In this video, I demonstrate how easy it is to weld an invisible connection with a briolette (drop stone bead) for permanent bracelets. The result is that no wire is showing, and the drop bead looks like it is floating on the chain.
Find wire that is thin enough to go through the hole of the bead – cut about an inch or more, depending on the size of your drop.
First thread the wire through one end of the chain, followed by the bead, and then through the other side of the chain. Gather the wires together, and make sure the length of the bracelet is comfortable before cutting your chain length.
Flip the stone up, with the point pointing towards the fingers. This will ensure you are working on the underside of the bracelet, and when the bracelet naturally drapes, the tip of the bead will be pointing up instead.
Gather both sides of the wire tightly across the bead, over the drill hole(not around the tip). Take away as much slack as possible with pliers, pinching the sides together.
Trim the points of the wires, leaving about 1 mm excess.
With the leather welding protector in place over the hand and the wires touching together, weld the two wire ends. A small ball should form, and if you had removed all slack over the bead, the welded wire would be snug across the bead.
If you did not weld with argon gas, clean the oxidation using a fibreglass bristle brush.
Note: this method is not recommended for gold filled wires. Overtime, the small weld mark will darken and be visible if the bead is translucent. It is recommended that you use solid gold wire.
Click here to watch the full tutorial
Jewelry components used in this video (all available online | with product code):
