Glass Pendants for Necklaces, Earrings and Handmade Jewellery

Glass pendants are decorative pieces used most often for jewellery, accessories and decorations. The category includes Murano-style, millefiori, cubic zirconia and crystal glass pendants.

Use them to add colour and shine to necklaces, earrings, bracelets or handmade gifts.

Types of glass

A quick rundown of the types of glass pendants:

• Murano and millefiori — layered coloured glass. Millefiori means "a thousand flowers" — glass with a multicoloured flower pattern running through it. Good for a central accent.
• Crystal — glass that refracts more light. For formal and wedding jewellery.
• Cubic zirconia — a synthetic stone with double refraction that looks a little like diamond. For small accents and earrings.
• Lampwork — glass shaped by hand over a flame, so every piece is unique. For one-of-a-kind jewellery.

Shapes and hanging loops

Pendants are available in classic shapes — round, oval, teardrop, heart, disc — as well as geometric ones like octagon and rhombus, and figural ones: butterfly, leaf, shell, moon, eye, Buddha, zodiac signs.

Some pendants have a ready-made loop or metal mount and hang straight from the cord. Others have a plain hole through the glass. For those, you’ll need a jump ring — a small metal ring that opens and closes.

What they’re used for

• A single-pendant necklace. Easy and quick project — personalise it according to the occasion.
• Earrings. Glass is lighter than metal, so you can use larger pendants without them being too heavy on your ears.
• An accent for your jewellery. A pendant at the centre of a bracelet or necklace made of small beads really stands out.
• Seasonal charms. With glass accents, you can create stylish charms that are just as wearable after the season as during it.
• Accessories. Keychains, bag charms, hanging ornaments.

What to combine them with

Think carefully about the base cord you want for your piece. A fine chain makes a pendant more formal. A leather or polyester cord brings it back to an everyday, boho feel. A strand of small beads sets it into a composition.

You’ll find all of these and more materials for your project here:

Chains

a base for a necklace

Cords and strings

for a sliding knot

Rings and earring parts

for hanging

Pliers

for opening jump rings

Frequently asked questions