Glossary
Findings
The metal components, clasps, jump rings, and earring hooks, that turn loose beads into wearable jewelry.
Findings are the small functional metal parts that hold a piece of jewelry together and let it be worn: clasps, jump rings, earring hooks and posts, crimp beads, bails, and connectors. They rarely get noticed when a piece looks good, but a weak or mismatched finding is usually the first thing to fail.
Material and plating matter as much as shape. Base metal findings are affordable but can tarnish or irritate sensitive skin over time, while plated, gold-filled, or surgical steel findings hold up better and cause fewer reactions. Matching the finish of every finding in a piece, silver-tone with silver-tone, gold-tone with gold-tone, also keeps the finished look consistent.
When buying, check the stated material rather than relying on color in a photo, since plated and solid metal can look identical online. A common mistake is combining findings from different metals or finishes on the same piece, which shows up as a mismatch once the jewelry is worn under natural light.