Favorite Fives: Craft and Jewelry Wire



Use 20 gauge silver-plated wire

for making charm bracelets.



1. Silver-Plated Wire



With an unlimited number of uses, silver-plated wire is a staple for any wire and bead jeweler. Wonderful for making charm bracelets, rings, earrings, and for wrapping river stones, silver-plated wire comes in a variety of gauges. Non-tarnishing and forever bright, this wire is an excellent, more cost effective alternative to sterling silver. To get started, invest in a spool of 18, 22 and 24 gauges. Look for the brands Artistic Wire (artisticwire.com) and Beadalon (beadalon.com).



14 gauge stainless steel cuff bracelets.



  2. Stainless Steel Wire

Versatile and strong, stainless steel wire is wonderful for cuff bracelets, pendants and pendant frames and neck wires. Available at any home improvement store, stainless steel wire in sizes 14 and 16 gauge is inexpensive and easily polished with steel wool.



Copper Wire Bead Cluster Pendant



 



 

3. Copper Wire

Excellent for use with earthtone colored beads, copper wire is just as versatile as silver-plated wire. For an organic flair in your jewelry collection, invest in a variety of gauges and tones of copper wire. For a darker copper color, look for Parawire's (parawire.com) Vintaj natural brass colored wire.





Wire wrapped bead ring made with
20 gauge aluminum wire.





 

  4. Aluminum Wire

Thick yet soft, aluminum wire is great for making wire wrapped bead rings. Easy to manipulate, aluminum wire hardens as it is wrapped and retains its shape and color.

18 gauge gold wire earrings.
Earring Tutorial Available





 

5. Gold Colored Wire

Another versatile wire is gold colored wire. The 18 gauge gold wire by Artistic Wire (artisticwire.com) is strong and non-tarnishing. Use for earrings, rings, charm bracelets and pendants!