Beaded jewelry designs for men are so easy to design. Men's bracelets and necklaces tend to be narrow in their color palette. They favor earth toned beads, black, and muted colors. Focal beads and flair are fine in moderate amounts, but simplicity and function are what men look for in jewelry. Let's look at three free beading project ideas. These are great springboards to creating unique pieces of your own.
Timeless Men's Bracelets And Necklaces
Metal Head Bracelet
The Metal Head bracelet is great for a hardworking man that carries the spirit of miners and earth movers. This jewelry was born in depths of the Southwest. Copper does the heavy lifting and silver is the highlight.
Designer Damien Shay
Materials
Satin Silver Soft Flex Wire, .024 Diameter - 9 1/4"
4mm Copper Plated Round Bead - 11 pcs
4mm Sterling Silver Round Bead - 11 pcs
6mm Copper Plated Faceted Bead - 11 pcs
6mm Silver Plated Faceted Bead - 10 pcs
2x2mm Silver Filled Crimp Tube - 2 pcs
1 Strand Silver Clasp - 1 set
Tools
Crimper
Cutter
Round Nose Pliers
Bead Stoppers
Instructions
Finished Size: 8 3/8"
Step 1: Cut a 9 1/4" length of .024 diameter Satin Silver Soft Flex Wire and attach a bead stopper to one end. Begin stringing beads on the wire in this order: one 4mm round sterling silver bead, one 6mm round faceted copper plated pewter bead, one 4mm round copper plated bead, one 6mm round faceted silver plated pewter bead.
Step 2: Continue stringing beads in the same order as Step 1. After you string the eleventh 4mm round copper plated bead add a bead stopper to the end of the wire to hold all the beads in place until you are ready to add the clasp. You can add or remove beads depending on what size bracelet you need.
Step 3: Remove a bead stopper from one of the ends of the wire and string a 2x2mm silver filled crimp tube, then string half of the sterling silver clasp. Take the end of the wire and string it back through the crimp tube and crimp using the crimping pliers. Click here for step by step instructions on how to crimp. Next use the cutters and trim the excess wire flush to the crimp tube making sure not to cut the side of the wire with the stringed beads.
Step 4: Remove the bead stopper from the other end of the wire and string a 2x2mm silver filled crimp tube and the other half of the clasp. Take the end of the wire and string it back through the crimp tube and crimp using the crimping pliers. Use the cutters and trim the excess wire flush to the crimp tube
Tourmanator Necklace
Black Tourmaline, Hematite and silver make a striking piece of jewelry. Perfect for the man that wants simplicity and colors that will not draw a lot of attention. This industrial design would look great with a black shirt and painter's pants.
Designer Damien Shay
Materials
Sterling Silver Plated Extreme Wire, .019 Diameter - 21"
4mm Black Tourmaline Round Bead - 38 pcs
4mm Hematite Round Bead - 19 pcs
5mm Hematite Drum Bead from - 20 pcs
3mm Sterling Silver Round Bead - 40 pcs
2x2mm Silver Filled Crimp Tube - 2 pcs
1 Strand Silver Clasp - 1 set
Tools
Crimper
Cutter
Round Nose Pliers
Bead Stoppers
Instructions
Finished Size: 20"
Step 1: Cut a 21" length of .019 diameter Sterling Silver Plated Extreme Wire and attach a bead stopper to one end. String one of each bead on the wire in the following order: sterling silver, Hematite barrel, sterling silver, Tourmaline, Hematite round, and Tourmaline.
Step 2: Continue stringing beads in the same order as Step 1. After you string the fortieth sterling silver bead, add a bead stopper to the end of the wire to hold all the beads in place until you are ready to add the clasp.
Step 3: Remove a bead stopper from one of the ends of the wire and string a 2x2mm silver filled crimp tube, then string half of the sterling silver clasp. Take the end of the wire and string it back through the crimp tube and crimp using the crimping pliers. Click here for step by step instructions on how to crimp. Next use the cutters and trim the excess wire flush to the crimp tube making sure not to cut the side of the wire with the stringed beads.
Step 4: Remove the bead stopper from the other end of the wire and string a 2x2mm silver filled crimp tube and the other half of the clasp. Take the end of the wire and string it back through the crimp tube and crimp using the crimping pliers. Use the cutters and trim the excess wire flush to the crimp tube.
Summer Shark Necklace
Finally, check out this classic surf piece. Bamboo, stone, and a shark tooth make for an appealing beach necklace. The perfect jewelry for an endless summer. T-shirts and laid back attitudes are the perfect accessories for this one.
Designer Damien Shay
Materials
Satin Silver Soft Flex Wire, .019 Diameter - 19"
Shark Tooth Pendant - 1 pc
6mm Howlite Rondelle from - 8 pcs
3mm Sterling Silver Round Bead - 26 pcs
6mm Goldstone Bead from
Beadaholique - 12 pcs
4mm Goldstone Bead from
Beadaholique - 24 pcs
8x5mm Natural Colored Bamboo Rice Bead - 18 pcs
2x2mm Silver Filled Crimp Tube - 2 pcs
1 Strand Clasp - 1 set
Tools
Regular Crimper
Cutter
Round Nose Pliers
Bead Stoppers
Instructions
Finished Size: 18"
Step 1: Cut a 19" length of .019 diameter Satin Silver Soft Flex Wire and attach a bead stopper to one end. String one of each bead on the wire in the following order: sterling silver, Howlite, Bamboo, 4mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 6mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 4mm Goldstone, Bamboo, 4mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 6mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 4mm Goldstone, Bamboo and Howlite.
Step 2: Then string one of each bead on the wire in the following order: Bamboo, 4mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 6mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 4mm Goldstone, Bamboo, 4mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 6mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 4mm Goldstone, Bamboo, Howlite, Bamboo, 4mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 6mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 4mm Goldstone, Bamboo, 4mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 6mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 4mm Goldstone, Bamboo and Howlite.
Step 3: Next string the Shark Tooth Pendant and then one of each bead in the following order: Howlite, Bamboo, 4mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 6mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 4mm Goldstone, Bamboo, 4mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 6mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 4mm Goldstone, Bamboo and Howlite.
Step 4: Then string one of each bead on the wire in the following order: Bamboo, 4mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 6mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 4mm Goldstone, Bamboo, 4mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 6mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 4mm Goldstone, Bamboo, Howlite, Bamboo, 4mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 6mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 4mm Goldstone, Bamboo, 4mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 6mm Goldstone, sterling silver, 4mm Goldstone, Bamboo, Howlite and sterling silver (strung beads on each side of the pendant should mirror each other). Add a bead stopper to the end of the wire to hold all the beads in place until you are ready to add the clasp.
Step 5: Remove a bead stopper from one of the ends of the wire and string a 2x2mm silver filled crimp tube, then string half of the sterling silver clasp. Take the end of the wire and string it back through the crimp tube and crimp using the crimping pliers. Click here for step by step instructions on how to crimp. Next use the cutters and trim the excess wire flush to the crimp tube making sure not to cut the side of the wire with the stringed beads.
Step 6: Remove the bead stopper from the other end of the wire and string a 2x2mm silver filled crimp tube and the other half of the clasp. Take the end of the wire and string it back through the crimp tube and crimp using the crimping pliers. Use the cutters and trim the excess wire flush to the crimp tube
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Damien Shay became the graphic designer for Soft Flex Company in 2007. He started his career back in 1983 and has worked for several NYC advertising and publishing companies. His favorite gemstones are Lapis, Turquoise and Fire Agate. He loves designing jewelry for men as well as friends and family. You can email him at Damien@SoftFlexCompany.com.