What is chenier in jewellery making?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
Chenier is the jewellery-making term for thin-walled metal tubing, most often made from gold, silver or copper, that is used to create hinges, structural supports, settings for stones and decorative tube elements. The word comes from French and is used in British and Australian jewellery making. Chenier is drawn through a drawplate to achieve precise diameters, and it can be cut into short sections to make hinge knuckles, used as a bezel former, or incorporated directly into a piece as a design element.
Frequently asked questions
- What is chenier used for in jewellery?
- Its most common use is making hinges for lockets, brooches and boxes, where short sections of chenier are alternated and a pin runs through them. It is also used to make tube settings, which are a clean, modern way of setting a round stone, and as a structural element in constructed pieces.
- How is chenier made?
- Chenier starts as a strip of metal sheet that is formed around a mandrel into a tube shape and then soldered along the seam, or it is drawn from a solid rod by pulling it progressively through smaller holes in a drawplate. Chenier drawn this way, with no seam, is preferred for visible applications.
- What is a tube setting?
- A tube setting is a bezel made from a section of chenier sized to fit a round gemstone, which is then rubbed over the stone's girdle to hold it in place. Tube settings give a very clean, minimal look and are popular in contemporary jewellery.
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