Daily Wire Tip Nov. 21: What’s the Average Size for Bracelets?
Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
November 21, 2009
Question:
What would be an average size bracelet? If I were making bracelets for a future show, would I need a variety of sizes and what would they be?
Answer:
During the year, I agree that it is important to create ‘regular stock’ items for our jewelry show inventory. Bracelets are always a popular item that is purchased both as a gift and as a personal accessory. Every jeweler has his or her own ‘magic number’ as far as how many to have on hand and in which sizes. My personal inventory contains small, medium, regular and large (as I think the term ‘extra large’ can be demeaning). These sizes, measured end-to-end are: Small = 6 ½ inches, Medium = 7 inches, Regular = 7 ½ inches, and Large = 8 inches. The numbers of each size that I personally try to have on-hand are: Small – 5, Medium – 5, Regular – 8 and Large – 4. Then, think about the different styles you enjoy making and if like me you regularly create 5 different styles, you have a lot of bracelets for customers to choose from! Of course there are always the one or two bracelets you make that were not figured correctly and you end up with a 5-½ inch bracelet, which always sells too, because there is usually a lady with a very small bone structure who is thrilled to find that you handcrafted a bracelet ‘just for her’! This is one of the wonderful features of being a wire jewelry artist; you can make a bracelet to fit anyone!
Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong
Have a question? Submit your question here!
bracelet, how to make a bracelet, size of bracelet
Filed under:Daily Wire Jewelry Tips‚ Project Help‚ Sales, Marketing, Shows, & Display‚ Technique Tips
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Where do I look to find design ideas for bracelets?
There are several bracelet design ideas and patterns included in our Free Email Wire Jewelry Patterns, which you can sign-up for here: I also have several designs in my book and if you do an Internet search for ‘wire jewelry bracelets’ you will find pages and pages of beautiful ideas!
I have the new book to which Dale has referred, asnd it really does have many beautiful design, along with amazing step-by-step instructions. I just got it recently, and have already made my own version of a bracelet, and everyone likes it, so I will be making many more!
Thanks, Dale!
Speaking of bracelet length, if you make a 7 1/2″ end to end bracelet from 8mm and smaller stones(just for example) and then make a 7 1/2″ bracelet using large chunky Goldstone nuggets the finished inside diameter of the closed bracelet will be very different. You would have to make the Goldstone one a lot longer in order to fit the same wrist. It’s like a racetrack, the outside lane is a lot longer than the inside lane.
Edward, what you say is very true when speaking pf beaded or strung bracelets, just so folks know this is not the same when making wire bracelets. Thanks!
Dale/Cgr
I love the fact that you break down the bracelets so that a larger wristed woman becomes a large instead of an Amazon size, or the Extra-Large size that I hate hearing.
Hello Dale. I have several great grandaughters of various ages so bracelet length is a huge question for me. To solve my dilemma I ad a couple of extra figure eight links to the end of the bracelets I make so the length is adjustable. Works for me.
Nice idea Ila, thanks for sharing : )
Another way to make an adjustable bracelet is to add a chain extender and us a clasp such as a large lobster to make it fit several size wrists.