Swarovski Firefly
Necklace
Designed by Kristin Burgess


This necklace is electric!  The brilliant color play of Swarovski's topaz maragaritas paired with Siam AB double finish bicones, creates a firey color combination just perfect to kick off summertime.   
  Vintage crystals are highly collectible and it is rare and exciting that we have three graduated sizes in the same topaz margarita cut!  Collectors will want to add a few strands to their bead stash, as these flashy little blooms are sure to sell out quickly! 








 


This project is great for all levels!  Stringing, crimping and wireworking are involved with this project.   The necklace has a total length of 19"-20&1/2" using the extension.  Four crimp beads are needed to attach the beaded strand to the vintage gold clasp.   By adding beads evenly you can increase the length of the necklace without altering the look.   I find it helpful to strand the necklace directly onto the softflex spool as it is easier to keep the pattern even (you can deduct beads from either side should the piece end up longer than intended).  One strand of each of the margaritas are needed, although you will have some leftovers of these flowers (consider earrings). 

Step 1:

Prepare a clutter free workspace to lay out small piles of your beads and components on.   We will start with the stringing portion of the necklace.  String this pattern directly onto the Softflex spool...6 seed beads, 1 blue opal bicone, 1 seed, 1 siam bicone, 1 seed, 1 6mm topaz flower, 1 seed, 1 siam bicone, 1 seed, 1 blue opal bicone, 5 seeds, 1 6mm topaz flower, 5 seeds, 1 blue opal bicone, 1 seed, 1 siam bicone, 1 seed, 1 6mm topaz flower, 1 seed, and repeat this pattern until 5 of the 6mm topaz flowers have been strung.   From here you will continue the pattern but for the next few inches will use the 8mm topaz flowers in place of where the 6mm were placed. 
  Why are we going up one size?  We are coming to the front part of the necklace so want to include the bigger crystals here!  Also this increase or graduating of size makes for a beautiful effect very common in vintage jewelry.  Continue using the 8mm topaz within the pattern until you have strung four of them into the necklace.  After four have been strung within the pattern replace them with  the 10mm topaz margaritas for a total of three.  These three strung 10mm margaritas (the largest of the flowers in the necklace) make up the center of the shortest strand of the necklace.  With the three largest flowers in place, a little more than 1/2 of the necklace is complete.  Following your strung pattern in reverse completes the first strand.  I find it easiest to first locate the center (the 10mm flower framed with bicones) and apply the pattern from there using your freshly strung work as your pattern reference.

Step 2: 

  It is important to always include the length of the clasp in this equation.  The bar clasp will add only a small amount of length.  The chain links make it adjustable.  Which is nice depending on what your wearing making it adjustable.   With this in mind, we are ready to crimp this clasp to the hook style clasp.  Using the 2x2mm gold fill crimp beads and crimper tool attach this strand to either side of the vintage clasp.  Trim away any excess Softflex using the flush cutters.   

Step 3:
 
With one strand complete we will start to string the second strand directly onto the spool.  String...18 seeds, 1 blue bicone, 1 seed, 1 6mm topaz flower, 1 seed, 1 blue bicone, 4 seeds, 1 siam bicone, 4 seeds, 1 blue bicone, 1 seed, 1 6mm topaz flower, 1 seed, 1 blue bicone, 3 seeds, 1 siam bicone, 3 seeds, 1 blue bicone, 1 seed, 1 topaz flower, 1 seed, 1 blue bicone, 2 seeds, 1 siam bicone, 2 seeds, 1 blue bicone, 1 seed, 1 6mm flower, 1 seed, 1 blue bicone, 2 seeds, 1 siam bicone, 4 seeds, 1 blue bicone, 1 seed, 1 6mm topaz flower, 1 seed, 1 blue bicone, 4 seeds, 1 blue bicone, 1 seed, 1 8mm flower, 1 seed, 1 blue bicone, 3 seeds, 1 siam bicone, 3 seeds, 1 blue bicone, 1 seed, 1 8mm flower, 1 seed, 1 blue bicone, 3 seeds, 1 siam bicone, 3 seeds, 1 blue bicone, 2 seeds, 1 8mm flower, 2 seeds, 1 blue bicone, 4 seeds, 1 blue bicone, 2 seeds, 1 siam bicone, 2 seeds, 1 10mm flower, 2 seeds, 1 siam bicone, 2 seeds, 1 blue bicone, 4 seeds, 1 blue bicone, 2 seeds, 1 siam bicone, 2 seeds, 1 10mm flower, 2 seeds, 1 siam bicone, 2 seeds, 1 blue bicone, 5 seeds...this brings you to the exact center of the second strand...continue by following this pattern in reverse.  For example you will start 5 seeds, 1 blue bicone, 2 seeds and so on until you have reached the end.  Attach this strand to the vacant loops left on the vintage clasp.  Be sure the strands hang seperately and are not twisted in any way before you crimp this strand to the clasp.  Trim away any excess wire near the crimp area.

Step 4:

On one 24 guage head pin stack 1 siam bicone then 1 blue bicone on top.  Form a loop above the bicones and thread onto the chain and coil shut.  Trim away the excess headpin.  Attach this chain with attached headpin to the clasp side without the hook.  This is done by using one split ring and the split ring opener tool.  The tool is helpful to "prop" open the ring and then you can utilize the round nose pliers to spin or feed the ring around the chain end (opposite the bicone dangle).   Your necklace is complete!

As always, enjoy!