Making Watches

Making watches is a great way to make some extra income.You can make so many different looks and styles and there are so many gorgeous beads to choose from. A beaded watch can be made either single or double stranded.

RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES

Rose nose Pliers
Nipper Tool
Crimping Tool
Tweezers
Beading Board
Crimping Beads
49 strand or 19-strand stringing wire
Clasps
Beads

SINGE STRANDED WATCH

A single stranded watch is beaded from the watch face back to the clasp. The size of each person’s wrist is different and some people like to wear their watches snug while others like a loose fit. It is important to take measurements every single time.

MEASUREMENTS

Lets say if you have a somewhat small wrist and like to wear your watch loosely then you want to make a watch that is approximately 7 ½ inches. If the watch face measures '1' inch then you are now down to 6 ½ inches. If the toggle takes up one quarter of an inch then you are left with approximately ‘6’ inches for beads. Basically you will have ‘3’ inches of beads on the left side and ‘3’ inches on the right side. Bead the left side totally first, then the right side

LAYOUT/DESIGN

Lay the watch face on the beading board, and put a ‘6’ or ‘8 ‘millimeter spacer bead next to the watch face (‘6’ or ‘8’ millimeter spacer bead has a large hole and will conceal the crimp bead); continue to layout the design of the beads going outward from the watch face ‘3’ inches for each side;

When all the beads have been laid out on the beading board then:

• Cut the beading wire about ‘6’ inches
• Make a checkmark at the end of beading wire
• Let the crimp bead fall into the checkmark
• Put the checkmark through the small hole on the watch face
(the end of the watch that has the #6)
• Bend the checkmark so that it can be inserted into the crimp bead
• Slide the crimp bead toward the watch face as far as you can
• Pull the beading wire tightly and crimp down by the watch face
• Nip the beading wire to about 16th of an inch.
• Put on a ‘6’ millimeter spacer bead to cover the crimp and proceed to bead up to the clasp.

When all beads are strung into place then:

• Add a crimp bead
• Put the stringing wire through small hole on the open toggle
• Thread the stringing wire down through the crimp bead and through the first bead
• Pull the beading wire tightly and crimp.
• You may thread the stringing wire through a couple of more beads and then nip the remaining wire.

Follow the same instructions for both sides of watch.
Just remember Instead of crimping to the clasp you are going to crimp to the watch face.

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CRIMP

http://jewelrymaking.about.com/od/finishingtechniques/ss/100408_7.htm

DOUBLE SIDED WATCH

Basically with a double sided watch you crimp at the clasp, bead to the watch face, put your beading wire through the watch face and bead back down to the clasp. This is a watch that I beaded for myself, I have a larger wrist so the measurement would be larger then I am referencing in this article.

MEASUREMENTS

Once again measurements are very necessary. If the watch face measures an inch, and toggle is about an inch you will have approximately ‘6’ inches left for beading. For the double stranded watch you are beading from the round clasp to the watch face, through the watch face, and back down to the bar clasp.

You will have ‘3’ inches on left and ‘3’ inches on the right side for beads. Spacer beads are not needed for the two stranded watch because you crimp at the clasp, opposed to the watch face. You will however need to use at least ‘2’ tapering beads that are about '4' millimeter, so that you will be able to get the toggle through the round part of the clasp.

LAYOUT/DESIGN

First place the watch face on the beading board, then from the top down to the watch face layout the bead pattern beginning with two ‘4’ millimeter tapering beads. There will be ‘3’ inches of beads on each side.

• Cut the beading wire about ‘8’ or ‘9’ inches
• Make a checkmark at the end of beading wire
• Let the crimp bead fall into the checkmark
• Put the checkmark through the small hole on the open toggle
• Bend the checkmark so that it can be inserted into the crimp bead
• Slide the crimp bead down toward the open toggle as far as you can
• Pull the stringing wire tightly and crimp down by the clasp
• Nip the stringing wire to about 1/8 of an inch.
• The first bead goes over the little strand that’s left

String the beads all the way down to the watch face; then put the beading wire through the watch face hole (the end of the watch that has the #6) and bead back up to the bar toggle. When all beads are strung in place then:

• String on two ‘4’ millimeter beads
• Add a crimp bead
• Put the stringing wire through the small hole on the bar toggle
• Thread the beading wire through the crimp bead
• Thread the beading wire down through the first bead
• Pull beading wire tightly and crimp.

Repeat the same instruction for the other side of the watch.