole that any lock or clasp can latch unto.

The crimping plier will secure necklaces and bracelets strung on flexible beading wire by folding the metal tube of the crimp, once the beading wire or thread is in inside. Available here. 

Chain-nosed Pliers
An essential tool in the any crafter's toolbox. This is the most traditional and reliable plier used in beadwork- it does most of the crafting action.

Mainly, use for making loops, bends, opening and closing and twisting metals, locks, rings. I would recommend this Ergonomic Chain Nose Pliers from Bead Smith. 

There is also a variant known as Blunt Chain-nosed Pliers for getting into those tight miniscule spaces. The nose ends angle at a certain direction. Find this beading plier here.


Snipe-nosed PliersThese pliers taper toward the flat end, oftentimes group with or similar to chain-nosed pliers. Basically, they are use the same way. You can find a jeweler's snipe-nosed plier here.



Flat-nosed Pliers
Use for straightening bent wire and for making sharp angles in wires. The insides of the noses can be smooth or serrated. You can buy one here online



Round-nosed Pliers
Handy to ascertain wrapping space, positioning wire and enlarging loops when needed. The round noses helps you maintain good control of the loop and creating diameter. This is not a plier for gripping or flattening metals, this is meant for wrapping and twisting wires the way you want them. Check out Round nosed pliers at http://www.beaducation.com


Blunt-nosed Pliers
Blunt-nosed pliers help put on the squeeze, its the plier to use to bring on a tight tough grip without causing damage. They do not taper (become smaller or thinner) towards their flat ends.



Split-Ring Pliers
Designed for opening split rings and making attachments fast and easy. Hardened steel nose separates rings and keeps them separated while you secure findings. Spring hinge increases comfort by reducing fatigue.

Get yourself a handy split-ring plier here

Nylon Jaw Pliers
Nylon Jaw pliers are designed to treat wire and metal surface delicately particularly sculpting craft wire, wrapping wires and soft wires. The soft nylon jaws will not leave a mark, dent or a texture on the surface of the material you are working on.


In fact, it protects the surface finish of wire, so no need to polish it off later. Nylon Jaw Pliers can easily undo angles, bent wires or simply straighten the wires. Keeping the design or wire scuplture in place while giving you that flexibility to edit your wire angles. Go steady with this Nylon Plier

Using the right plier for your project can help you move or bend the metal around with ease and smooth precision. So its a good idea to invest and collect on reliable beading pliers.

Authentic Human Hair Jewelry by Larissa de Souza

Human Hair jewelry has been around for centuries since the dawn of time as tribal adornment and as mementos for deceased loved ones. Today, it may border on the uncanny valley of creepiness as a macabre memento- almost like a serial killer trophy.



But the art of Hair Jewelry is grounded on sentiment, maybe even grief or love. It may also prove to be quite fashionable and elegant once braided and weaved with precious metals.



Larissa de Souza is a NYC jewelry designer who views hair as a great medium for scupltural design. She does custom jewelry work using your hair or a loved one's. 



For more info on her hairy craft visit www.desouzajewelry.com or at her Etsy shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/desouzajewelry

Disc Earrings Come Full Circle from the Gorjana Reidel Collection

Today I am in love with Gorjana Jewelry

Well mainly her earrings!

These sophisticated designs are created by Yugoslavian-born jewelry designer Gorjana Reidel.

These lovely shiny discs should adorn my lobes :) 

Launch in 2004, the Gorjana Jewelry Collection has been a regular on the glossy pages of Lucky Mag and InStyle and favored by celebs such a Paris Hilton and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Visit their website http://www.gorjana.com

Edward finally Sparkles Bella with an Engagement Ring

From the world of teen vampires and all that Twilight rage, comes top-notched jewelry to take your Edward fever to the next level, the new brand of moneysucking merchandise introduces Bella's Engagement Ring. This Twilight-inspired oval ring is encrusted with 13 diamonds and 14K yellow gold, handcrafted by master artisans and diamond setters.

Bella's Genuine Engagement Ring

Personally, I find this finger bling just too big and gaudy for delicate hands like uh- Kirsten Stewart's. Then again, its Bella. So does it matter if the ring looks like some flashy vegas gambler's bling? or that it cost $1,979? Aaah such ode to fandom.

But knockoffs are on sale for 14-year-olds on a weekly allowance. See faux Bella's Fashion Engagement Ring for $35!

So you can still sparkle with Edward Cullen!