Jeweler, Jewel, Jewelry Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rake

You might use a rake (at least the pronged part) to display your jewelry after it is complete, but you won't need one to make a piece. Shovels (tiny ones) come in handy when dealing with beads and crystals and such. Two inch spring clamps can be as handy as a third and fourth hand. Pliers are almost indispensable when making jewelry.

Answer: Pump Pliers

Pump pliers are normally used for some type of plumbing job. The jaws adjust to go around pipe fittings. Flush cutters are used when working with bead wire and wound wire jewelry. Crimpers are essential for closing crimp beads without mangling them. Crimp beads go over the ends of wire or string or elastic to secure it and to make it look finished. Flat nose pliers are probably your most essential tool.

There are miniature, heavy duty, spring and non-spring, wide and narrow, curved, nylon jaw, smooth and serrated flat nose pliers.

Answer: Findings

Findings can be all parts of a piece of jewelry but in particular the pieces needed to finish the piece like clasps, crimps, rings of all sorts, earring wires, necklace extenders, etc.

Answer: Prejeweled

Prong settings are the way most gems in finger rings are set with four (or more) narrow pieces of metal folded over the stone to hold it in place. Bezels are generally wide strips of metal wrapped tightly around the stone. Some stones are drilled and a ring or bale can be pushed through the hole. Those are some ways, but prejeweled is definitely not one way.

Answer: Back Drilled

If a stone is labeled as drilled, that means it has a hole going from one side through to the other side. Most of those holes are at the top of a stone and a wire or string can be passed through the gem. Half drilled is when the opening is made but there is not an exit hole.

Some pendants or stones for earrings would be a good example. A wire and a drop of epoxy are put in the hole to cement the finding in place. Double drilled means a stone has pass-through type holes at each end. Wires or string can pass through on each end and connect to another stone and so on until the piece is long enough to finish off.

Answer: Choker Necklace 14"

Of course there are exceptions but the measurements above are standard for premade jewelry except for the choker. At 14", it would be too true to its name. A woman's choker is 16". With these measurements in mind, you can determine the total amount of material you'll need and you can be pretty sure that if you make something for friends or family, it will most likely fit.

Answer: Buy one piece or bag of everything

Beads can be just about any shape and size. Most bead sizes are expressed in millimeters. An average pearl would be 7 mm. If there are two numbers, like 23x11 mm painted glass, the bead is probably square, oval, or oblong. To find out how many beads you'll need, use a ruler, mark off 7" and lay some beads on that 7" line, leaving room for the clasp. You can invest in a bead board with a nice felt finish and indented areas with measurements. Most kits give you more than enough supplies to make a nice, finished piece.

The only drawback is you don't have any options of beads and closures and such, which is half the fun of making your own. Of course, you can always use math and divide bead size into bracelet length (converted to mm) but where's the fun in that?

Answer: True

Wire is wire. Whether you're buying it to put on the backs of pictures to hang on the wall, or stringing beads onto it, wire that is labeled #28 is going to be much thinner than wire labeled as #10. You can buy memory wire that holds its shape, square, round, half round, triangle, and wrapped wire just to name a few.

Answer: Fish Hook & French Wire

Sometimes the clasp or closure on a piece of jewelry can be the focal point and on a necklace, might be worn in the front or to the side so as to be seen instead of hidden at the hairline on the back of the neck. Fish hook and French wire are types of earring findings, not standard necklace or bracelet closures.

Answer: Any of these answers would be a good idea

Maybe you just needed to watch someone before trying your hand at it or maybe your method of learning needs to be more 'hands on'. There are lots of helpful videos on the internet or perhaps you have a friend would be willing to teach you.
Bead stores offer classes and it's usually not expensive. You buy supplies from them and you end up with something you'd be proud to wear.
Whatever you do, don't give up after only one try. Beautiful jewelry can be ridiculously expensive and making your own can be so satisfying.