Elite bijouterie ... at home: cuffs with their own hands

Women will never tire of decorating themselves. They always want to stand out from the crowd, look stylish, bright, smart. That is why the beautiful half of humanity has always enjoyed great demand in various kinds of jewelry. And one of the most ancient types of jewelry, and not only for women, but for men, there were kuffs.

A bit of history

So, the cuffs are decorations resembling modern clips that were worn not only as earrings, but also in such a way as we now lay the ear hooks or the headset from the mobile phone behind the ears. In most cases, in order to wear them, it was not necessary to pierce the lobules. In addition, in addition to the function of earrings, the decoration combined elements of hair clips or chains around the neck. Thus, the earring kuffs for those who wore them became a universal means of emphasizing their beauty and originality. The very word came to us from the English language and translates as "cuffs", "cuff", i.e. An object embracing something. Because one more method of fastening is to clasp the edge of the auricle with a non-closed cuff-ring.

For the first time they learned about the Kaffs, digging ancient burial grounds and fortifications. They were manufactured already in the Bronze Age, very skillfully making massive gold jewelry. In the ancient world, in ancient Egypt and India, the kuffs were very popular. Yes, and to this day, Indian brides in the national wedding attire necessarily include these ornaments, one edge of which is inserted into the hole as an earring, and the other, with beads and chains, pendent rings around the ear, clamps on the top of the ear, throws over the head, Hair, etc.

The big advantage of cuffs in comparison with standard earrings is that they can be massive, heavy - it does not at all draw back the earlobe. And if you recall jewelry works of art that contain, in addition to gold, a large number of precious stones and are by no means small in weight, it is understandable why this kind of jewelry was so popular in the later epoch up to the 20th century.

In our time, the cuffs are the prerogative of famous couturiers. They can be both self-made and factory made of precious metals or ordinary wire, beads and all sorts of other tools. Models of all kinds, from imitation of antique samples to the most fantastic, in the style of "avant-garde", can be found on secular parties, elite events, steep fashion shows.

Another plus cuff - their democracy. Stylish costume jewelery can be made by yourself, at home, and it requires a minimum.

Doing it yourself

In order to make the cuffs with your own hands, you will need several types of wire - white steel or colored copper, of course, thin enough to make the jewelry look stylish, not rude. The length of a piece of wire is about 40 centimeters. You also need different beads, colored glass, of course, with pre-made holes, maybe colored feathers and other accessories, depending on which design for your earrings you have come up with. Naturally, tools are needed. You can make kuffs with your own hands with the help of nippers and round pliers.

• The process begins with the decoration of a curl-arch, which will be attached to the ear. To do this, at one end of the wire within 7 cm should be bent in the shape of the auricle. This should be done by round pliers, but you should try not to squeeze the blades too much, so as not to leave a jag and do not damage the color coating.
• The next stage of how to make the cuffs with your own hands - the free end of the wire gently and uniformly wraps around the base, simultaneously making at equal distance from each other small loops. Hinges are needed for hangers - how many pendants, so many hinges. Collapse them with the help of the same kruglogubtsev or by wrapping the wire around a match or toothpick.
• The last item that allows you to make kuffs with your own hands is the manufacture of pendants. In the course of the wire will go thinner - it will string beads, feathers, etc. From one end make a knot, and the other end with a hook. The ready-made suspension should be inserted into the eyelet on the earring.

Of course, this is the simplest version of kaffa. Their designs can be very different, very complex. It all depends on the imagination, skills and skills that are acquired with time and the number of models manufactured.