Best Jewellery Making Supplies for Beginners in 2026: GRIFFIN Starter Guide

A beginner jewellery making kit needs five things: a professional beading thread, a knotting tool, a finishing adhesive, a reliable clasp, and the right beads. GRIFFIN produces every one of these as part of its jewellery making accessories range, manufactured in Germany since 1866. This guide covers each item, explains exactly which specification to start with, and walks through a first knotted necklace project from cord to clasp.

Table of Contents

1. The 5 Essential Materials Every Beginner Needs

2. GRIFFIN Natural Silk No. 4: Your First Beading Thread

3. GRIFFIN Knotting Tweezers and Bead Cord Glue: Starter Tools

4. GRIFFIN Clasps: Lobster vs Spring Ring for Beginners

5. The GRIFFIN Material Kit: Jewellery Making Accessories

6. Your First Project: GRIFFIN Natural Silk Knotted Necklace

7. Where to Buy GRIFFIN Jewellery Making Supplies Online

8. Frequently Asked Questions

The 5 Essential Materials Every Beginner Needs

A beginner kit does not need to be expensive. Five items will cover every fundamental technique and produce professional results from the first project.

• Beading thread. GRIFFIN 100% Natural Silk cord No. 4 (0.60mm). The standard beading thread for pearl knotting and gemstone stringing, with a pre attached needle on every 2-metre card.

• A knotting tool. GRIFFIN Knotting Tweezers, for placing each knot flush against the bead face instead of guessing the position.

• Finishing adhesive. GRIFFIN Bead Cord Glue, for locking the finishing knots at the clasp attachment points permanently.

• A clasp. GRIFFIN Lobster Clasp in 925 sterling silver. The most widely used professional jewellery clasp worldwide.

• Beads. Round freshwater pearls or 6mm round gemstone beads with consistent drill hole sizes.

Bead mats, storage containers, additional cord sizes, all of that is welcome once these five items are in place. Starting here means the first project cannot fail because something was missing from the toolkit.

GRIFFIN Natural Silk No. 4: Your First Beading Thread

Every card of GRIFFIN Natural Silk Bead Cord holds 2-metres of 100% filament silk beading thread with a stainless steel needle pre-attached. The needle is already on the cord. You open the card and you start stringing.

GRIFFIN Natural Silk has been the professional standard for pearl knotting since Carl Schinle made the first bead cord in Schramberg in 1866. The triple-twisted construction gives the beading thread three properties that matter for someone learning.

• It does not tangle. The twist makes a stable, round cord that does not loop back on itself.

• It holds clean overhand knots. The silk grips itself when tightened, producing the compact, bead-flush knot that pearl jewellery is judged by.

• It does not fray at cut ends. Trimmed tails stay intact rather than unravelling.

No. 4 (0.60mm) is the right size for standard freshwater pearls in 4mm to 6mm and most beginner gemstone beads. The sizing rule is simple: the beading thread should pass through the bead hole twice with slight resistance. Free passage means going up a size. Forcing it means going down a size.

GRIFFIN Natural Silk comes in 21 colours and 13 sizes from No. 0 (0.30mm) through No. 16 (1.05mm). For a first project, white or beige are the most forgiving choices. They sit nearly invisible between beads and need no careful colour matching.

GRIFFIN Knotting Tweezers and Bead Cord Glue: Starter Tools

Knotting between beads is what separates professional pearl jewellery from beaded costume work. The technique needs two tools.

GRIFFIN Knotting Tweezers have a fine, tapered tip designed for pearl knotting. 

Method: form a loose overhand loop beyond the bead, push the tweezers tip through the loop, slide the loop to the bead face while holding the tweezers steady, then pull cord tension with your other hand as the knot closes. The knot seats flush against the bead. The motion takes around 20 minutes to learn and becomes automatic within a single practice strand.

GRIFFIN Bead Cord Glue is for the finishing knots at the clasp attachment points only, not the mid-strand knots. Method: form the knot loose, apply a small drop directly into the knot body, wait 10 to 15 seconds for the glue to soak into the beading thread fibres, then pull tight. The result is a permanently locked knot. One bottle handles dozens of projects.

GRIFFIN Clasps: Lobster vs Spring Ring for Beginners

For a first project, the clasp choice decides whether the finished piece is easy to wear daily. GRIFFIN makes both lobster and spring ring clasps in 925 sterling silver and 24K gold-plated finishes, all manufactured in Germany.

The 11mm GRIFFIN Lobster Clasp in 925 sterling silver is the recommended starting clasp. It is nickel-free, hallmarked, and the standard in international jewellery production. The 13mm version suits heavier necklaces where a slightly larger clasp is in better proportion.

The GRIFFIN Material Kit: Jewellery Making Accessories

GRIFFIN makes a full range of accessories that combine cleanly into a complete beginner kit. Every item below is a GRIFFIN product. Together they cover everything for the first three or four projects.

• GRIFFIN Natural Silk No. 4 (white or beige), 3 to 4 cards. One card of beading thread per necklace or bracelet. Working with the same size across the first projects builds consistent technique.

• GRIFFIN Knotting Tweezers, 1 pair. A single pair handles all knotting work and does not wear out under normal use.

• GRIFFIN Bead Cord Glue, One bottle is enough to cover multiple Jewellery designing projects. Cap tightly between uses.

• GRIFFIN Lobster Clasp 925 silver 11mm, 4 to 6 clasps. Enough for several first projects. Nickel-free, hallmarked, 100% made in Germany.

• GRIFFIN Open Jump Rings 925 silver 4.0mm or 4.5mm, 1 pack. For attaching clasps to cord ends.

• Flat-nose pliers, 1 pair. For closing jump rings. Available at any craft or hardware store.

• Beads. Round freshwater pearls or 6mm round gemstone beads from a specialist bead supplier.

The full GRIFFIN accessories range, including beading thread, tools, clasps and adhesives, is available through griffin1866store.com and through authorised GRIFFIN stockists worldwide. Every item carries the GRIFFIN quality standard and a professional lifespan measured in years.

Your First Project: GRIFFIN Natural Silk Knotted Necklace

A knotted pearl necklace is the foundation that the other techniques build on. Here is the complete process for a first 40 to 45cm necklace with 6mm round freshwater pearls.

1. Lay your pearls out in sequence on a soft surface. For a 40cm necklace with 6mm pearls and a knot between each bead, plan on 28 to 32 pearls.

2. Take the needle end of the GRIFFIN Natural Silk beading thread card. Attach one clasp half: thread through the clasp loop twice, tie a firm overhand knot, apply GRIFFIN Bead Cord Glue and pull tight.

3. Thread the first pearl onto the needle and slide it down against the clasp knot.

4. Form a loose overhand loop in the cord beyond the pearl. Slide the knotting tweezers through the loop. Slide the loop to the pearl face. Pull cord tension while withdrawing the tweezers. The knot seats flush against the pearl with no visible gap.

5. Thread the next pearl and repeat. Work in one direction throughout.

6. After the final pearl, thread through the second clasp half, tie the finishing knot, apply GRIFFIN Bead Cord Glue and pull tight.

7. Feed the cord tail back through the last 2 to 3 pearls to hide it. Trim cleanly.

Tip: Do not cut the beading thread from the card before you start. Work from the full 2 metres. You will have cord left at the end, and pre-cutting risks running short.

Where to Buy GRIFFIN Jewellery Making Supplies Online

GRIFFIN jewellery making supplies are available through the GRIFFIN online store and through a global network of authorised stockists, including major craft retailers and specialist jewellery making suppliers.

When buying through a third-party retailer, confirm they are an authorised GRIFFIN stockist. Authentic GRIFFIN Natural Silk cards carry the GRIFFIN symbol and specific size number, the colour name, and the 2-metre length on the packaging.

Key Takeaways

• A complete beginner jewelry making kit needs only five items: beading thread, knotting tool, adhesive, clasp, beads. Every GRIFFIN component has a professional lifespan measured in years.

• GRIFFIN Natural Silk No. 4 (0.60mm) is the right first beading thread for standard freshwater pearls and gemstone beads. Each 2-metre card includes a pre-attached stainless steel needle.

• GRIFFIN Knotting Tweezers seat each knot flush against the bead face. GRIFFIN Bead Cord Glue locks finishing knots permanently. Together they produce professional results from the first strand.

• GRIFFIN 925 sterling silver clasps are nickel-free, hallmarked, and made in Germany. The 11mm Lobster Clasp is the recommended first-project clasp.

• The full GRIFFIN jewelry making accessories range is available at griffin1866store.com 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the best jewelry making kit for beginners?

A. A functional beginner kit built from GRIFFIN accessories: GRIFFIN Natural Silk No. 4 beading thread (2 to 3 cards), GRIFFIN Knotting Tweezers, GRIFFIN Bead Cord Glue, GRIFFIN 925 silver Lobster Clasp (11mm), and GRIFFIN Open Jump Rings. These five items are all you need to complete a professional-quality knotted necklace or bracelet.

Q. How much does it cost to start making jewelry?

A. The five core GRIFFIN jewellery making accessories (beading thread, tweezers, glue, clasps, jump rings) cost less than a single retail jewellery piece of comparable quality. The materials produce multiple finished pieces, so the per-piece cost is very low.

Q. What beading thread should a beginner use?

A. GRIFFIN Natural Silk No. 4 (0.60mm) is the professional standard beading thread for pearl knotting and beginner gemstone work. Triple-twisted filament silk with a pre-attached needle on every 2-metre card, in 21 colours and 13 sizes.

Q. Do I need beading needles for jewelry making?

A. GRIFFIN Natural Silk and NylonPower cards come with an integrated pre-attached stainless steel needle on every card. You do not need to buy separate beading needles for these products.

Q. Can I sell jewelry made with GRIFFIN supplies?

A. Yes. GRIFFIN supplies are professional-grade materials used by independent jewellers and designers for commercial production worldwide. There are no restrictions on selling finished jewellery made with GRIFFIN materials.

Q. What is the difference between GRIFFIN Natural Silk and NylonPower?

A. Both come on 2-metre cards with integrated beading needles, in the same 21 colours and 13 sizes. Natural Silk is 100% filament silk, the traditional choice for pearl knotting. NylonPower is 100% synthetic, around twice the tensile strength of standard nylon, and fully vegan. For a first project, either works. Pick NylonPower if vegan materials are required.