“Wait… is that a zipper pull on your necklace?”
Yes. Yes, it is.
In a world full of lobster clasps, jump rings, and crimp beads, there comes a point in every jewelry maker’s journey when they ask:
“What if I used something totally unexpected?”
Welcome to the world of unconventional findings—where creativity has no rules and your design is only limited by your imagination. Whether you're a seasoned artisan or just beginning to explore, this post is your passport to playfulness, innovation, and wow-factor jewelry.
🎨 Why Use Unconventional Findings?
Because today’s jewelry landscape is packed with sameness. When you use unique components—industrial bits, textile elements, repurposed hardware—you break the pattern and make pieces that start conversations.
✨ They give your jewelry a signature voice
✨ They add texture, storytelling, and surprise
✨ They appeal to customers looking for something truly different
💡 Bonus: They're often more sustainable, especially when you upcycle or reuse.
🔍 5 Unexpected “Findings” to Spark Your Next Design
Here are a few offbeat, totally design-worthy materials to experiment with:
1️⃣ Mechanical Parts 🛠️
Think watch gears, tiny screws, bolts, and wire coils. These pieces make stunning steampunk elements or minimalist industrial touches.
💡 Try This: Use a tiny gear as a charm or metal spring as a connector between chain segments.
2️⃣ Textile Details 🧵
Yes, thread counts. So does leather, ribbon, woven cords, or even denim. These soft findings add movement and tactile contrast to cold metals and stones.
💡 Try This: Replace a metal connector with braided silk cord, or use a leather loop as a pendant hanger.
3️⃣ Vintage Treasures 💍
Old keys, typewriter parts, drawer pulls, broken brooches—vintage junk is jewelry gold. Each component carries its own story.
💡 Try This: Turn a rusted key into a pendant, or use a Victorian button as a clasp centerpiece.
4️⃣ Hardware Store Finds 🔩
Be bold—next time you're at the hardware store, stroll past the bead aisle and into the tool section.
💡 Try This: Use brass washers as spacers, cotter pins as headpins, or rubber O-rings as flexible links in bracelets.
5️⃣ Nature's Touch 🍃
Who says findings need to be metal? Think wood slices, bone, shells, feathers, and dried pods—either as connectors or closures.
💡 Try This: Use a driftwood slice as a clasp cover or turn a pressed flower resin disk into a toggle.
🛠️ 3 Rules (That Aren’t Really Rules) for Working with Creative Jewelry Findings
Let’s be honest—when you’re working with non-traditional components, you’re in experimental territory. That’s part of the fun! But here are a few guideposts:
1. Make it Functional
Even if a part is visually cool, it has to hold up. Test strength, weight, and wearability. Use epoxy resin, sturdy wire, or cold connections like riveting for security.
2. Keep It Balanced
If your clasp is a showstopper, maybe keep the beads minimal. Or flip it: bold beads + subtle findings. Think in terms of design harmony, not competition.
3. Tell the Story
Customers love pieces that make them say, “Wait… what is that made of?” Use that moment to explain your materials—and your creativity becomes part of the product.
💡 Bonus Tips for Custom Jewelry Makers
If you offer custom designs, unconventional findings give you an edge. Here’s how:
✔ Ask your client if they have a family keepsake you can incorporate (like a broken pendant, cufflink, or watch face)
✔ Create a “hybrid heirloom” using new beads + vintage closures
✔ Offer “choose-your-component” add-ons—like industrial, organic, or recycled-style findings
This elevates your work from handmade to one-of-a-kind.
✨ Final Thoughts: Ditch the Rules, Not the Craft
Unconventional findings aren’t about rebellion for the sake of it—they’re about redefining what jewelry can be.
The best part? You don’t have to give up technique or quality. You just have to be brave enough to play.
So next time you sit at your workbench, ask yourself: 👉 “What could I use instead?”
And then go make it work—your way.
🌟 Need a mix of traditional and artistic findings to support your boldest designs? Discover unique components at Rainbow Gem Beads.