Glossary
Jump ring
A small round or oval metal ring used to connect jewelry parts, opened sideways rather than pulled apart.
A jump ring is a small circle or oval of wire with a single cut, used to link one piece of jewelry to another, a clasp to a chain, a charm to a bracelet, or two lengths of chain together. It is one of the most-used findings in jewelry making because almost every design needs at least one connection point.
The right way to open a jump ring is to twist the two ends sideways, out of the plane of the ring, using two pairs of pliers, one to hold each side. Pulling the ends directly apart stretches the ring into an oval and weakens the metal at the cut, so it never closes flush again.
When buying, match the ring's wire gauge and inside diameter to the job: thin rings for delicate earrings, thicker rings for anything that takes regular strain, like a clasp connection. A common mistake is reusing a ring that has already been opened and closed several times, since repeated bending fatigues the metal at the seam until it snaps.