Jewelry tutorial: how to put rivets on your jewelry the easy way

Attaching rivets is a great way to add decorative finishes and durability to your jewelry. Don't miss this tutorial!

Would you like to create original and unrepeatable jewelry with your own hands? It is a process in which each detail has maximum importance in the final result. In this tutorial, Malena Aceto, creator of Pimienta jewelry (@pimienta) will teach you how to make rivets and how to use them to join the different parts of your piece.

Malena Aceto is a visual artist specialized in metal embroidered jewelry, that is, she combines the cold of metal with the warm touch of traditional embroidery, can you imagine the result? With this technique, no piece is the same as another. In this tutorial you will learn the tricks to create and place rivets so that the result is totally professional.

Materials and tools

- Wire
- Pliers
- Lime
- Hammer
- Press
- Turnstile
- Drilling wick

How to make and place rivets on your jewelry

By following these steps, you can place rivets effectively and achieve a professional jewelry result. Get ready to create!

1. Cut the wire to make the rivets, making sure it is neither too big nor too small. Cut the amount of wires needed for the piece and even some extra in case a mistake is made.

2. Hold the wire in the vise and file the tip until it is smooth and the same width as the wire. Then, use a hammer to create a wide, flat head on the end.

3. Shape the rivet with a lathe, removing excess material from the head and leaving a rounded, professional finish.

4. Make a small hole in the fabric or material to be joined with a wick and then place the rivets in the holes previously made in the pieces to be joined. Cut the wire and create a head on the other end of the rivet with a hammer.

5. Adjust the rivets and verify that they are closed properly. Avoid placing a rivet in the hole at the tip to be able to pass a ring through and attach the chain of your jewelry.

What did you think of these tips? If you have wanted to learn how to create your own collection of handmade jewelry, don't miss Malena Aceto's online course: Metal jewelry with embroidery. Throughout your lessons, you will discover how to make jewelry step by step combining basic metal techniques with traditional hand embroidery. You will achieve surprising results!