Jewelry Making

DIY Jewelry, Beads And Patterns

Your opinion please!

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engagement ring with garnet settingWeddings and rings are bound together in our culture. With my own wedding coming up quickly, I’ve given a lot of thought to jewelry and its value lately. Some jewelry is precious simply because of the sentimental attachment we have to it. From macaroni necklaces presented proudly by your three-year old niece to antique pieces made of cheap metal and glass “stones,” these pieces are precious for the thought put into making them or because they were once owned and worn often by your grandma.

Fine jewelry that has inherent value from its component materials such as precious metals and precious stones obviously has more monetary value. The rarity of these resources make them precious and somehow more desirable. I think engagement rings are the perfect example of jewelry that is precious both sentimentally and monetarily.

Do you think the monetary value of a piece makes it more precious or simply more desirable as a status symbol? For my own engagement ring, I selected a garnet as the central stone. Garnets are my birthstone and I love the color red. For both these reasons, a garnet had more sentimental value to me than a diamond. Diamonds are beautiful but are they truly worth all the mystique we attribute to them? My intended is from South Africa, one of the world’s largest producers of exquisite diamonds; I am from Arkansas, the Diamond state. It seems to me the value of diamonds and their dominance as THE stone for engagement rings is rather arbitrary. What is your opinion on the value of jewelry and diamonds? Does a more expensive price automatically mean a more precious piece? Do you believe a diamond is forever as the ad says and think it the best symbol of love? What do you think?

Comments

  1. I played no part in picking out my engagement ring. My husband did it completely on his own (I didn’t even know he was planning to ask me to marry him.) It was always more important to me for him to find something that he liked and felt that I would love too. I wouldn’t have it any other way. :0) Oh, and congratulations!

  4. I agree, except for insurance purposes, the “value” is all in the sentiment. Thank you for the well wishes. I like the way you think, Lori Ann! Our furry friends need all the love and support they can get 🙂

  6. I agree. Feeling the band around my finger reminds me of feeling safe in his arms and I envision beautiful brown eyes asking me to be his always. The beautiful ring is just icing on the cake.

  8. I’m very practical, too. I think you’ve made a very good choice in husbands! I love that he got a good deal on a beautiful ring you love and I also like that your ring is eco-friendly.

  9. The eternal ring symbolizing love, faith in the commitment from another person and the promise to keep the bond alive every day has always been my measure of worth in a gift beyond a price tag.
    Your care and guarding of your ring will make it more precious as each act of love and kindness adds to the glow you captured in the photo. You captured the essence in the photo sought after by so many photographers.
    I have jewels, baubles and odd whimsical creations I can’t keep up with but the most valuable ones shine brightest when they smile.

  10. I wanted to use an amethyst and diamond ring that my grandmother gave me for my wedding ring because it has a lot of sentimental value to me. I don’t wear much jewelry because I tend to lose it, so to me the meaning behind a ring or gemstone is what matters. They’re all just rocks {albeit beautiful ones!} when it comes down to it, so any monetary value assigned to them is somewhat arbitrary. I say where what makes you happy!

  11. I don’t think something has to be expensive to be precious or valuable.
    My birthstone is diamond and I’ve always wanted a diamond wedding ring with smaller sapphire stones on either side of the diamond.
    Or maybe emerald…
    lol I’d never be able to decide.
    Very pretty ring, btw!

Have you read?

10 DIY Elegant Halloween Jewellery Ideas For Adults

Halloween jewellery does not have to mean plastic pumpkin earrings, oversized orange beads, or novelty pieces that only come out for one night and then disappear into the back of a drawer until next October. Sometimes the prettiest Halloween accessories are the ones that whisper spooky rather than shout it across the room. A tiny skull charm on a beaded strand, a black spiderweb pendant with a bit of sparkle, a gothic choker, or pumpkin earrings made with wire and glass beads can feel festive without looking like you raided the kids’ dress-up box.

I have always loved the idea of grown-up Halloween jewellery because it gives you a way to join in the season without committing to a full costume. Handy when you have school pickups, work, dinner out, or, in my case, a dog who thinks anything dangling from my ears is clearly meant for his inspection. Elegant DIY Halloween jewellery is also a lovely excuse to use black beads, gunmetal findings, rich purples, smoky crystals, deep reds, antique brass, and all those moody little supplies we tend to collect because “they might come in handy one day.”

These Halloween jewellery tutorials are perfect for adults who want something handmade, wearable, and just a little bit dramatic. There are beaded earrings, wirework pumpkins, skull bracelets, spiderweb pendants, gothic necklaces, and a few pieces that could be styled beautifully with a black dress, velvet jacket, autumn cardigan, or even jeans and boots. Nothing too childish, nothing too throwaway — just clever handmade jewellery ideas with a spooky-season twist.

Elegant DIY Halloween Jewellery Tutorials For Adults

1. Glam Halloween Necklace Tutorial

This glam Halloween necklace is the sort of piece you can wear to a party without feeling like you’re in costume. The black, orange, and silver beading gives it a seasonal look, but the layered style keeps it polished and very wearable. It would look lovely with a plain black top or dress when you want your jewellery to do the decorating.

2. Halloween Multi-Strand Necklace With Skull Pendant

This skull pendant necklace has that perfect grown-up spooky look — a little gothic, a little beaded, and very fun for Halloween night. The multi-strand design makes it feel more like statement jewellery than a quick costume accessory. I especially like this one for using up seed beads in purple, black, gunmetal, or deep orange tones.

3. Spider Web Pendant And Earrings For Halloween

Spiderweb jewellery can go very novelty very quickly, but this project keeps it quite stylish with craft wire, glass beads, and a matching pendant-and-earring idea. It has enough detail to feel special, but it still sits nicely in that elegant Halloween jewellery space. Try it in silver and black for classic spooky, or antique copper for a more Victorian feel.

4. Creepy Halloween Bead And Wire Spider Earrings

These bead and wire spider earrings are wonderfully dramatic without being over the top. They use wirework and beads to create a proper little spider shape, which makes them ideal if you enjoy jewellery projects that feel a bit more sculptural. Make them in black crystal, smoky grey, or deep garnet beads for a more adult Halloween look.

5. Jewelry Making – Pumpkin Wire Earrings

These pumpkin wire earrings from CraftBits are a sweet Halloween and fall jewellery project that can easily be dressed up depending on your supplies. Swap the bright orange for copper wire, bronze beads, or tiny green glass accents and they suddenly become much more boutique-looking. They are quick enough for an afternoon make, which is always a win when October sneaks up on us.

6. Beaded Pumpkin Earrings

If you like seed bead projects, these beaded pumpkin earrings are a lovely seasonal make. The shape is cute, but the beaded texture gives them a more finished jewellery look than a simple charm earring. For an elegant version, I’d try muted pumpkin tones, copper seed beads, or even black and bronze for a Halloween evening outfit.

7. DIY Dripping Blood Earrings

These dripping blood earrings are definitely for the Halloween lovers who like a bit of drama. Because they are made with hot glue and nail polish, they are budget-friendly, but you can make them look more polished by using deep wine red, gloss varnish, or a subtle red glitter finish. They would be fabulous with a vampire-inspired outfit or a simple black dress.

8. Halloween Skull Bead And Tassel Drop Earrings

Skull beads and tassels are a brilliant combination for adult Halloween jewellery because they add movement without feeling too cutesy. This CraftGossip feature is a great starting point if you love earrings that feel festive but still wearable. Use black silk tassels, metallic skull beads, or deep jewel tones to make them feel more elegant.

9. Colorful Skull Bracelets

These skull bracelets are beginner-friendly, but they can easily be styled in a more grown-up way. Instead of bright rainbow colours, try black skull beads with hematite, smoky quartz, deep purple glass beads, or antique gold spacers. It is a simple strung bracelet project, which makes it perfect for jewellery makers who want something quick but still seasonal.

10. Beaded Bat Earrings Tutorial

For seed bead lovers, these beaded bat earrings are such a fun Halloween challenge. The bat motif is festive, but beadwork gives the design a more intricate handmade feel. They would be gorgeous in matte black beads with a tiny metallic accent, especially if you prefer Halloween jewellery that feels detailed rather than loud.

Styling Elegant Halloween Jewellery Without Looking Too Costumey

The trick with elegant Halloween jewellery is choosing one statement piece and letting it have its moment. A spiderweb pendant with a plain black blouse, skull earrings with a soft cardigan, or a beaded pumpkin bracelet with a rust-coloured sweater can feel seasonal without tipping into full costume territory. I love pieces like these because they let you enjoy Halloween in a way that still feels stylish and personal.

If you are making jewellery to gift, these projects also work beautifully for friends who enjoy Halloween but do not necessarily dress up. Pop a pair of earrings onto a handmade earring card, add a little black ribbon, and you have a thoughtful October gift that feels much nicer than another bag of sweets. Not that I am against sweets, mind you — I simply believe handmade earrings and chocolate can happily live in the same gift bag.