Chained Fluorite Pendulum

Chained Fluorite Pendulum

Designed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong © 2011

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Technique: Working with chain and jump rings

This pattern was specifically designed to encase a natural fluorite octahedron crystal; however with a few adjustments, a "chained cage" could easily be configured to fit about any geometric shape with points. One such example is a pyrite cube. This pattern shows the chained crystal being used as a pendulum, but it could also be worn as a pendant or hung in a sunny window. (I am going to hang mine on our Christmas tree.)

Really, as all natural crystals are as unique as fingerprints, there is no "one way" to create a chained cage such as this example. Therefore I present the following directions as "inspiration."

Materials

  • 1 piece, about 3", 21-gauge round half hard wire
  • 1 octahedron fluorite crystal
  • Chain
  • 6 jump rings

Tools

Instructions

  1. Choose a jump ring size that will best fit over the points on your crystal; you will need a minimum of 6. Attach one jump ring to the end of a length of chain. Place the jump ring at the crystal's point to determine how long the chain needs to be to reach the next "point."
    Chained Fluorite Pendulum
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  2. Using the measurement in Step 1, cut four lengths of chain and open one jump ring.
    Chained Fluorite Pendulum
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  3. Insert one end of each chain length onto the jump ring and close it firmly.
    Chained Fluorite Pendulum
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  4. At the end of each attached length of chain, add one jump ring.
    Chained Fluorite Pendulum
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  5. Place the main/bottom jump ring onto a crystal point and determine how long the next chain segments must be to reach the other end of the stone.
    Chained Fluorite Pendulum
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  6. Cut four more pieces of chain at the length determined in Step 5. See Sherrie Lingerfelt's video on Cutting Equal Lengths of Jewelry Chain for tips!
    Chained Fluorite Pendulum
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  7. Connect each of these new chain segments to one of the jump rings as shown.
    Chained Fluorite Pendulum
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  8. Using the last/sixth jump ring, join all four of the new chain segments together. When all of the chains and jump rings have been connected, the results should resemble a cage.
    Chained Fluorite Pendulum
    Chained Fluorite Pendulum
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  9. Carefully fit the octahedral crystal into the chain, either by slipping a jump ring over each point, OR by running the chained jump rings along the sides of the stone.
    Chained Fluorite Pendulum
    Chained Fluorite Pendulum
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  10. On one end of chained cage, insert a curved piece of 21-gauge round half hard wire through two chain links that are diagonally opposite each other. Use this 21-gauge wire to make a figure-8 link, inserting a final piece of chain before wrapping the loop closed. Enjoy!
    Chained Fluorite Pendulum
    Chained Fluorite Pendulum
    Chained Fluorite Pendulum
    Chained Fluorite Pendulum
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