The Little Things

Findings hold the key to fully realizing a jewelry designer’s vision

By Shawna Kulpa

It’s the little things that matter in life…and in jewelry too. After all, the most beautiful earrings in the world are useless without some type of finding to secure them in the ear. And what good is a necklace without a clasp, or a brooch without a pin?

The final touch on a piece of jewelry, findings can often be treated as an afterthought. But if the wrong finding is used—or the right one isn’t placed in the proper location—jewelry can droop or hang in the wrong direction, ultimately ruining the designer’s original vision.

To highlight the important role that findings play in allowing jewelry to be properly showcased, we spoke with jewelers and findings experts about their best practices for choosing and using these unsung heroes of jewelry. The following tips and insights are sure to have you taking a second look at your clasps, posts, pins, and other “little things” that make a b...