DIY Gemstone Wire Wrapped Bracelet
Yes, I am about to disclose a trade secret. This DIY gemstone wire wrapped bracelet has been a favorite for many years.
It looks really cool, polished, and totally complicated – but it’s not. Not complicated, I mean. It is cool. I wear this style bracelet a lot and the compliments keep pouring in.
Make this wire wrapped bracelet with any gemstone, colorful pearls, or even glass beads. The secret to a successful design is balance. You can switch between different stones, but make sure that your design is consistent and balanced. I like to use large flat beads as they sit nicely, but I’ve done it with smaller rounds beads (8-10 mm).
What you need to make a wire wrapped bracelet:
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- 24 Gauge Wire
- 20 gauge wireIf you are a real beginner, you may want to skip this, and use the 24 gauge (thinner) wire for both the wrapping and the threading, as it’s easier to handle.
- Round Smooth Toggle clasps
- 4mm round filigree beads
- Beads. I used a large, square, flat gemstone like these (mine is green marble I got ages ago on clearance.) Michaels also has some beautiful beads, such as these Faceted Rectangular Amethyst Beads
. - Pliers: including round nose, flat/chain/needle nose, and cutters
If you are new to making jewelry, and this list confuses you, you can read more about jewelry making supplies here. You can also switch the supplies around as you need – use colored wires, different spacer beads instead of the 4mm filigree, and definitely use your favorite strand of beads as the main set!
How to make a wire wrapped bracelet:
1. Cut a generous piece of wire larger than the size of your wrist – leaving a few extra inches on each side.
2. Bend it down from the edge as follows (leave a couple of inches as a tail.)
3. String on half of your toggle clasp, and wind the short half of the wire around the long a few times. Trim it down to the edge. If a bit of wire pokes out, squish it in with your chain nose pliers.
4. You now have a loop on one end with one side of the clasp attached. Figure out your pattern and prepare your beads.
5. Start stringing on your beads. Figure out how many you need for your size. You want it to be a little loose – not tight against the wrist. Here’s a fun guide for measuring your bracelet size in case you need some help.
6. Fold your wire over after the last bead just like you did to begin with.
7. String on the other half of your toggle clasp.
8. Finish it off just like you did the first half. Wrap the short wire around the long and trim. Don’t pull it too tight when you do this step – make sure your bracelet can curve around your wrist comfortably. 
9. Cut a piece of 20 gauge (the thick) wire. Make it generous. I did about 6 times the length of my bracelet. Wrap the center of the wire around one end of your bracelet – in the area just below the clasp where you wrapped the thin wire. 
10. Take one half of the wire, and start winding it around your beads. On this bracelet I did it in a set pattern. On others I do it randomly. Just make sure that the wire is lying flat along the beads. You can pry the wire to do what you want it to using your pliers. 
11. When you’re finished, wrap the wire around the other end of your bracelet a few times, and cut it flush against the bracelet. 
12. Grab the second half of your wire and wrap in the other direction. I had a little more fun here, and manipulated it around the other wire a bit. I did forget to make sure it’s flat against the beads a few times, but it still came out okay…
13. When you reach the end of your beaded area, finish it off like you did before. Curve your wired bracelet into a circle, and wear it or gift it with pride!
You have lots of reason to be proud – you have just made a beautiful, professional-looking piece that is truly one-of-a-kind.
I have taught how to make these wire wrapped bracelets in a few group settings. It’s a great craft for adults, but it can be done by tweens and teens as well. One of the groups that had the most fun with this jewelry making craft was a group of girls age 12-18. They went all out and got so creative with the beading and the wrapping.
You can see more jewelry crafts for all ages here, or follow along for some amazing craft tutorials (and more) to come!
I never did see the tutorial.
I was looking for the headband, not the bracelet. Still pretty cool though