Jewellery making techniques for creating fascinating transforming pieces

You can use a wide range of jewellery making techniques to create inspiring pieces that transform and evolve. From multifunctional jewellery to intricate pieces that can be opened or collapsed, transforming jewellery is an exciting field to explore. Here, you can find out more about jewellery techniques you can use to make your own magical transforming pieces. Take a look at our tips and find your inspiration!

Mix and match with wire wrapped jewellery

Using wire to create transforming jewellery

Wire wrapped jewellery is a great place to start if you want to make transforming pieces. The connections in this kind of jewellery are mechanical, rather than soldered, meaning the the wearer can easily detach individual components. Wire wrapping is therefore one of the simplest jewellery making techniques for creating pieces with interchangeable or deconstructable elements. Why not try making a bracelet with swappable charms or a necklace with detachable pendants that transform into matching earrings?

Unlike some jewellery techniques that require a number of specific tools, it’s quite easy to get started with wire wrapping. All you need is a flush cutter, the right pliers, and wire, made from copper, brass or sterling silver. With each of these metals offering different benefits, wire wrapped jewellery allows a lot of room for experimentation. No matter what your skill level is, wire wrapping could be your road into the fascinating world of transforming jewellery.

Try enamelling jewellery for versatility and drama

Enamelling jewellery is a wonderful way of adding colour to a piece and brings endless possibilities to transforming jewellery. For example, you can use different shades of enamel to create interchangeable links or charms for bracelets and necklaces. Compared to complicated jewellery techniques involving precious stones, enamelling is relatively a cheap and simple way of introducing colour to your pieces. You can therefore easily create jewellery that transforms to match the wearer’s mood simply by swapping between different coloured components.

By combining enamelling with other transforming jewellery making techniques, you can also produce pieces with sensational hidden secrets. Concealing and revealing decorative elements behind doors or with sliding components is a favourite transforming jewellery experience. Enamelling jewellery can produce a broad spectrum of colours that will add extra drama to these reveals. Imagine discovering a vibrant pop of colour in a collapsing ring or a beautiful enamelled panel in a locket!

Explore advanced jewellery techniques for more complex transformations

Mastering advanced jewellery techniques will mean that you can achieve even more jaw-dropping transformations in your pieces. Hinges are a must for collapsible jewellery, while cleverly interlocking components can be added or removed to pieces seamlessly. Wire wrapped jewellery is great for mix-and-match pieces, but you might be looking for a more sophisticated finish. In this case, you’ll have to work out how to use clasps or other closure systems into your piece.

New possibilities for transforming pieces will reveal themselves as you explore different jewellery making techniques. There are also interesting technological developments that are worth investigating, with CAD and 3D printing presenting intriguing prospects for transforming jewellery. Currently, jewellers are combining traditional jewellery techniques with cutting-edge technology to make one-of-a-kind transforming pieces. And with new developments happening all the time, the future of transforming jewellery looks bright and exciting.

A ring that can be worn multiple ways by Alex Monroe

Subscribe to
our newsletter

Be the first to hear about competitions and giveaways, events, special offers and exclusive discounts, new course dates, and other updates from BAJ and its sister company Free2Learn.

[mc4wp_form id="1593"]