4 Steps to Choose Wire for Jewelry Making

Posted by Molly Zhou on March 16th, 2018

The use of jewelry wire in both practical applications and decorative has always been important in creating complicated, attractive jewelry designs. You can use it as links for chains, create stone settings and make pendants, earrings and bracelets. Good wire can make jewelry perfect. 

Making jewelry needs many tools and wires, the wire used for jewelry making is created in a number of materials and sizes. There are two important elements about wire that you need to know before choosing wire for jewelry; They are wire gauge and wire hardness. Jewelry wire is measured by different gauges, or diameter sizes, there are different kinds and sizes of wires. Hardness means how hard the wire is. You may wonder what kind of wire you should use in the jewelry making. Next, we will offer your more information about wire choices.

4 Steps to choose wire for jewelry making:

Step1: Choose your project.

Firstly, you should know different wire fits different jewelry, so you are supposed to make it certain what kind of jewelry you are going to make before you choose wire.

Step2: Choose the wire hardness: soft, half-hard, and hard.

Soft wire can be easily bent into the shapes you want by hands. It is great for making spirals, loops and round shapes.

Half-hard wire is a bit harder. It is designed for making sharp angles or wrapping around itself.

Hard wire is difficult to bend. It can be used to make pins, jumprings, hooks and clasps. It can’t be bent into round shapes.

Step3: Choose the wire gauge.
12 gauge wire is usually only available in dead soft temper. It may require heavy duty jewelry making tools for shaping and cutting.
14-gague and 16-gauge(1.3 to 1.6 mm) best used for large, heavy jewelry construction, which require some heavy duty jewelry making tools for shaping and cutting.
18-gauge and 20-gauge(0.81 to 1 mm) wire can be made into most bracelets, which can be shaped by hand and with the use of regular jewelry making tools (for shaping and cutting)
22-gauge (0.64 mm) wire for stone settings, earrings and pendants

24-gauge (0.51 mm) wire for most beading projects. The gauge fits through most beads but isn't too bulky.

26-gauge (0.40 mm) to wrap beads and make smaller chain loops. 

20-gauge or higher can be used for making earrings and wrapping bead.

30-gauge or 28-gauge (0.25 to 0.32 mm) wire for delicate jewelry making. It is great for wire weaving, rings, bead work and making small chains. Use fine jewelry making tools for this gauge.

Step4: Choose the wire color.

There are many colors of different wires. You can buy the wires in the color suitable for your main jewelry project.

Now, have you known the wires better? You can choose the wire for your jewelry making better in the future. Hope the above information can help you to create more beautiful jewelry.