How To Boost Romantic Passion With This Ruby-inspired Crystal Necklace

Present your loved one the gift of this eye-catching crystal-inpsired jewellery

There’s no better gift to give than jewellery, and there’s no gemstone more perfect than a ruby. The red-hued crystal has long been thought to evoke romance and open up your heart chakra, so piece together this trio of glitzy accessories to harness their powers and bring about wonderful new beginnings in your love life.

Project 1: Necklace

You’ll need:

• Antique silver heart connectors, three
• Faceted red glass roundelles, 3mm x 5mm, 65
• Faceted red glass pear, one
• Heart spacers, 5mm, 44
• Wire, 0.4mm
• Lobster claw clasp
• Jump ring
• Ball head pin
• Crimps
• Crimp covers
• Beading thread
• Silver double link chain, 5mm x 6mm

1. Cut 50cm of 0.4mm wire and thread a heart connector into the middle. Pull both ends of the wire through a rondelle, then separate them. Thread on seven heart spacers and seven red rondelles, alternating on each side. Cross the wires through the bottom connector loop and twist tightly until you have a 1cm length at the bottom, then cut. Twist the end of the wire to form a simple loop and add a faceted drop bead using a ball head pin.

2. To form the neckline, cut two 80cm lengths of beading thread and place both lengths through the two heart spacers at the top of the pendant. Position the central motif in the middle of the threads. Pass the two lengths on one side through a heart spacer, then separate and add a rondelle to each. Bring the threads back together through a heart spacer. Repeat twice more. Thread both wires through a rondelle, then add a heart connector.

3. Pass the two threads down through the bottom connector loop, under the heart and up through the top connector loop. Pass both threads through a rondelle, then a spacer heart, and repeat the previous sequence until you have eight pairs of rondelles. Finish with a single rondelle and two spacer hearts, then make up the other half of the necklace in the same way. Attach the necklace to lengths of chain at the desired length by crimping the beading threads and covering with crimp covers. Add a lobster clasp and jump ring to finish.

Did you know?

Worn close to the heart, rubies are said to attract love

Project 2: Bracelet and earrings

You’ll need:

• Antique silver heart connectors, five
• Faceted red glass roundelles, 3mm x 5mm, 14
• Heart spacers, 5mm, six
• Lobster claw clasp
• Jump ring
• Crimps
• Crimp covers
• Beading thread
• Shepherd earring hooks, two

1. Cut two 20cm lengths of beading thread and add a lobster clasp to one end. Thread both lengths into a crimp bead and add a cover. Pass both threads through three alternate heart spacers and rondelles. Add a heart connector, as described in step one of the necklace, then separate and add a red faceted glass bead on each length. Repeat until five heart connectors have been threaded, then add three rondelles and heart spacers. Finish with a jump ring.

2. Create matching earrings by attaching a glass drop to the bottom of a heart connector, then finish by adding a shepherd hook.

Did you know?

Wearing rubies is believed to increase passion and they are traditionally used as a gift for 40th wedding anniversaries

Our expert…

These projects were created by Tina Booth and featured in Make Jewellery Magazine’s February 2015 edition.