Jewelry-Making DIY Basics – What is a Cone Finding?

What is a Cone?

A cone is a jewelry finding that provides a taper from the larger size of a jewelry piece to a smaller size near the ends of the same piece.

Basic Cones

The classic cone has a large round hole at the bottom and a small round hole at the top;  it is hollow inside and the outside walls are usually smooth.

Fancy Cones

Fancier cones may have textured surfaces or filigree surfaces.  The basic principle of tapering from large to small still holds.

Cone Materials

Most beading projects will use cones in:

• gold-filled
• sterling silver
• silver-plated
• antique brass
• bright copper
• antique copper
• gunmetal
• imitation rhodium
• nickel

When are Cones Used?

Cones are used many times to hide a transition from multiple strands of chain, bead wire, knotted silk or other jewelry making fiber to a single connection near a jewelry closure.  An eyepin or wire-wrap gathers multiple strands, then the cone covers the connection point between the strands and the wire wrap.  The wire outside of the cone connects to a clasp or an intermediate finding.

One popular cord weaving and bead weaving based on Japanese Kumihimo techniques use larger cones, especially fancy cones, to gather braided cords and braided strands of seed beads on fiber or stranded bead wire.  Fancy cones in antiqued copper, antiqued brass plates look like tulips and roses have “petals” that can move independently of each other without cracking the plate, and lend themselves to being custom molded to the ends of a variety of Kumihimo projects.

Alternate Use for Cones

Another use for cones is to simulate angels’ robes in angel earrings at holiday times. If you know what a cone is and when one is used, you will be able to present yourself more easily as a jewelry pro.