Jewelry findings such as clasps, earwires, bails, metal loops, jump rings, metal beads, balls, threading beads are parts  used to join jewelry components like bracelets, earrings, necklaces and so on together to form a completed item. Most findings, as commonly referred to, are metal and can be either gold, silver plated, or sterling. The word "findings"derives from slang that the early tradesmen called the metal scraps left on the floor.  These tradesmen would sweep up these metal scrappings and mold them into clasps, earwires, bails, metal loops, jump rings, metal beads, balls, and etc. Since these items were mainly used for jewelry, the tradesmen called them "jewelry findings" or "findings."