How to Wrap a Briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial

A briolette is a a type of gemstone cut which is elongated, and quite often pear-shaped. There is a hole drilled in the top and it can be hung like a bead. They work beautifully for pendants and earrings.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to wrap a briolette, specifically a Swarovski crystal prism, for a pendant.

PLEASE NOTE: Swarovski crystals are not required for this tutorial. You can use ANY BRIOLETTE you have on hand – the same technique applies.

HOW TO WRAP A BRIOLETTE

LEVEL: BEGINNER

MATERIALS + TOOLS

30″ piece of 22 gauge copper wire (or wire of your choice)
Swarovski Crystal (in this tutorial, I am using a 40 mm prism spear however you can use any briolette you’d like)
Needle nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Wire cutters
Liver of sulfur (optional)

NOTE: If you are using a smaller briolette, you will likely have to use a smaller gauge wire. Check the hole size of the briolette – the wire should be small enough to fit through the hole.

Step 1

Feed your wire through the hole of the briolette and place approximately 4″ from end of wire. (fig. 1)

How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial — **fig. 1**

Step 2

Using your fingers, gently bend the wires so they cross each other. (fig. 2)

Step 3

Using a pair of needle nose pliers, bend the short end of wire so it is standing straight up. This short piece will be used to create the bail. (fig. 3a, 3b)

Step 4

Using your fingers, grab the long end of the wire and start wrapping around the short piece (the one sticking up), and eventually the top of the crystal. (fig. 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d)

Step 5

You can keep wrapping as far down as you’d like. Once you’re happy with the number of wraps, start wrapping back up the pendant until you get to the top. (fig. 5a, 5b) Don’t be concerned about making perfect wraps – this is how you can achieve a “nest” look.

Step 6

Once you’ve wrapped your wire back up to top of pendant, snip excess wire and tuck wire in with needle nose pliers (fig. 6a, 6b)

Step 7

Now it’s time to start forming the bail. Using your needle nose pliers, start forming a wrapped eye pin loop (fig. 7a, 7b).

Step 8

Using a pair of needle nose pliers, hold the pendant as shown in fig. 8a. If you have nylon jaw pliers, use those instead so you don’t scratch the bail. (I had to use needle nose pliers because my nylon jaw pliers are broken 🙁 However I definitely do recommend them!).

Using your fingers, start wrapping the wire around the base wire (fig. 8b, 8c)