Buying guide for Best jewelry-making kits for adults
Are you a creative fashionista who loves one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry? Take your collection to the next level by making your own necklaces, earrings, or bracelets.
Jewelry-making kits for adults come with the tools of the trade, as well as a selection of the supplies and beads you need to get started. Some kits include just tools, but if you’re looking for one that lets you hit the ground running, there are kits that have plenty of findings, string, chains, and embellishments. Not all kits are the same, though. While there are plenty of kits with beads available, you’ll also find a variety of kits to create bangle bracelets, leatherwork, and even keychains.
Key considerations
Types of kits
Starter kits: Many jewelry-making kits are geared toward beginners and are usually clearly marked as starter kits. These include the bare essentials to put you on the path toward design. Starter kits include basic tools, some findings, and a limited assortment of beads. There may be some string or chains included, but there won’t be enough to make more than a couple of pieces at most.
Deluxe kits: These kits include the basic items found in starter kits, as well as additional tools and enough supplies to create several pieces. Some beginners prefer to dive into a deluxe kit because it’s a cost-effective option, usually with enough supplies to keep them busy while they get their bearings trying different styles and techniques.
Tools-only kits: Beginners and advanced designers alike choose these kits; however, it means you’ll need to shell out more money for beads and other supplies. These kits also don’t come with an assortment of practice materials, as found in other kits, or instructions to help you learn the basics. A tools-only kit is often a better investment for someone who has more advanced design and jewelry-making skills. For those who have already learned the ropes and have a cache of supplies, it’s worth investing in better-quality tools for the long term.
Kit components
Instructions: Starter and deluxe kits come with basic instructions. Sometimes they give a detailed explanation of each tool or walk you through a few simple designs. They aren’t always user-friendly, so many budding designers turn to online videos for more focused instructions and examples.
Tools: At first glance, the tools in jewelry-making kits look just look just like the ones you’d find in a hardware store but smaller. The simplest kits have at least one set of pliers, while more comprehensive kits also include snippers, tweezers, wirecutters, crimping tools, hole punches, and scissors. Using these tools requires grip strength and dexterity, so the handles are usually covered in molded silicone or rubber. Better-quality tools feature ergonomic designs and textured handles for an even more secure grip.
Findings: Findings are the little pieces that hold jewelry together, like clasps, closures, hooks, and jump rings. These are almost always present in modest quantities in deluxe kits. While plain silver- and gold-colored findings are the most common, some kits include a variety of other finishes, such as brushed metal, black, or even rose gold.
String, wire, and chain: Most jewelry-making kits come with string, wire, chain, or cord for necklaces and bracelets. The type of string depends on the jewelry style of the kit. Beginner kits, for example, stick with simple plastic or glass beads, so they come with thin cord or elastic string. More advanced kits come with more than one type of string or chain to accommodate the larger variety of jewelry.
Jewelry: The jewelry that comes with these kits varies considerably, and you definitely get what you pay for. Basic, inexpensive kits have cheap plastic beads with uneven holes, which can make stringing rather challenging. Quality kits, however, include well-designed beads, charms, and embellishments that can be strung or arranged easily. The variety of the jewelry also depends on the kit. Many entry-level kits stick to only one or two jewelry styles, like glass or ceramic beads. Premium-priced kits can include many different materials for jewelry, from metal charms to feathers.
Some jewelry-making kits come with a variety of beads. We research the quality of the beads to ensure that they are suitable for adult jewelry-making needs and evaluate the shapes, colors, materials, and sizes offered.
When we consider a jewelry-making kit, we want to know if it comes with a case, bag, or pouch for keeping kit items organized.
We look at whether a kit includes tools designed for handling intricate jewelry pieces. Some kits with beads and findings include several tools, but tool-only kits are also available.
Jewelry-making kits are available for beginners, intermediate users, and pros. When we look at available options, we think about different jewelry maker’s needs and determine which category each kit fits into.
In evaluating kits that include beads, we consider their designs and openings and make sure they are easy to slide onto wires, cords, strings, and chains.
Jump rings, fasteners, hooks, and clasps are common findings in jewelry-making kits for adults. We research them for durability and note available finishes — gold, bronze, silver, rose gold, black, and brushed metal are common options.
We look at a kit to determine if it has a good variety of beads, tools, and findings to make different types of jewelry. A long list of quality jewelry-making items puts a kit in the deluxe category.
For jewelry-making kits designed for beginners, we look at the components to see how easy they are to work with. Clear, user-friendly instructions are also helpful for novice jewelry makers.
Wirecutters, scissors, crimpers, tweezers, hole punches, and snippers are the most common items found in tool-only jewelry-making kits. We look at tool contents to assess their usefulness.
When researching a jewelry-making kit that only contains tools, we inspect the items for durability and ease of use.
Accessories
Charms: JIALEEY Silver Metal Charms
Jewelry making should be cost-effective, which is why you should invest in a bulk lot of charms. We like this one from JIALEEY, which includes 100 charms in an assortment of cute designs like seahorses and butterflies. They range in size from 0.28 to 0.98 inch, so you even have a bit of variety to create tiered pieces.
Beading board: Beadsmith BBU28F Beading Board
Plan your bead design with help from a beading board. We like this 9 x 13-inch flocked one from Beadsmith, which lets you try your hand at different arrangements without fear of beads rolling off the table. It even comes with cavities to hold findings, loops, and beads for your project.
Jewelry-making kit prices
Jewelry-making kits for adults start at $15 and can cost as much as $100, depending on the number of pieces in the kit, as well as the quality of beads, tools, and jewelry-making supplies.
Inexpensive
Starter kits cost between $15 and $25. These include limited sets that only have enough supplies for a couple of projects. Some tool-only kits are also in this category, although the quality can be hit or miss.
Mid-range
Jewelry-making kits that cost between $30 and $60 include better-quality tools, a wide variety of jewelry-making supplies, and often come with a case.
Expensive
Kits that cost closer to $100 have top-quality tools, as well as a deluxe assortment of beads, pendants, string, findings, and even earrings. These are best suited for seasoned jewelry designers who are comfortable using a full range of tools.
Tips
- Make sure your case closes. Whether you have a zippered travel case or a tackle box for your beads, make sure it closes securely so you don’t lose any accessories or tools.
- Experiment with various kits. If you’ve already made your way through one type of jewelry making, try your hand at another style. Since you already have the tools, you only need to get accessories or beads.
- Seek accessory sales. Beads, chains, findings, and string can be expensive, so keep your eyes peeled for sales where you can stock up on them.
- Give old jewelry pieces new life. Sometimes you don’t need to get new supplies to make a piece of jewelry. Instead, repurpose old or broken jewelry to give it new life.
FAQ
Q. Can teens use jewelry-making kits for adults?
A. Absolutely, and in fact, there’s quite a bit of overlap in terms of what’s considered kits for teens and adults. If you’re giving an adult set to a teen, make sure they’re capable of using more advanced tools safely. Snippers and any sets with tools for heating or hot gluing definitely require extra care and attention during use.
Q. Are the tools in jewelry-making kits comfortable for left-handed users?
A. Generally speaking, you can use the tools in both the right and left hands comfortably. Snippers can be a bit tricky because some are designed with right-handers in mind. With that said, they’re still comfortable to hold and easy to use for everyone.
Q. I love the tools in jewelry-making kits, but I don’t want the beads. Can’t I get just the tools instead?
A. Depending on the manufacturer, you can. With that said, it might be most cost-effective to simply get the set as it is, even if you don’t intend to craft anything with the beads. If you're new to jewelry design, you might benefit from practicing techniques with the included beads as well.
