Sooner or later, nearly every jewelry maker runs across this problem: how to join loops or links with a sturdy, practical, design-compatible connector.
Closed jump rings are difficult to design around. Open jump rings may pull apart at the worst possible time. Wire-wrapped jump rings and connectors can be strong and beautiful, but time-consuming to make and calibrate.
For durable, beautiful, precise, and secure connections in your jewelry designs, invest in split rings.
Shaped like tiny round key rings, jewelry split rings are half-hard tempered metal wire coiled into stacked, double rings.
How do you use them?
The round or triangular wire ends can be gently pried apart to fit inside a closed jump ring, chain link, pendant or charm bail, or crimped beading wire loop.
If you have strong thumbnails and you are not doing many connections, you can wedge your thumbnail between the split wires, and open them just enough to slip your loop, link, charm, etc onto the ring. (Hint: don’t do this if you are aiming to use several dozen or more split rings in a short time-span. Your thumbnails will thank you!)
You can also use specific tools called split ring pliers, split ring tweezers, or even a narrow, flat piece of metal like a small flathead screwdriver. Push your to-be-attached object all the way around the ring, until it can slide freely over both of the split wires.
The split ring re-closes once the new loop has been threaded completely around the double coil. Tension holds the ring together much more securely than a standard open jump ring (even the ‘Twist-Lock’ style), while the split ring design allows you to change out pendants or dangles with relative ease.
Split rings come in a variety of sizes from delicate (I’ve seen 4-5mm) to ginormous (real key-ring size 30mm across!), so you’ll usually be able to find one to complement your design and metal color.
Many beginning jewelry makers avoid split rings because of the slightly higher price (good manufacturing does cost), but professional designers know these tiny marvels are time and cost-savers in the long run. Try some today, and take your jewelry designs to the next level.
On Amazon, get them in many different sizes (sterling silver or 14Kt gold filled) at BeadHobby.