How to Make Matching Black Pearl Ear Studs
and a Black Pearl Necklace
Making black pearl ear studs and a matching necklace will take approximately one to two hours depending on your level of skill. This is a great beginner project, and can be replicated with different colors and sizes of freshwater pearls and beads to create stud earrings to go with every ensemble you own.
The first step is to gather your supplies. You will need:
1. Two matched freshwater round half-drilled black pearls -these can be small or large, although large black pearls make a more stunning set of studs.
2. Twenty to forty matched freshwater round drilled black pearls - buying a long strand and culling the closest matches works best. These may be the same size as the earring pearls, or smaller or larger.
3. Ear studs - these can be sterling silver or 14k gold, and should be lightly cupped to follow the curve of the pearls.
4. Ear nuts - these can be matching metal or rubberized comfort grips
5. Silk thread
6. Gold or silver clasp (match ear studs) and two clamshells.
7. Jewelers epoxy
8. Toothpick and tweezers
9. Block of styrofoam or floral foam block
Start your ear studs laying out your freshwater pearls on a soft cloth. Mix the two parts of epoxy together on a non-reactive surface with the end of the toothpick, making sure the two parts are completely blended.
Coat the spikes on one ear stud completely with epoxy, and let set for 30 seconds. Using the toothpick, dip the end in epoxy and insert into the half drilled hole in one of the black pearls. Slide the pearl firmly onto the spike, and hold in place for one minute. Slide the ear nut on and stick the ear stud upright in the block of foam to dry. Repeat for the second ear stud.
For the necklace, use a double strand of thread knotted at one end and run through clamshell, then the clasp, then back through the clamshell, crimping the clamshell to cover the ends. Thread each pearl onto the double strand, knotting the two strands together in a square knot between each pearl. When all the pearls are threaded and knotted, run the ends of the thread through the clamshell, the clasp, and back through the clamshell, trimming the ends short and crimping the clamshell over them.
Now you have a matched black pearl necklace and ear studs set! |
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