DIY Filigree Friendship Bracelet

filigree bracelet
 Filigree or Tarkashi style of making jewelry is inspired by the Greek and looks extraordinarily delicate. Here pure silver is made into very fine wires by passing it through a wire drawing machine or by hammering by hand. After this, the two thinnest wires are heated and wound around a rotating wheel machine to make it as a single wire. This wire is then bent in different ways to give it many different forms and shapes. This form is used to make decorative objects like – trays, bowls, showpieces, purses and of course Jewelry.Authentic filigree is very expensive, but these days we can find filigree sheets and focal made of copper, brass and silver at a jewelry supplies store. However these are also costly but I have a great alternate for it. It is using decorative Bead caps or End caps to form your own filigree focals. As these usually come by weight these are very economical and look beautiful too.

DIY Filigree Friendship Bracelet by Sayuri

As Friendship day is approaching I though why not use this idea to make a Friendship bracelet – something that is beautiful and is as exquisite as your friendship. Here is how you can make it.

Filigree Friendship Bracelet

Materials Required:

  • Conical bead caps or end caps with Filigree work (7-9 depending on your wrist measurement and the size of caps you have)
  • Jump rings (21)
  • hook for closure (I have used a toggle clasp)
  • Nose Pliers, Hammer & steel block

DIY Filigree Friendship Bracelet

Procedure:

  • Pick out bead caps that have no cracks, cuts or breakage in them and clean them with a soft cloth.
  • Place them face down on the steel block and hammer with very less pressure right in the middle. If you don’t have a steel block you can use any metal or hard wood surface. If you strike with a lot of force then your bead cap with break. Once hammered they should look like flat flowers with a raised center. Do this with all the bead caps
  • Now twist open a jump ring with your pliers. Connect one – one petal of 2 flowers with a jump ring. Close.
  • Repeat the same with the neighboring set of petals of the same flower with the second jump ring. Now two of your flower should be connected and remain flat as in picture no.5
  • Repeat steps 3-5 till you connected all the flowers in a single straight line. You’ll have two ends now.
  • Connect 2 jump rings to one end like in step 5 and instead of joining with another flower, add a closed jump ring and close. Now add a big jump ring if you are using a hook closure or a toggle clasp round like I did.
    On the other end, repeat the above process but add a hook or a toggle bar. Close all jump rings tight and smooth. Run your finger over them to make sure nothing pokes.

Your DIY Filigree Friendship Bracelet is now ready!! Wear and enjoy or Gift it to you special Friend this Friendship Day.

Tutorial Original written for Craftziners Magazine

I hope you find it interesting

Cheers

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