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

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October 8, 2020 by Chantal

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

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.

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

This wire-wrapping tutorial is part of my “Beginner series” of simple wire wrapping techniques.

Prefer this tutorial in a PRINTABLE FORMAT?

Click here for the PDF version of “How to Wire-Wrap a Briolette”

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.

RELATED CONTENT

  • Beginner’s Guide to Jewelry Wire for Wire-Wrapping
  • Simple Wire Brooch Tutorial
  • Wire-Wrapping Tutorials: 13 DIY Wire-Wrapped Pendants
  • Wire-Wrapping Tutorial DIY Jewelry Kits on Etsy

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)

How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
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)

How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 3a
How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 3b

Prefer this tutorial in a PRINTABLE FORMAT?

Click here for the PDF version of “How to Wire-Wrap a Briolette”

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)

How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 4a
How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 4b
How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 4c
How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 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.

How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 5a
How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 5b

Prefer this tutorial in a PRINTABLE FORMAT?

Click here for the PDF version of “How to Wire-Wrap a Briolette”

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)

How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 6a
How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 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).

RELATED: How to Make a Wrapped Eye Pin Loop

How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 7a
How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 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)

How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 8a
How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 8b
How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 8c

Prefer this tutorial in a PRINTABLE FORMAT?

Click here for the PDF version of “How to Wire-Wrap a Briolette”

Step 9

Keep wrapping as much as you’d like (basically enough to cover the base wire – fig. 9a, 9b)

How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 9a
How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 9b

Step 10

Trim excess wire and tuck end in with a pair of needle nose pliers (fig. 10a, 10b).

How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 10a
How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
fig. 10b

All Done!

At this point, your pendant is done 🙂

I work exclusively with copper wire and I like using liver of sulfur to achieve an “antique” look.

RELATED: How to Use Liver of Sulfur as Copper Patina

How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial

Here is the pendant after using liver of sulfur

How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial

RELATED CONTENT

  • Beginner’s Guide to Jewelry Wire for Wire-Wrapping
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  • Wire-Wrapped Crescent Moon Tutorial

Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Birthstone Pendants

You can easily add little birthstone charms like these ones. I make my charms with little Swarovski crystals – Tutorial coming on this soon.

How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
November Birthstone
How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
December Birthstone
How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial
July Birthstone

Here are all Swarovski birthstones

How to wrap a briolette: Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Pendant Tutorial

Wire-Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Suncatchers

Here are a couple of wire-wrapped Swarovski crystal suncatchers that I’ve made – the possibilities are endless.

Swarovski Crystal Suncatcher
Swarovski Crystal Suncatcher

RELATED CONTENT

  • Wire-Wrapping Tools & Supplies for Beginners
  • How to Make a Spiral Bead Cage Pendant
  • Wire-Wrapping Tutorials: 13 DIY Wire-Wrapped Pendants
  • Wire-Wrapped Ring Tutorials – How to Wire-Wrap Rings

If you’d like to see my work and follow my wire journey, you can find me here:

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