Jewellery making people - help!

Sounds like you just want to buy chain by the metre? Just cut off the lengths you need with snips.

I'm pretty sure I got some chain here once upon a time http://www.palmermetals.co.uk/

Or just buy ready made up chain and snip it in the middle and attached the item with jump rings. I've done that before but it works out a lot more expensive if you're planning on making a lot, though, it saves some time.

I don't remember if the ready made have a name, probably not, but just search "XX" chain for jewellery making" and you should find something.

Thanks for the link, it does look like it would work out cheaper to buy it by the metre and just make up our own, and I suppose that way we could set whatever pendants we like on it with the same materials and equipment! I guess the time isn't really a huge issue as it's the type of thing I can do in the evening while watching Netflix or something! We're trying to expand our laser cut stuff to include some bits of jewellery but I'm sure I'm making things harder than they need to be haha!

If you're going to do lots, definitely get it by the metre! If you're going to have a pendant that hangs off the chain loose, then go for ready made as the jump rings are stronger normally. But anything else, SO much better and cheaper to cut your own.

If you use ready made on name plates and things like that, you'll spend forever measuring and cutting out chunks of chain and wasting it in an attempt to make them all the same length (I've done just that and felt so stupid when I realised what I'd have to do!).

It's the measuring I'm a bit worried about, I'm terrible at stuff like that, but I guess it makes sense to just cut our own lengths of chain. I felt really silly posting this, but I just couldn't get my head around it at all!

I used to do both when I had my website, used to buy ready made chains from zap creatives but i don't think they do them anymore (i couldn't see them just now anyway) I think they called them split chains or something but that was a while back! But yes, if you search on etsy for ready made chains there's some like that. But yeah, I agree it's actually easier to buy your own, I found that the ready made ones tarnished a lot faster than the chain I was buying in myself. And yes it really doesn't seem so time consuming when you're watching netflix! Good luck!

That is true actually, the ready made chains I had tarnished pretty quickly as well. I definitely didn't get them on zap creatives though.

Good tips, thank you! I thought you two would actually be the best people to ask about this type of thing! I'm definitely thinking that buying the lengths of chain and constructing it myself is going to be the best option!

be sure to pm me:)

I used to be a jewellery designer 🙂 - best place is probably still Cooksons, you can buy ready made chains or lengths of + jump rings etc. if you google Cookson Gold - then there is a section for Finished Chain.

Thanks for the tips, I've actually put the necklaces on a bit of a back burner for the moment but Cooksons  has proven to be very helpful for earring backs and jump rings!