The term finding refers to the collection of small tools and materials used to construct clothing, shoes and jewellery. It possibly originates from the Old English findan: to find, catch: arrange, show. Or in the word found: to melt and mould metal; fuse; thus make, from the Latin fundo to pour, to cast.

For beading purposes, findings are all types of small components used to assemble pieces of beadwork into jewellery. Most findings are made from base metal which are plated in different colours and finishes or left raw. Precious metal such as sterling silver and sometimes gold are used and some have plastics parts. Findings include pins, rings, hooks, hoops, clips, clasps, cones and crimps.

Platings and Finishes
To turn jewellery into something really special the artisan must choose the the right colour findings to complement the piece. There are several different colours which include plated gold, silver, nickel, copper, oxidised brass, black nickel as well as raw brass and copper, though when raw they tend to blacken the skin. Sugical steel, a hypo allergenic option, is also available particularly for earring fittings. The colours are also known by different names. For example: nickel is often called dark silver; oxidised brass can be found as antique brass, antique bronze, boho or bohemian; oxidised copper is also known as burnished copper; and black nickel is also called gun metal. All can be antiqued or aged by adding a blackening compound and can be either shiny / bright or matt / dull.

Wire Pins
Head pins and eye pins are metal wires used to skewer beads and to form drops and links in a design. They are useful in all types of projects from earrings to necklaces to tassels. They come in several gauges but must be slim enough to fit through the beads.

Wire Rings
These come in circular or oval shapes in many sizes and thicknesses. They are used to fasten and link. Jump rings are not joined and may be opened and closed as required. Soldered (solid) rings are a more secure option to hook clasps through. Split rings or double loop rings provide a nice compromise between the security of soldered rings and the versatility of jump rings.

Triangle Bails
Also known as triangle fittings or links, bails are used to attach pendants or drop shaped beads onto eyepins and jump rings. They can be plain three sided wires or have decorative components.

Earring Findings
There are fittings for both pierced and non pierced ears. Shepherd hooks also called fish hooks loop through the ear piercing, as do lever back or continental hooks which are more secure. Post and stud fittings stay on with a butterfly scroll or ear back. Screw or clip on fixtures don't need a piercing to stay on. Earring hooks and clips have loops from which beaded pins or wires can dangle or hoops and fancy drop parts can be attached with jump rings.

Endings
All endings have a loop which can be attached to a clasp and ring. Charlotte crimps, also called clamshell crimps or calotte endings are hinged and designed to give jewellery a neat finish by hiding knots and crimp beads. Foldover endings are three sided and used to neaten up several strands of wire or for gripping ribbon. The strands are placed in the centre of the ending and the sides are then folded down tightly. Leather endings are wire coils through which leather is thread to just below the loop at the top, then secured by digging the bottom of the coil into the leather.

Crimps
Crimps are tiny beads made of soft metal. They come in all the colours mentioned above and are used for joining threads, particularly tiger tail, and spacing beads.

Cones
Cones are very useful for hiding the messy ends of multi strand necklaces. Finish each strand with the appropriate loop, then attach the loops to an eye pin. Thread the eye pin through the cone, form a loop at the top and attach to the clasp part. Make easy tassels.

Clasps
Essential for fastening the ends of necklaces and bracelets and all consist of two parts. The most common are the spring loaded bolt clasp (or spring ring) and parrot clasp (lobster or crab claw) which are hooked through a metal ring or tag ending. These are functional rather than decorative and they don’t undo easily which can have its problems as some discover! Magnetic and screw clasps are available in a wide range of styles. Some clasps such as loop and toggle fasteners and the S hook, which some consider to be insecure, but in fact is excellent at staying fastened and very easy to manage, can be so elaborate that they are used as features.

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