Jewellery Findings - Jewellery Gauge Wire

Jewellery Gauge Wire — Gauge-to-Use Guide

Choose the right wire thickness for your project with this quick reference guide covering our three available gauges.

1 mm Wire

Our finest gauge — ideal for delicate, intricate work where flexibility and a lightweight finish matter most.

• Delicate wrapping: wrapping small gemstones, beads, or pendants with neat, close coils
• Bead stringing & links: threading seed beads or creating fine-loop connectors between chain links
• Ear wire loops: forming lightweight shepherd's hooks and ear wires

1.5 mm Wire

A versatile mid-gauge that balances workability with a more visible profile — great for everyday jewellery making.

• Bead chains: hand-crafting wrapped-loop chains where each bead sits in its own wire cage
• Jump rings & simple clasps: coiling and cutting your own jump rings for medium-weight chains
• Pendant bails: forming neat bails to suspend focal beads or charms

2 mm Wire

Our heaviest gauge — chosen for structural work where the wire itself is part of the design.

• Structural findings: forming brooch frames, bangles, and ring shanks that need to hold their shape
• Statement links: large, bold chain links or oversized wrapped loops as a design feature
• Base frameworks: constructing wire-woven bases onto which finer wire or beads are added

General Tips

• Use round-nose pliers for smooth loops and flat-nose pliers to close findings neatly.
• Always cut wire with jewellery flush-cutters to avoid sharp ends.
• Work-harden thinner gauges after shaping by gently tumbling or tapping with a nylon mallet.

Available in 1 mm, 1.5 mm, and 2 mm — select your gauge from the variant options above.