Jewelry Making Types 101

Jewelry comes in every shape, size, and style, which is why it might seem like a overwhelming process to begin making jewelry. However, despite the wide range of creative possibilities, getting started isn't as hard as it looks. Before investing in any supplies, it's a good idea to understand exactly what type of Jewelry you are most interested in making. To help you get started, look at your own style of jewelry and the jewelry of those around you. What inspires you or gets your creative juices flowing to want to make some type of jewelry; whether it is necklaces, earrings, rings or bracelets. Below I’ve pulled together some basic Jewelry Making Types 101.

Jewelry Types
One of the first things you need to look at is what type of jewelry do I want to make. It is a huge investment depending on what type of jewelry you want design and make.

Beading w/Beads: Basic beading is one of the most simple and affordable types of jewelry making to get into, plus it is the most versatility when it comes to color, style, and design. You can make a chunky/bold, bohemian/craft necklaces and bracelets and matching classy chandelier-style earrings. For beginners it makes for an ideal place to start since all you need are beads, wire, and findings (clasps, ear wires and crimp beads). Some basic tools, such as pliers and needles are also useful, among other accessories.

Polymer Clay: Polymer clay is a very interesting medium to work with, mostly because it is so versatile. All you have to do is buy the clay, which is soft, malleable clay that once baked, dries to a hard, heavy material. With this clay you will make colorful beads or pendants which will then be strung on a wire or cord with beads in between as spacers and coming together with a clasp that compliments the piece. Polymer clay is fairly inexpensive itself, and the only other thing you need is a type of oven (toaster ovens work well) and a baking sheet reserved for jewelry making. Some basic jewelry tools such as pliers are helpful.

Precious Metal Clay or PMC: This unique type of clay goes from soft, moldable clay, much like polymer clay, but when fired, it turns to a solid 14k, 24k, or silver metal product. There are various ways of firing this type of clay from a kiln or even a torch. While large and somewhat technical, kilns have the most varied uses, such as fusing glass and baking ceramics. They are priced according to size, ranging from $100 to $800. The only drawback is that you will be restricted to metal clay that fires at a lower heat level. The clay is often priced according to the value of the metal in question.

Fused Glass: Glass jewelry is a specialty that can be fun and extremely rewarding with a lot of practice and patience. Because of the technical skills needed to produce fused glass, people frequently take courses before engaging in glass fusing at home. This is also ideal since glass fusing is very expensive to get into and requires a kiln and quite a lot of equipment, which. Classes offer an inexpensive way to familiarize yourself with the technique and the tools before choosing to make fused glass jewelry on your own and making the huge investment. Fused glass is incredible in that no two pieces ever fire the same way; thus the results are very unique and unusually handcrafted jewelry pieces.

Silversmithing: Silversmithing is fairly reasonable when it comes to the cost of supplies alone, but as you purchase the equipment and tools, it can turn into another big investment. The one benefit to this technique is that no kilns are necessary, just lots of tools and a small soldering device. You may opt for taking a course first to get started as it is an easy way to learn the basics and to get general guidance before moving onto your own solo work.

As you can see these are just a few of the many different types and styles of jewelry making. Determining what interests you and then developing your own style within the jewelry type will reflect and set your designs apart from everyone else. Before venturing into any jewelry making, I’d highly recommend checking with your local craft or beading store and take a few classes in the different styles. This will give someone with a smaller budget the ability to test drive the technique, determine the overall costs and ultimately give you a roadmap of where, how and when to begin your adventure into jewelry making.

Spiny Oyster

Some of the most incredible Southwestern and Indian jewelry is made with Spiny Oyster beads. The colors of these beads vary from pink to purple and from light to deep orange. Spiny oyster beads come from the spiny oyster shell, or Spondylus, harvested from the Sea of Cortez, Baja California and Mexico. Different types of Spondylus may also be found in the warm waters off the coasts of Central and South America. Spondylus is Latin for “spines on its back,” which is appropriate for this beautify and difficult to harvest shell.


It was hard to find information about just the beads, but I did find out about the Spiny Oyster Shell from the Wikipedia. “Spondylus is a genus of bivalve mollusks, the only genus in the family Spondylidae. As well as being the systematic name, Spondylus is the most often used common name for these animals, though they are also known as thorny oysters or spiny oysters.

There are many species of Spondylus, and they vary considerably in appearance and range. They are grouped in the same super family as the scallops, but like the true oysters (family Ostreidae) they cement themselves to rocks, rather than attaching themselves by a byssus. Their key characteristic is that the two parts of their shells are hinged together with a ball and socket type of hinge, rather than a toothed hinge as is more common in other bivalves. Spondylus have multiple eyes around the edges of the shell, and they have a relatively well developed nervous system. Their nervous ganglia are concentrated in the visceral region, with recognizable optic lobes, connected to the eyes. Spondylus shells are much sought after by collectors, and there is a lively commercial market in them.

Archaeological evidence shows that people in Neolithic Europe were trading the shells of Spondylus gaederopus to make bangles and other ornaments as long as 5,000 years ago (Varna necropolis). The shells were harvested from the Aegean Sea but were transported far into the centre of the continent. In the LBK and Lengyel culture, Spondylus shells from the Aegean Sea were worked into bracelets and belt-buckles.


Spondylus princeps are also found off the coast of Ecuador, and have been important to Andean peoples since pre-Columbian times, serving as offerings to the Pachamama as well as some kind of currency. In fact much like in Europe the Spondylus shells also reached far and wide as pre-Hispanic Ecuadorian peoples traded them with peoples as far north as present-day Mexico and as far south as the central Andes. The Moche people of ancient Peru worshipped animals and the sea and often depicted Spondylus shells in their art.

*Parts have been reprinted from the Wikipedia.

All New

These little gems are all new, some have been snapped up already and sold! Natural gemstone jewelry, customized to reflect your personality. Check out Timeless Designs for these and other exotic and uniquely handcrafted pieces!

Tri-strand floating freshwater coin Pearls with a beautiful MOP pendant with the blister pearls still intact!

Be bold in red Brecciated Jasper mixed among gunmetal spacers and black metallic square seedbeads.

A switch of classy and stylish with this little number; exotic Argaonite Agate, Sandy Opals and brass wire work highlighted by charmed dangle earrings.

Mixing red hot Coral with black Onyx and silver is a spiced up accent to casual or dressy attire.