Wire wrapped jewelry

Wire wrapping is one of the oldest techniques for making handmade jewelry.

The British Museum has samples of jewelry from the Sumerian Dynasty, found in the cemetery of Ur that contain spiraled wire components.

The wire wrapping approach to making jewelry is primarily employed by individuals.

The portion of the head pin coming out of the opposite side of the bead is essentially wire.

The Turkish Kazazye (also "Kazazlıc" or "Kazaz") from Trabzon is a historical technique from the Caucasus which uses silk wrapped in approximately 1000 carat silver or 24 carat gold wire that's approximately 0.08 mm in diameter.

A flush cutter is a special type of cutter that leaves one end of the cut wire flush or flat, while the opposite end of the cut wire is sharp or pointed.

Other useful tools used in making wire wrapped jewelry are nylon jaw pliers, a ruler, step jaw pliers, a pin vise to twist the wire, a chasing hammer, an anvil or bench block, a cup bur, loop closing or bent closing pliers and a jewelry making jig.

Wire is available is shapes such as round, square, half-round and patterns, such as flat and pre-twisted.

Gold-filled wire is made by fusing a layer of 12-or 14-karat gold to a supporting material.

Precious metal wire also comes in three hardnesses: A craftsperson can purchase pre-made components instead of making them.

The most important findings used in making jewelry are ear wires, clasps, head pins, and jump rings.