Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet (Tutorial)

by Rena Klingenberg. © 2003-Present Rena Klingenberg. All Rights Reserved

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

This chain bracelet project has a bit of hardware style, with a swivel clasp that hooks into the copper washer focal.

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

The mixed metals I used are all antiqued (darkened) – copper, brass, and silver.

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

Make this rugged bracelet for guys and gals. The chain is easy to size perfectly for the wearer’s wrist.

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

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:

Clasp for Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

Here’s the hardware washer and a sample of the jump rings I used:

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg - washer and jump rings

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

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

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:

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

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:

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

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:

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg - making the chain

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:

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg - making the chain

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:

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg - making the chain

Continue alternating 10mm and 12mm jump rings to grow your chain:

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

. . . and grow it:

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg - making the chain

Until it reaches your intended length, ending with a 12mm brass jump ring:

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg - making the chain

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:

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg - attaching the clasp

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.

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg - attaching the clasp

And your bracelet is finished!

The ends of your finished Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet may look something like this:

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg - bracelet ends

To wear the bracelet, wrap it around the wrist, and then clasp the swivel hook onto the copper washer:

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

Rugged Mixed Metal Chain Bracelet Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

FREE - Get 7 Super Jewelry Making Hacks

Get Rena's 7 Super Jewelry Making Hacks, plus the Jewelry Making Journal Newsletter - all for FREE.

We Respect Your Email Privacy

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 3 comments