Collection: Jump ring, essential tools for jewelry making

Jump rings are the unsung heroes of jewelry assembly, tiny metal circles that connect every element of a piece together. Charms to bracelets, pendants to chains, clasps to necklaces, earring drops to hooks: every connection relies on a jump ring.

Our jump ring collection covers every size, gauge and metal you need, from small sterling silver rings for delicate earrings to heavy-gauge stainless steel rings for statement chain work. Starting from just $4.53, find the right rings for your project below.

Why Jump Rings Matter in Jewelry Making

A jump ring might be the smallest component in your jewelry piece, but it's often the most critical. A poorly chosen jump ring, too thin, wrong size, or low-quality metal, is usually where jewelry fails. A clasp that pulls away from a necklace, a charm that falls off a bracelet, a pendant that hangs crooked: in most cases, the problem is a jump ring. Choosing the right ring in the right gauge and metal for each specific application is what separates jewelry that lasts from jewelry that disappoints.

Jump Ring Sizes: Choosing the Right Diameter and Gauge

Jump Ring Materials: Which Metal to Choose

The metal you choose for your jump rings determines the durability, appearance and skin compatibility of the finished piece. Here's a guide to the main options in our collection.

Open vs. Closed Jump Rings: When to Use Each

Not all jump rings are meant to be opened and closed. Understanding the difference between open and closed (soldered) rings is important for building durable jewelry.

• Open jump rings have a gap that allows you to open and close them with pliers. They are the standard choice for attaching charms, connecting chain sections, linking clasps and assembling multi-element designs. The gap means they can potentially open under heavy tension, choose a heavier gauge when load-bearing strength matters.
• Closed / soldered jump rings are fully sealed and cannot be opened or closed. They are significantly stronger than open rings of the same gauge and are used wherever an open ring would risk snagging on fabric or opening under tension, for example, as the final link on a clasp end where the full weight of a necklace is applied.

Jump Rings for Chainmail: A Specialized Application

Chainmail jewelry, woven patterns of interlocked rings, is one of the most satisfying applications for jump rings. The most popular chainmail patterns include Byzantine, Box Chain, Japanese 12-in-2, and Helm chain. Each pattern has its own aspect ratio requirement, the ratio of inner diameter to wire gauge, that determines whether the rings can interlock correctly.

• For Byzantine chain, a 4:1 to 4.5:1 aspect ratio works well, 18 gauge × 5mm is a common starting point.
• For Box Chain, aim for a 3.5:1 ratio, 18 gauge × 4.5mm in sterling silver is the classic choice.
• For beginners, anodized aluminum rings in large sizes (16 gauge × 6mm) are the most forgiving material to learn chainmail with, lightweight, easy to handle and available in vivid colors.

How to Open and Close Jump Rings Correctly

• Hold the jump ring with two pairs of flat-nose or chain-nose pliers, one pair on each side of the opening.
• Twist one side toward you and one side away, a twisting motion, not a pulling-apart motion. Pulling sideways permanently distorts the ring into an oval shape that won't close cleanly.
• Attach your charm, chain or finding while the ring is open.
• Reverse the twisting motion to close, working until the two ends meet flush with zero visible gap. Run a fingernail across the join, if you can feel a step or catch, the ring isn't fully closed and will snag.
• For high-precision work, use a magnifying loupe to check the closure is truly flush before moving on.

Making Your Own Jump Rings

Buying pre-made rings is convenient, but making your own gives you complete control over size, gauge and material. To make jump rings: coil wire of your chosen gauge tightly around a mandrel or cylindrical rod to create a consistent coil, then saw or cut through the coil with a jeweler's saw or flush wire cutters to produce individual rings.

Hand-sawn rings have a cleaner, flatter cut end than those made with cutters, which produce a slight V-pinch. For chainmail and fine work, sawn rings close more cleanly. Pair our jewelry wire with a mandrel from our tools collection to get started.

Pairing Jump Rings with Other Jewelry Supplies

• Jewelry pliers: two pairs of chain-nose or flat-nose pliers are essential for opening and closing jump rings cleanly. Never use a single pair, you need two-handed control.
• Jewelry wire: make your own rings in any size and gauge from our wire range, or use wire for connecting wrapped components that don't use jump rings.
• Clasps and findings: clasps attach to necklaces and bracelets via jump rings, always pair your clasp purchase with rings in the appropriate size.
• Jewelry charms: charms attach to bracelets and necklaces via jump rings. See our charm collection for hundreds of decorative options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jump Rings

Shop Jump Rings at Jewelry Universe

Browse our complete jump ring collection above, sterling silver, gold-filled, stainless steel, brass, copper and aluminum rings in all sizes and gauges, starting from $4.53. Pair with our pliers, wire and charms for everything you need to assemble and connect your jewelry pieces.