If you’re considering a move away from store-bought jewelry towards making your own unique pieces at home, you’re not alone.
The burgeoning craft jewelry trend has caught the attention of fashionistas across the culture, with even style bibles like Vogue getting in on it. Before you start crafting your own pieces, it’s important to get to grips with the kit you’ll need.
One of the first things to understand is the difference between jump ring vs split ring in crafting key chains, necklaces, bracelets, and more. Read this handy two-minute explainer to find out everything you need to know.
Jump Ring vs Split Ring Explained
As a jewelry maker, it helps to know the difference between these two types of rings, as they will be needed for a vast array of pieces you might wish to make.
Jump rings are simple, single-looped metal rings with open, exposed ends that can be bent apart to attach to other components. They are typically made from wire that is coiled and cut to create individual rings.
Split rings are more complex in design compared to jump rings. They consist of a coiled metal ring with a small opening that allows it to expand when pressure is applied.
Jump Rings Pros
Jump rings are very versatile, owing to their malleability. They are very easy to incorporate into your designs, as anyone with a pair of pliers can use them when attaching and detaching components to jewelry.
They are also made from cheaper, more lightweight material that makes jump rings great for complex pieces that require a lot of rings, such as chainmail. You can easily shop chainmail jump rings from trusted retailers that allow you to buy large volumes at a time for your own projects.
Jump Rings Cons
That being said, jump rings also come with drawbacks. They are less durable owing to their material and are much more likely to degrade and break down over time.
They are also less secure, by the nature of their open design. This means that they are likely to disconnect from each other due to wear and tear.
Split Rings Pros
Split rings offer a more secure attachment compared to jump rings, making them ideal for items that require a permanent connection.
They are more durable and less prone to opening accidentally compared to jump rings, making them suitable for items that undergo frequent handling, such as zipper pulls or dog tag pieces. Finally, the closed-loop design of split rings provides added strength, making them suitable for heavy-duty applications.
Split Rings Cons
One major drawback of split rings is that they require specialized tools such as split ring pliers, which may add an extra step to the crafting process.
They are also less flexible than jump rings due to their closed-loop design, which may limit their use in certain projects where flexibility is required. Split rings are also more expensive, which can be an obstacle when crafting large-scale projects.
Follow Your Own Style Path
Understanding the difference between jump ring vs split ring will help you make an informed decision on your own fashion crafting. For more expert insights to help you find your own style path, we have got you covered. Check out our dedicated Style pages for actionable tips you can trust.