VINTAGE RHINESTONE NECKLACES ARE DISTINCTIVE, eye-catching, and surprisingly inexpensive. You can pick up a stash of necklaces at your local thrift store, flea market, or on eBay. On their own, these vintage wares are often too short to wear, but layer a few together, add a little length, and you have something really spectacular. For this necklace we paired the glitzy crystal chain with dark oversize curb chain to make it casual enough to wear every day. But you can use this same technique to create a sparkly style for weddings or holiday parties.
2 rhinestone necklaces, about 15 in/38 cm long, clasps removed
4 hematite crimp ends that fit over the rhinestones
18 small silver jump rings
18 in/46 cm hematite curb chain, 4 mm
12 in/30.5 cm silver bar and link chain, 2 mm
24 in/61 cm antique silver curb chain, 10 mm
30 in/76 cm antique silver curb chain, 2 mm
12 in /30.5 cm silver fishbone chain, 10 mm
4 large silver jump rings
1 medium silver lobster clasp
2 pairs of chain-nose pliers
Ruler
Clippers
Prepare the chain
1 With the clasp removed, insert one end of a rhinestone chain into a crimp end and, using the chain-nose pliers, fold the prongs over the stone, securing the stone in the crimp end. Repeat for the opposite end of the necklace. Then repeat this step for the second rhinestone necklace.
2 With two small jump rings, one on each side, add some of the 4-mm hematite curb chain to each end of one necklace to lengthen it. How much you lengthen your necklace will depend on the length of the necklace you have on hand. You’ll want one necklace to fall slightly longer than the other, creating a waterfall effect, so even if you need to add some chain to the other necklace, be sure to keep the two necklaces at different lengths.
3 Make sure each remaining chain is cut to size. The 2-mm silver bar and link chain should be cut to 12 in/30.5 cm long. Cut the 10-mm antique silver curb chain into one 12-in/30.5-cm section and two 6-in/15-cm sections. Cut the 2-mm antique silver curb chain into two 15-in/38-cm sections. If you haven’t already, cut the fishbone chain so it’s 12 in/30.5 cm long.
4 Set aside the two 6-in/15-cm sections of the antique silver 10-mm curb chain. Lay out the remaining chains in the order you’d like them to appear on the necklace. Vary the lengths to create a lush, layered look.
5 Attach a small jump ring to each end of each chain.
6 Connect the ends of all the small jump rings onto a large jump ring. Mix up the order of the chains a bit to create a tousled look and then attach the ends of the small jump rings onto the other large jump ring.
7 Use small jump rings to attach the two pieces of reserved chain to the large jump rings. Make sure these two pieces of chain are separate from the chain jumble, because they will create the back of the necklace.
Add the clasp
8 Add the clasp to one end of the oversize chain with a jump ring and add a large jump ring to the other end of the chain.
