Lapis, Amazonite & Freshwater Pearl Layered Necklace

Why We Love This Tutorial:

We made this into a layered style necklace – there are actually two completely separate necklaces. The pearl necklace has a toggle clasp closure at the front, while the amazonite necklace has a lobster clasp + extension chain closure at the back. This necklace is designed to sit very high up – not quite a choker style, but still quite short! It turned out to be 38cm for the Pearl necklace, and 34cm for the amazonite necklace.  You may wish to adjust this for your own sizing.

Beads and Materials You’ll Need:

Pearl Necklace with cluster drop:

• 5mm Potato Pearls (or similar small pearls)
• Mixture of beads for the cluster drop
  • Lapis 4.5mm Faceted Cubes
  • 4mm Gemmy Amazonite
  • 6mm Russian Amazonite
• Lapis Lazuli Pendant
• Large Peanut Pearl
• 25mm Ballpins
• 50mm Headpins (just one for the peanut pearl drop)
• Toggle Clasp
• Tigertail
• 4mm Jump Rings
• 6mm Jump Rings
• 2mm Round Spacer Beads
• Fine Chain (any fine chain with links 2mm or bigger should work just fine)
• Side-close Clamshells
• Crimps

Amazonite Necklace:

• 4mm Gemmy Amazonite Round Beads
• 4mm Gold Wheel Spacer Beads
• Tigertail
• Side-close Clamshells
• Crimps
• Clasp with Extension Chain set

Tools You’ll Need:

• Bent or Flat Nose pliers (for crimping)
• Round Nose Pliers (for making the pearl connectors. I like the three in one pliers for this, as the ends of the tips are particularly fine)
• Flush Cutters
• Scissors (for cutting tiger tail – never use pliers for this!)

Method (Pearl + Cluster Drop Necklace):

1. Cut your tigertail to your desired length. Attach the round half of your toggle to the tigertail using a crimp and a clamshell (we have used side closing clamshells – put your crimp onto the end of the tigertail, then close the clamshell around it. Ensure the clamshell is very well closed and that the crimp can’t pull out the bottom. Other styles of clamshell would also be fine).
2. The nifty thing about these gold plated stainless steel toggles is the loop on the toggle can actually open up to attach the clamshell directly onto.
3. Thread on your pearls to your desired length, then attach another crimp and clamshell to secure it.
4. Next up, we need to make the drops for the cluster. We have used a mixture of small 4mm and 6mm Amazonite and Lapis beads, plus the large peanut pearl and a Lapis Lazuli pendant. Take your ballpin, slide on the bead, then a 2mm spacer. Cut the pin leaving about 8mm above the spacer, and form a loop with your pliers.
5. Use a combination of 4mm and 6mm jump rings to attach these dangles to the ‘O’ section of your toggle. We have used the 6mm jump rings to attach to the toggle, and the 4mm jump rings to add a little length to the dangle when required. We’ve also used a small section of fine chain to dangle the Lapis Pendant a little bit lower down (we have opened and removed the snap bail off the pendant).We have also attach a couple of dangles directly onto the chain that holds the lapis pendant using 4mm jump rings (see photo below).
6. Now that the ‘O’ section of your toggle is all dangled-up, we can attach it to the necklace. Simply open the loop on the toggle, and attach it to the clamshell.
7. You’re done!

Method (Amazonite Necklace):

1. This necklace is a simply strung necklace, using tigertail, crimps, clamshells and a lobster clasp with extension set.
2. Attach your clasp using clamshells and crimps.
3. Thread on your amazonite – we have used 8 beads per section, using a 4mm gold wheel spacer bead between each section.
4. Finish the necklace with a crimp, clamshell and the extension chain.
5. And that necklace is done, too!