Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet (Tutorial)
by Rena Klingenberg. © 2003-Present Rena Klingenberg. All Rights Reserved
This chain bracelet project has a bit of hardware style, with a swivel clasp that hooks into the copper washer focal.
The mixed metals I used are all antiqued (darkened) – copper, brass, and silver.
Make this rugged bracelet for guys and gals. The chain is easy to size perfectly for the wearer’s wrist.
Supplies:
- Donut shaped focal component.
I used a copper hardware washer, 23.81mm (15/16″) in diameter; with a center hole 15.88mm (5/8″) in diameter.
In the U.S. you can find copper washers at Harbor Freight. - Heavy gauge jump rings, 12mm (0.47″) size.
I used antiqued brass color. - Heavy gauge jump rings, 10mm (0.39″) size.
I used antiqued copper color. - Swivel clasp, 32mm (1.26″) size.
- Flat nose pliers.
- Chain nose pliers.
Here’s the swivel clasp I used:
Here’s the hardware washer and a sample of the jump rings I used:
A Few Ways to Darken or Antique
Your Copper Washer Focal Component:
If you want to make your copper washer more of an antiqued color instead of bright and shiny, here are three easy ways to achieve that.
- You can leave copper washers out in the open air for a period of time. In most locales, the washers will darken to an antiqued color on their own that way.
- Or you can use my tutorial for creating these jewelry patina techniques.
- Or you can use my tutorial for giving metal an oxidized look.
Sizing Your Bracelet:
Use a tape measure to find the measurement around the wearer’s wrist.
Example: 9″ wrist measurement.
The hardware washer and attached chain should be the length of the wearer’s wrist (9″ in our example).
The length of the clasp will allow for a comfortably roomy fit when the bracelet is worn.
To adjust the length of the bracelet, add or subtract jump rings on the chain.
Another Idea for this Bracelet:
Do some metal stamping on the hardware washer – for example, a name, a date, a sports team name, children’s names, etc.
How to Make a
Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet
The copper washer will be at one end of the chain.
The swivel clasp will be at the other end of the chain.
In between is a handmade chain of jump rings.
If you’re new to using jump rings, see my quick tip, How to Open and Close a Jump Ring.
For this bracelet, I opened and closed only the 10mm copper jump rings, using them to connect the unopened 12mm brass jump rings, and to connect the washer and clasp:
We’ll start at the washer end of the bracelet, and use a 10mm copper jump ring to connect the washer to a 12mm brass jump ring.
So use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist open one of your 10mm copper jump rings:
String the washer and the 12mm brass jump ring onto the opened 10mm copper jump ring.
Then use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist the 10mm copper jump ring shut again:
Now we’ll add the next two jump rings.
Use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist open one of your 10mm copper jump rings, to connect it to a 12mm brass jump ring:
String the previous 12mm brass jump ring and the new 12mm brass jump ring onto the opened 10mm copper jump ring.
Then use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist the 10mm copper jump ring shut again.
And do the same with the next 10mm and 12mm jump rings:
Continue alternating 10mm and 12mm jump rings to grow your chain:
. . . and grow it:
Until it reaches your intended length, ending with a 12mm brass jump ring:
Now it’s time to attach the clasp.
Use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist open one of your 10mm copper jump rings:
String the chain’s last 12mm brass jump ring and the clasp onto the opened 10mm copper jump ring.
Then use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist the 10mm copper jump ring shut again.
And your bracelet is finished!
The ends of your finished Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet may look something like this:
To wear the bracelet, wrap it around the wrist, and then clasp the swivel hook onto the copper washer: