THE MAGIC POWER OF JEWELRY WIRE

Jewelry wire, in its various forms, can be an essential assistant in creating your favorite handmade jewelry. With it, you can do various things – string beads, shape it into different figures, weave it (e.g., chains or chainmail), and make your own earring hooks and other accessories.

The market offers a vast variety of types, brands, and colors. Therefore, it can sometimes be challenging to decide which wire to use to create the desired jewelry, especially for those of us just getting started with this engaging hobby. If you want to get acquainted with jewelry materials or wish to expand the range of techniques you use, we at EM ART hope to help you with the following lines.

How is the wire made?

Wire is most commonly made from rods of copper, stainless steel, brass, silver, and gold, which are machine-drawn through a special carbon steel plate with holes of different sizes.

• Stainless steel is the material most commonly used for making bead stringing wire, while copper, which is affordable and not very expensive, is used for producing colored modeling wire.
• Brass wire is usually harder than copper and is used for silver plating and gold plating.
• Silver wire is made from two grades, 925 and 999 (with 92.5% and 99.9% silver content), with 925 grade wire being much more common and accessible.
• The most luxurious and expensive wire is gold wire, but here too, manufacturers have thought of those of us with more modest means. Pure gold wire is usually available in two variants - 9 and 18 carats and is very expensive, but there are also quite good alternatives at a lower price - wire with multi-layer gold plating and gold alloys with different noble metal content.
• In Bulgaria, wire made of precious metals is not as widespread due to its high price. However, modern production methods allow for extremely high-quality gold and silver plating, so you can safely use gold-plated and silver-plated wire without your jewelry losing any of its charm.

Size matters!

The thickness of the wire is typically measured in gauges (from the English gauge), but many manufacturers and retailers also add an explanation of the equivalent in centimeters or inches. It’s essential to remember that the larger the wire’s gauge number, the smaller its diameter. Thus, wire with a diameter of 10 G is precisely twice as thick as wire with a size of 30 G. Here are the equivalent values in millimeters for the most popular wire sizes:

10 G – 2.6 mm, 12 G – 2.1 mm, 14 G – 1.6 mm, 16 G – 1.3 mm, 18 G – 1.0 mm, 20 G – 0.81 mm, 22 G – 0.64 mm, 24 G – 0.51 mm, 26 G – 0.41 mm, 28 G – 0.32 mm, 30 G – 0.26 mm, 32 G – 0.20 mm, and 34 G – 0.16 mm.

Keep in mind that wire with a larger diameter is difficult to manipulate. It is most suitable for making clasps, earrings, ring bases, bracelets, and necklaces. The thinner the wire, the easier it is to work with. It can be used for decoration, various wrapping techniques, weaving, and even sewing and embroidery.

Profile yourself!

In addition to different colors and sizes, jewelry wire is also available in various profiles. Besides the standard round profile, there are also square, rectangular, oval, and even half-round (like the letter D). They add additional volume to your creations, and how exactly you use them depends only on your imagination.

Another important characteristic of the wire is its hardness. There are three main types – hard, semi-hard, and soft. Keep in mind that different materials also have different hardness levels – brass, for example, is harder than copper. Soft wire is the easiest to work with; you can bend it even with your fingers, and thin diameter soft wire is especially suitable for wrapping. However, this wire is quite delicate and unsuitable for everyday jewelry as it wears out easily.

You can strengthen wire creations by hammering with a jewelry hammer; however, this changes the metal’s texture and will ruin the coating if there is one. Use this method only when working with copper wire or wire made of precious metal without an additional coating.

Hard and semi-hard wire is used for jewelry that needs to maintain its specific shape (like the currently popular wide bracelets without clasps). If you try to handle hard or semi-hard wire only with your fingers, you risk seriously injuring yourself. For this purpose, you already need various jewelry tools.

In the colors of the rainbow!

Enameled (colored) wire is made by applying colored enamel to copper or silver-plated wire. The variety of colors offered in EM ART stores is enormous. When working with this wire, you must be extremely careful because tools can damage the coating and ruin your creation. This can happen even if you use glass beads with a sharper edge on the threading hole. For extra security, I recommend using pliers with plastic covers on the jaws to protect the coating from scratching.

Beading wire is also available in various colors. It is more like a cable - it consists of several fine steel strands, twisted and covered with a nylon sheath. The number of strands ranges from 3 to 49, and the more there are, the stronger (and more expensive) the cable. There are even jewelry cables made of pure gold or silver with a nylon coating, but their price is much higher than that of steel. This wire is very flexible but should not be bent, as the bend cannot be fixed.

It is very resistant to friction thanks to its nylon coating, and variants with more strands can bear a lot of weight (e.g., large glass beads or semi-precious stone beads), making them an excellent choice for threading necklaces. However, you should know that you can hardly tie the beading cable into a secure knot. Instead, crimp beads made of precious metals or alloys with different coatings are used.

Did you know..?

Another interesting variety of jewelry wire is memory wire. This is special hardened steel wire that retains its original shape even when bent and twisted. It is very hard, so keep your new wire cutters away from it! Use sturdier cutters for memory wire or buy a pair of regular cutters from the hardware store. Since this wire is difficult to cut and form loops, you can use a little trick to make it more pliable. Hold the wire over a candle flame for a few seconds (you will know it is ready by the red color), and then quickly dip it in water to cool it. This will make it much easier to cut the wire and form a loop with the correct shape.

And more information about jewelry wire!

Metal wire - the foundation of jewelry. Jewelry is not just beautiful beads, pendants, or colorful glass. It also includes metal wire, cords, and other links that are an indispensable base and allow you to create any kind of bracelet, necklace, or earrings. Before you start designing, it is worth equipping yourself with a set of different types of metal wire for jewelry. They are durable elements that protect the beads and, moreover, the wide range of colors makes working with these elements a pleasure, and the possibility of creating new and unique jewelry models will bring great joy to everyone. Different types of metal wire for jewelry can be modeled very easily, but they also work well as strong links. That is why they can serve as the basis for long earrings or round necklaces. The metal wire for jewelry from EM ART is wound with durable and convenient plastic spools. Thanks to this, it is easy to keep them organized - they will not tangle or unwind.

Phone charms are still a trendy accessory that can also be used as a key ring. All you need is metal wire for jewelry in any color and some beads. As a result, a beautiful small object will appear that will always bring you a smile when you look at it. The types of metal wire from EM ART are also suitable for making bracelets filled with small stones or heavier beads. A flexible cord is the basis from which you can create a beautiful bracelet.

Steel beading wire is an excellent material from which you can create beautiful earrings. How are these jewelry pieces made? Just connect several pieces of steel wire (of different lengths) together and then twist the selected beads around them. They can be pearls or incredibly attractive beads of your choice. The beads must be secured at the bottom before they fall. This is how beautiful, attractive jewelry is created. With the metal wire for jewelry from EM ART, you will make necklaces in the form of hoops, i.e., those that are thin but firm and display the pendants or beads placed on them very well. Just measure the correct length of metal wire and let your imagination breathe. On such a necklace, both individual pendants (e.g., gemstones, metal beads, etc.) and beads shaped like a beautiful cluster will look great. Silver and gold colors are especially suitable for this, as these colors are the easiest to match with other elements.

Once you master the basic wireworking techniques, you will be able to make jewelry of any type. If you follow our tips, you will soon be able to make jewelry that rivals designer pieces. The necessary tools are the three types of pliers mentioned earlier in the section – flat nose, round nose, and cutters. Choosing the right wire is also crucial for your success. When selecting wire, you need to consider the size, hardness, and material it is made of.

How to work with memory wire?

Memory wire is a specially treated thin steel wire used to make necklaces, rings, bracelets for wrists and ankles. It is made of thermally treated stainless steel. This wire retains its original circular shape when stretched and threaded. It is recommended to cut it with special hard wire cutters, as it is significantly harder than other types of wire. Use round nose pliers to hold the wire at its very end. Turn the pliers clockwise until you form a round loop. You can attach a charm or other pendant to it that will jingle playfully as you wear your jewelry.

How to make a wrapped loop?

A wrapped loop is much stronger than a simple one. If you work with thinner wire, your jewelry will be much more durable when finished with a wrapped loop. This technique takes a bit more time to master. To start, use wire size 22 or 24, as thicker wire is easier to manipulate. Cut and straighten the wire you will work with. Hold it with round nose pliers so that a little more than half its length is free.

Bend the wire to form a right angle. Use cutters to cut the excess wire. Protect your eyes from possible flying pieces. Use flat nose pliers to squeeze the wire at the end of the coil to give your wrapped loop a professional and finished look.

How to make a wire spiral?

Wire spirals are easy to make and can be used for various types of jewelry. Use round nose pliers to grab the wire at its very end. Twist the wire around the pliers until you get a small loop. Continue with flat nose pliers. Hold the already formed loop between the jaws of the flat nose pliers. Use your free hand to twist the wire around the already formed loop. Move the pliers in sync with the growing spiral. Do this until you get a spiral of the desired size. When you are done wrapping, make sure you have left at least 2 cm of free wire, grab it with round nose pliers, and make another loop but this time in the opposite direction of the spiral.

How to make an S-shaped hook clasp from wire?

This S-shaped clasp is one of many you can make from wire. These clasps are suitable for bracelets and necklaces, and the fact that they are handmade adds even more authenticity to the jewelry they are attached to. Hold the end of the wire with the tip of your flat nose pliers. Form a loop by turning the pliers until the wire meets. Remove the pliers from the wire. Hold the wire with the base of your pliers so that the loop points up to your right side.

Turn the wire around the base of the shoulder of your pliers. Remove the pliers from the wire. Hold the wire again with the base of your pliers so that the large loop points down to your right side. Turn the wire around the base of the upper shoulder of your pliers. Remove the pliers from the wire. Use cutters to cut the excess wire. Protect your eyes from possible flying pieces. To make a hook for this clasp, repeat steps 1 to 4.

Instead of continuing to make another large loop, you will proceed directly to making another small loop.