Steen Gems

Wire Wrapped JewelryWire wrapping is one of the oldest techniques for making handmade jewelry. This technique is done with jewelry wire and findings
similar to wire (for example, head-pins) to make components. Wire components are then connected to one another using mechanical
techniques with no soldering or heating of the wire. Frequently, in this approach, a wire is bent into a loop or other decorative
shape and then the wire is wrapped around itself to finish the wire component. This makes the loop or decorative shape permanent.
The technique of wrapping wire around itself gives this craft its name of wire wrapping.

History
Examples of wire and beaded jewelry made using wire wrapping techniques date back to thousands of years BC. The British Museum has
samples of jewelry from the Sumerian Dynasty, found in the cemetery of Ur that contain spiraled wire components. This jewelry is
dated at approximately 2000 BC. Other samples of jewelry from Ancient Rome show wire wrapped loops (one of the important
techniques in making wire wrapped jewelry). This Roman jewelry is dated to approximately 2000 years ago. In the manufacture of
this early jewelry the techniques for soldering did not exist. Later, as the technique for soldering developed, the wire wrapping
approach continued because it was an economical and quick way to make jewelry components out of wire.
Wire wrapping techniques are not frequently used for mass-produced jewelry because machines can cast (mold) jewelry components
faster, more cheaply, and more precisely. The wire wrapping approach to making jewelry is primarily employed by individuals.



Wire

Wire is available is shapes such as round, square, half-round and patterns, such as flat and pre-twisted. It is also available in
a variety of materials. Copper and brass wire are easy to shape and manipulate. Copper wire can be hammered quite thin. Brass wire
is a little stiffer than copper, but it can be manipulated very easily. Sterling silver is soft enough to manipulate, but holds
its shape well once it has been formed. Gold-filled wire is made by fusing a layer of 12-or 14-karat gold to a supporting
material. Silver-filled wire is made in the same manner. The bond between the two materials is permanent.
Wire is measured by diameter, which is indicated by gauge numbers. The lower the gauge, the thicker the wire. A 12 or 14-gauge
wire is fairly heavy, but ideal for making bangles and chokers. 10-gauge wire is very thick and stiff, while 26-gauge wire is very
fine, almost as thin as hair. This thin wire is well-suited for coiling embellishments. 16-gauge wire is good for making jump
rings and links for necklaces and bracelets, and 18-gauge wire is good to use for adding embellishments and making finer links.
* Memory Wire is a rigid, pre-coiled wire that makes it easy to create finger and toe rings, bracelets and necklaces.
* Beading Wire is a stranded stainless steel wire with a nylon coating. It is good to use with abrasive beads. A thinner wire
will give an appealing drape to lightweight beads such as gemstone heishe, liquid gold, or liquid silver and bugle or seed
beads. A thicker weight wire should be used to accommodate larger, heavier bead strands.
* Super-thin Beading Wire is a 34-gauge wire that can used for forming shapes and weaving around findings. Because it is so fine,
this wire will fit through almost any drill hole. It is to be used with lightweight beads only as it is very thin and doesn't
have much tensile strength.

Wire Wrapped JewelryWire wrapping is one of the oldest techniques for making handmade jewelry. This technique is done with jewelry wire and findings
similar to wire (for example, head-pins) to make components. Wire components are then connected to one another using mechanical
techniques with no soldering or heating of the wire. Frequently, in this approach, a wire is bent into a loop or other decorative
shape and then the wire is wrapped around itself to finish the wire component. This makes the loop or decorative shape permanent.
The technique of wrapping wire around itself gives this craft its name of wire wrapping.

History

Examples of wire and beaded jewelry made using wire wrapping techniques date back to thousands of years BC. The British Museum has
samples of jewelry from the Sumerian Dynasty, found in the cemetery of Ur that contain spiraled wire components. This jewelry is
dated at approximately 2000 BC. Other samples of jewelry from Ancient Rome show wire wrapped loops (one of the important
techniques in making wire wrapped jewelry). This Roman jewelry is dated to approximately 2000 years ago. In the manufacture of
this early jewelry the techniques for soldering did not exist. Later, as the technique for soldering developed, the wire wrapping
approach continued because it was an economical and quick way to make jewelry components out of wire.
Wire wrapping techniques are not frequently used for mass-produced jewelry because machines can cast (mold) jewelry components
faster, more cheaply, and more precisely. The wire wrapping approach to making jewelry is primarily employed by individuals.



Wire

Wire is available is shapes such as round, square, half-round and patterns, such as flat and pre-twisted. It is also available in
a variety of materials. Copper and brass wire are easy to shape and manipulate. Copper wire can be hammered quite thin. Brass wire
is a little stiffer than copper, but it can be manipulated very easily. Sterling silver is soft enough to manipulate, but holds
its shape well once it has been formed. Gold-filled wire is made by fusing a layer of 12-or 14-karat gold to a supporting
material. Silver-filled wire is made in the same manner. The bond between the two materials is permanent.
Wire is measured by diameter, which is indicated by gauge numbers. The lower the gauge, the thicker the wire. A 12 or 14-gauge
wire is fairly heavy, but ideal for making bangles and chokers. 10-gauge wire is very thick and stiff, while 26-gauge wire is very
fine, almost as thin as hair. This thin wire is well-suited for coiling embellishments. 16-gauge wire is good for making jump
rings and links for necklaces and bracelets, and 18-gauge wire is good to use for adding embellishments and making finer links.
* Memory Wire is a rigid, pre-coiled wire that makes it easy to create finger and toe rings, bracelets and necklaces.
* Beading Wire is a stranded stainless steel wire with a nylon coating. It is good to use with abrasive beads. A thinner wire
will give an appealing drape to lightweight beads such as gemstone heishe, liquid gold, or liquid silver and bugle or seed
beads. A thicker weight wire should be used to accommodate larger, heavier bead strands.
* Super-thin Beading Wire is a 34-gauge wire that can used for forming shapes and weaving around findings. Because it is so fine,
this wire will fit through almost any drill hole. It is to be used with lightweight beads only as it is very thin and doesn't
have much tensile strength.

Jewellery or jewelry

ewellery or jewelry (American English; see spelling differences) consists of decorative items worn for personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and cufflinks. Jewellery may be attached to the body or the clothes. From a western perspective, the term is restricted to durable ornaments, excluding flowers for example. For many centuries metal, often combined with gemstones, has been the normal material for jewellery, but other materials such as shells and other plant materials may be used. It is one of the oldest type of archaeological artefact  with 100,000 year-old beads made from Nassarius shells thought to be the oldest known jewellery.[1] The basic forms of jewellery vary between cultures but are often extremely longlived; in European cultures the most common forms of jewellery listed above have persisted since ancient times, while other forms such as adornments for the nose or ankle, important in other cultures, are much less common.



Jewellery may be made from a wide range of materials. Gemstones and similar materials such as amber and coral, precious metals, beads, and shells have been widely used, and enamel has often been important. In most cultures jewellery can be understood as a status symbol, for its material properties, its patterns, or for meaningful symbols. Jewellery has been made to adorn nearly every body part, from hairpins to toe rings, and even genital jewellery. The patterns of wearing jewellery between the sexes, and by children and older people can vary greatly between cultures, but adult women have been the most consistent wearers of jewellery in modern European culture the amount worn by adult males is relatively low compared with other cultures and other periods in European culture.



The word jewellery itself is derived from the word jewel, which was anglicised from the Old French jouel and beyond that, to the Latin word jocale, meaning plaything. In British English, Indian English, New Zealand English, Hiberno-English, Australian English, and South African English it is spelled jewellery, while the spelling is jewelry in American English.[3] Both are used in Canadian English, though jewelry prevails by a two to one margin. In French and a few other European languages the equivalent term, joaillerie, may also cover decorated metalwork in precious metal such as objets d''''''''art and church items, not just objects worn on the person.

 

Jewellery or jewelry
Jewellery or jewelry (American English; see spelling differences) consists of decorative items worn for personal adornment, such as
brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and cufflinks. Jewellery may be attached to the body or the clothes.
From a western perspective, the term is restricted to durable ornaments, excluding flowers for example. For many centuries metal,
often combined with gemstones, has been the normal material for jewellery, but other materials such as shells and other plant
materials may be used. It is one of the oldest type of archaeological artefact – with 100,000-year-old beads made from Nassarius
shells thought to be the oldest known jewellery.[1] The basic forms of jewellery vary between cultures but are often extremely
long-lived; in European cultures the most common forms of jewellery listed above have persisted since ancient times, while other
forms such as adornments for the nose or ankle, important in other cultures, are much less common.

Jewellery may be made from a wide range of materials. Gemstones and similar materials such as amber and coral, precious metals,
beads, and shells have been widely used, and enamel has often been important. In most cultures jewellery can be understood as a
status symbol, for its material properties, its patterns, or for meaningful symbols. Jewellery has been made to adorn nearly every
body part, from hairpins to toe rings, and even genital jewellery. The patterns of wearing jewellery between the sexes, and by
children and older people can vary greatly between cultures, but adult women have been the most consistent wearers of jewellery;
in modern European culture the amount worn by adult males is relatively low compared with other cultures and other periods in
European culture.

The word jewellery itself is derived from the word jewel, which was anglicised from the Old French "jouel" and beyond that, to the
Latin word "jocale", meaning plaything. In British English, Indian English, New Zealand English, Hiberno-English, Australian
English, and South African English it is spelled jewellery, while the spelling is jewelry in American English.[3] Both are used in
Canadian English, though jewelry prevails by a two to one margin. In French and a few other European languages the equivalent
term, joaillerie, may also cover decorated metalwork in precious metal such as objets d'art and church items, not just objects
worn on the person.