Compare Jewellery Designs Using Different Sized Wire

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0.2mm - 0.5mm wire: Great for beginners & working with beads

This sized wire is very easy to manipulate, which makes it great for using with small and fiddly beads. We tend to reach for this wire for wire wrapping beads which are in need of delicate and intricate designs. Depending on the size of the bead hole, being able to use the thickest wire possible will ensure your design is secure. Be careful not to put too much pressure on your beads when wire wrapping, and choose a thinner wire if it's struggling to get through the hole - as this will likely break your bead. Take a look at some examples of designs using 0.2mm - 0.5mm round wire below.

0.4mm: Secure Wire Wrapping

0.4mm round wire is great to use for using alongside thicker wire for adding featured beads like these designs! Above we have used 9ct gold plated round wire to wrap some sparkly spinel beads around our popular hoop earrings. Our customer, Deb Briggs founder of Debonair Creations features in the middle design using 0.8mm square wire and 0.4mm copper wire to weave around the frame with metal beads. Not only that, you can see how using a slightly thicker wire on briolette beads can add a bolder look to your design - just make sure you're not forcing wire through the bead hole or it may break!

0.5mm: Great For Large Holed Statement Beads

0.5mm round wire is also suitable for wire wrapping beads however this works best with larger, statement beads which have large hole sizes. This size wire is a little harder to wrap compared to 0.2mm wire but with a little practice, you will be a pro in no time!

Follow our tutorial on how to make a wire wrapped bead chain here

0.6mm - 1mm wire: Good for findings & larger structured wire shapes

0.8mm: The best size for earrings

0.8mm is the most suitable sized wire for using for creating your own ear wires and earring designs. As you can see above, we have created numerous earrings in a range of styles including wire wrapped earstuds using crystals and round beads, hammered earrings and beaded hoops. The possibilities are endless, all you need is to get a little creative!

Find the kits/tutorials to these projects: peridot crystal eastuds, sterling silver textured earrings, beaded hoop earrings and malachite wire wrapped earstuds.

1mm: Stacking rings, pendants & extras

1mm wire is wonderful for creating stacking rings, pendants and adding dimensions to your jewellery designs! We created the boho amazonite earrings featuring dangling hammered 1mm wire, the project and kit can be found here.

Ali from Buttons & Beads: "I used 1mm for this dainty bracelet, the first and only of its kind! It was a gift for my lovely cousin, I really need to use it more often as it’s fab for keeping a beautiful shape and is so malleable, no chance of snapping unlike elastic."

Also featuring a gorgeous geometric pendant design using 1mm wire by Claire from Pop Up Jewellery Ltd, plus delicate stacking gemstone rings by the talented Ceri Dalton the jeweller behind Groovy Jewellery.

1.5mm - 2mm wire: Suitable for rings, bracelets, bangles & creating frames

1.5mm is a lovely thick wire for creating many jewellery designs. The top left photo is a stunning wire wrapped rainbow moonstone pendant, created with a mixture of 1.5mm, 1mm and 0.6mm round copper wire made by Tamzyn Shaw. Next up with have gorgeous earrings made from 0.8mm wire with 1.5mm hanging posts by Lily Alexandra Handmade Silver. We created the eye catching cuff bracelet, with a base of 1.5mm copper wire, wrapped with 0.4mm 9t gold plated wire complete with aquamarine beads! The bottom right ring is made from 1.5mm wire featuring labradorite cabochons from Kernowcraft, handmade by Jules from Scrappo Worko.

2mm is great for those big and bold designs! Here we've made a simple diamond wrapped ring using 2mm sterling silver round wire, with delicately wrapped natural diamond nuggets beads using 0.2mm wire. The gorgeous necklace by Susan Webb is made using 2mm wire and a thinner wire for the round circles.

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