Handcrafted Wire Jewelry by Fashionably Wired ®

Copper Wire Colors

All wire used in my Fashionably Wired ® jewelry collection is authentic artistic copper wire. I do not use cheap imitations, or inexpensive coated craft wires. The colors you see here are permanently enameled to the copper core and clear-coated to prevent tarnish and color fade.

Wire 501 Black	Wire 507 Green	Wire 514 Orange	Wire 520 Silver	Wire 526 Smoky Quartz
Wire 502 Blue	Wire 509 Lavender	Wire 515 DkAqua	Wire 521 Brown	Wire 527 Vintage Bronze
Wire 503 Navy	Wire 510 Burgundy	Wire 516 LtBlue	Wire 522 NaturalCopper	Wire 528 Titanium
Wire 504 DkPurple	Wire 511 Red	Wire 517 LtGreen	Wire 523 BrightGold	Wire 529 Gunmetal
Wire 505 Purple	Wire 512 Fuschia	Wire 518 Lime	Wire 524 Bronze

Many people have asked me why I use copper wire instead of the finer gold and silver wires, or the cheaper craft wire.

I choose artistic copper wire primarily because of the beautiful color assortment. My designs would have very little variation if they were only made in gold or silver. And while the gold wire would wear well, the silver would require constant polishing, as sterling tarnished no matter how careful you are.

Inexpensive craft wires are fine for practice, but they have a cheap look and feel to them. I require something with a more natural feel to it for my pieces.

Artistic copper wire is wire with a pure copper core, enameled with the beautiful colors you see in my work. The enamel does not flake or tarnish, as they have (in the last few years) begun applying a clear coat (like clear nail polish) to the wire to preserve the color.

The bright gold and silver artistic copper wires do not tarnish. They stay bright and require little maintenance beyond a little shine now and then.

Copper is a precious metal; it is just not as precious as gold and silver, so it costs less. This keeps my pieces in the proper price range for my customers to afford. The same cannot be said of gold and silver.

I use 24 gauge copper wire for most of my coiling work. For stringing the necklaces, I use an under-wire of 20 gauge copper. I work the hook and eye closure directly into the string wire for strength. I will, on occasion, use 26 gauge wire for finer coiled pieces -- the finer wire just provides a lighter appearance -- but 26 gauge is too soft for the finish coils, which need to be firm.

Another option in wire for coiling is brass wire. I don't use it except for home decoration pieces (hanging wires, mostly). The brass has a bit of a tarnished look to it from the start, and requires the same maintenance other polished brass does. It's just not as nice for jewelry.

So, that is the answer to Why Copper Wire? As an artist, it simply works for me. I find it to be a forgiving substance, which allows me to focus on the beauty of the piece more so that the technique. The wire performs consistently for me, and my supplier adds new colors every year or so, giving me more inspiration.

For more information about artistic copper wire, visit www.parawire.com.