Do you make your own chains for pendants or do you purchase prefab? Why?

[Former_Member]

I love to make pendants.
They get great views (for me) but don't often find homes. I'm thinking one reason is that they don't come with chains. So I'm going to focus on making chains for a while but I've considered buying bulk chain.
Any thoughts?

[JazznJewelry]

Someone gave me good advice a long time ago: Many people can't envision a pendant without a chain. How does it hang? Is the bail hidden? Is it heavy enough that the pendant is suspended and nestles in cleavage? Handmade chains in silver are a hard sell. Perhaps you could show them on chains and offer them with or without the chain?

[Former_Member]

I do make chain - but only for some pieces - for others I buy bulk prefab and then usually make a clasp. The reason I do this is cost - handmade chain really pushes up the price, I mainly reserve those for shows when people can see it in person and ask questions.

another alternate, if it fits with your asthetic, is nice soft Greek leather. I will sometimes use that depending on the style of the piece.

[Former_Member]

Thanks, both of you for sharing. I'm thinking along those lines. It certainly IS hard to visualize a pendant without a chain. I'll look for some soft leather. At the rate silver is going up it will be out of my range in the next couple of days!

[Former_Member]

I only make my chains for now. I made a few viking knit chains that I use to display the pendants.

[Former_Member]

Viking knit chains are gorgeous! I guess one could thread some round leather through the tube and get an attractive chain too.

I also have a block of silk and a spinning wheel gathering dust... a friend makes her own dyes and I'm a fair hand at kumihimo braiding. You'd think I'd be able to Viking knit, but no!

[tessjordandesigns]

I buy chain in bulk. I don't know if I have time to make my own (plus I don't know if it would be worth my time). I add a handmade clasp though which makes them more unique. I definitely think you should add chains to your pendants, I think people like to buy things that are ready to wear.

[StoneMetalStudio]

I buy bulk sterling chains and finish with clasps usually. Now with the price of silver so high, I've been using a lot of alternate materials besides the silver chain, like Greek leather cord and hand dyed silk cord, both of which are gorgeous. I don't like to make my own chain- way too time consuming, though Viking knit is really cool. I've made one necklace with it, but it drives the rice up quite a lot.

[Former_Member]

So does anyone have a good source they would like to share on buying bulk silver chain? Iv tried ebay, but what I bought was a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be.

[Former_Member]

I love making chains, specially woven chains, but it just isn't feasible to use them with all of my pendant. Almost always, the chain will take more material and time than the pendant, drive prices up too much.

I buy bulk chain and make most of the clasps on the chains that are included with some pendants. On others, I buy ready made chains. The chain comes from a local supply shop. There isn't much of a price difference and I like being able to handle it beforehand (weight, drape, etc).

[Former_Member]

Yes, chains worth more than necklaces!
I would love to purchase some of that lovely snakeskin chain from my local supplier but the next thing on my bench are going to be some soldered links...

[tessjordandesigns]

JAYB99 says

So does anyone have a good source they would like to share on buying bulk silver chain? Iv tried ebay, but what I bought was a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be.

______________________

I've bought mine from riogrande.com

make sure that you break out a ruler with metric on it so you can see exactly how small 2-3 mm is :o)
I've done that mistake too when buying chain thinking it was gonna be a certain size only too discover it was either too big or too small!

[JazznJewelry]

I'll put a link on Tools so the posting will be "private".

[Former_Member]

Thanks JazznJewelry,
I'll go check it out right now...

[Former_Member]

I have bought chain from FireMountainGems. They can be expensive, but with the assortability it is better. I am only making chains with colored wire, because you can't find them anywhere.

[Former_Member]

That's a cool and unique idea for sure!

[markaplan]

i have about half and half made/purchased chains in my shop...

i really really love chain making!!!! for me it is like meditation---
i lay out my few tools needed and zone out...
it is a repetitive action like in meditation... even the progression of links reminds me of a geometric thanka 1-3-7-15 on and on... its good for my soul --- wish i had more time to do it...

[Former_Member]

I enjoy chainmaking too, Mark, but it accounts for about half of my bench time. Fortunately, once the links are cut I can take them anywhere and make chain while in bank line ups, waiting for movies to start...

[jaunebleu]

JAYB99 says

So does anyone have a good source they would like to share on buying bulk silver chain? Iv tried ebay, but what I bought was a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be.

****************************

I find that as much as I love riogrande.com for everything else, their prices on chains and basic findings are not the best.

There are a couple of suppliers that offer better deals

1. Bella House of Findings
https://www.bellafindings.com/

You can even ask for a better deal when buying in bulk than what is listed on the website. Simply give them a call.

2. CGM
https://cgmfindings.com/

They are fantastic! Superb customer service and a huge selection of chains. They also have great monthly deals.

I hope this helps :)

Irina

[ShyViolet]

http://metalliferous.com/ also offers pretty good raw materials prices (including bulk chain). Obviously anything involving precious metals is OUTRAGEOUS these days (!!) but I've been really happy with them in the past - good customer service, prices, shipping, etc.

[MoonSilverStudio]

I've purchased a LOT of finished chains from Dreamlandjewelry.com - they don't have every style but the price has been better than a lot of other sources (especially Rio) and they come within days.

[Former_Member]

I only make a handmade chain if it's the point of the piece. Otherwise, I also find making them too time consuming and expensive. I buy bulk chain at the G&LW gem show that comes to my region (Franklin, NC, and Orlando, FL). Kamal Trading Co. is one excellent source of wholesale bulk sterling chain. He carries many kinds. I think you can also find him online. You'll likely need a sales tax # from your state, allowing you to purchase wholesale.