How to Gauge Jewelry Wire
Jewelry wire is a necessary component in jewelry making. Whether you create necklaces, bracelets or earrings, jewelry wire, in some way, will be a part of the jewelry you make. Most jewelry wire comes in a variety of sizes of gauges. Higher gauge numbers indicate smaller sized jewelry wire and lower gauge numbers indicate larger sized jewelry wire. Use a chart illustrating jewelry gauge numbers and the corresponding wire size to gauge jewelry wire.
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Instructions
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Visit www.wigjig.com (see Resources) to view the jewelry wire chart. Compare the chart to your jewelry wire to help you determine what gauges of jewelry wire you have.
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Choose jewelry wire with higher gauge numbers for jewelry wire that is easier to bend and manipulate. Jewelry makers often use jewelry wire in gauges between 18 and 22 to make bracelets, necklaces and earrings because this gauge is easily bent, yet it remains durable and strong as you wear it.
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Select jewelry wire with lower gauge numbers for jewelry wire that is thicker and more difficult to manipulate. Jewelry gauges of 16 and under require tools and equipment that beginners may not have. Experienced jewelry makers often use jewelry wire with lower gauge numbers to construct wire jewelry with a focus on design.
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Tips & Warnings
The highest jewelry wire gauge (and the thinnest wire) is 34-gauge wire. The lowest jewelry wire gauge (and the thickest wire) is 10-gauge wire.
Jewelry wire also comes in square, round and half-round wire shapes.
