Textured Silver Flower Necklace: A Nature-Inspired Silversmithing Tutorial
In this nature-inspired project, you'll create a beautifully textured flower necklace in solid sterling silver, complete with a hand-made granulated centre in silver or gold. Choose from 18 flower designs, or draw your own, and use traditional silversmithing techniques to bring it to life in precious metal.
You'll pierce and file your flower from sheet silver, choose from three different texturing methods, dome and shape the metal by hand, make your own granules from scratch, and solder everything together before polishing to a shine.
By the end you'll have a finished flower necklace that is entirely your own, with the skills and confidence to keep making more.
What You’ll Learn in this Silversmithing Tutorial:
Learn how to pierce a design in sterling silver sheet
Learn how to texture your silver using three different methods
Learn how to dome your silver using a doming/dapping set
Learn how to make silver and gold granules
Learn how to solder granules in place
Forming and sanding
Solder a hidden jump ring to the back
Polish either by hand, with a pendant motor, or with a barrel polisher
And voilà, a beautifully textured silver flower necklace
Ready to make this Project?
This project is part of the Online Jewellery Studio. Become a member to gain unlimited access to all projects and tutorials. Learn at your own pace, with new projects added every month and ongoing support from award-winning jeweller Jessica.
Unlimited access to all projects, 30 day money-back guarantee, cancel any time
Have questions? check out the membership FAQs
Who Is This Tutorial For?
✓ Jewellers who want to learn how to make granules and add delicate gold or silver detail to their work
✓ Makers who want to practise and refine their piercing and filing technique on a design that rewards precision
✓ Garden lovers that want to build a collection of floral-inspired pieces, each one uniquely shaped and textured
What’s included in this Project?
✓ 9 Easy-to-digest narrated video lessons
✓ Bonus technical tutorials
✓ PDF written instructions & 18 flower templates to choose from
✓ A full tools and materials list with supplier links
✓ Closed captions and subtitles in French, German, and Spanish
✓ 1-2-1 support from Jessica if you need it
Tools and Materials needed for this project:
Browse our complete Tools Lists with direct supplier links
Materials List
25mm x 25mm x 0.5mm sterling silver sheet
1 x 7mm sterling silver jump ring
Hard and medium silver solder
Either 7x 3mm silver or gold jump rings or a selection of small silver or gold offcuts
A finished silver chain
General Tools List
Jeweller's saw & 2/0 saw blades
A pair of scissors
Needle files: round, flat, and fine barrette
A doming set (wood or metal)
A rawhide mallet or nylon hammer
Nylon-coated pliers
Round-nosed pliers
Flat-nosed pliers
Side cutters
Texturing Tools
Method 1: A small riveting hammer, a steel block
Method 2: A pendant motor, a frosting wheel
Method 3: A pendant motor, a small setting burr or ball burr
Tools for Soldering, annealing, and granulation
A blowtorch
A fire brick
A charcoal block and a 2-3mm ball burr
A cotter pin
A soldering probe
Steel tweezers
Brass tweezers
Reverse action tweezers
Pickle pot, pickle and copper tweezers
fresh water
Polishing
Hand polishing: Sanding sponges, a white polishing pad, a polishing cloth
Barrel Polishing: A barrel polisher, stainless steel shot, barrel polishing compound
Pendant motor polishing: Radial discs, A soft polishing wheel and rouge, an ultrasonic cleaner or hot soapy water
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
What level is this project?
This silversmithing project is suitable for beginner silversmiths, but an understanding of soldering and piercing are advised. This project features in the Silversmithing Pathway, so if you are completely new to silversmithing, we recommend starting with project 1 and working your way through each project to build your skills gradually .
Do I need all three texturing tools?
No. You only need to choose one texturing method, so you can work with whatever tools you have. The hammer method requires the least specialist equipment and is a great place to start.
Can I use my own flower design?
Absolutely. You'll find 18 printable flower templates in the resources section, but you are welcome to draw your own design if you prefer.
How long will this project take to make?
This varies depending on your experience and the complexity of your chosen flower design, but most makers complete the project over two or three hours.
What language is this online course available in?
The video tutorials are narrated in English, with subtitles and transcripts available in English, French, German, and Spanish. All printable materials, including PDF instructions and templates are provided in English.
Is this available as a standalone course?
No. All projects and tutorials are available exclusively to members of the Online Jewellery Studio
What if I get stuck?
Just get in touch. I personally answer all questions and am here to make sure you enjoy the process and complete your project.
Ready to make this Project?
This project is part of the Online Jewellery Studio. Become a member to gain unlimited access to all projects and tutorials. Learn at your own pace, with new projects added every month and ongoing support from award-winning jeweller Jessica.
Unlimited access to all projects, 30 day money-back guarantee, cancel any time
Have questions? check out the membership FAQs