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Wire Charm Ring (Tutorial)

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

In this wire ring tutorial, we’ll use a single piece of wire to create the look of stacked rings – plus a loop for attaching a small charm or bead.

This is a good project for using up orphan beads, orphan earring dangles, or small pendants / charms.

These are fun for people of all ages to make and wear – and would be an especially good make-and-take project for teen birthday parties, slumber parties, etc.

Supplies:

• Round soft wire, 16 or 18 gauge, 9″ (229mm) long.
  I used 18 gauge copper wire.
• Wire cutter.
• Wire rounder / cup bur.
• Round nose pliers.
• Flat nose pliers.
• Chain nose pliers.
• Small, sturdy jump ring.
• A small charm or pendant, or a small bead with a loop.
• Ring mandrel (you can also substitute a dowel, pvc pipe, highlighting marker, lipgloss tube, etc. that’s about the same circumference as your finger).
• Plastic, nylon, or rawhide jewelry hammer.

How to Make a Wire Charm Ring

Cut your wire to 9″ (229mm) long:

Use your wire rounder / cup bur to round and smooth each end of your wire:

Now we’ll make the loop at one end of your wire.

Pick up your round nose pliers. About halfway down the plier jaws, grasp the tip of one end of your wire:

Roll the end of the wire into a loop around one jaw of your pliers:

The loop end of your wire should look like this:

The whole piece of wire should look like this:

Now we’ll start wrapping the wire around your mandrel.

Because wire tends to “spring back” a bit, I’m using the 6.5 size on my mandrel to create a finished size 7 ring.

Lay the loop end of the wire across your mandrel:

Use your thumb to hold the loop tightly against the mandrel.

Then start wrapping the wire around the mandrel as tightly as you can.

Keep each wrap tightly side-by-side with the last wrap:

Keep wrapping:

. . . until you’ve wrapped the entire length of wire around your mandrel:

The final end of the wire will probably be difficult to press down completely against the mandrel:

So slide the ring off of your mandrel, and use your round nose pliers to curve the sticking-out wire end neatly into place:

. . . so that your wire end behaves nicely like this:

Now we’ll hammer-harden the ring to make it sturdy and keep its shape better.

Slide your ring back onto the mandrel, and use your nylon, plastic, or rawhide hammer to pound the ring firmly into shape around the mandrel. Be sure to hammer every part of the ring:

The wire ring is finished now, and should look something like this:

Now it’s time to attach your charm or bead to the loop on the ring.

If you’re new to using jump rings, be sure to see my quick tip on How to Open and Close Jump Rings

Use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist open the jump ring and string your charm onto it:

Then thread the jump ring through the loop on your ring.

Use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist the jump ring shut again.

Now your finished ring should look something like this: