How to Wire Wrap Stones

In the traditional designed jewelry, stones are mounted by the usual claw method. According to this technique, claws are first created from the the jewelry material, which are then used to secure the stone by enclosing from all sides. In contrary to this, wire wrap stones are made by manually binding and twisting wire around the stones with the help of special tools. With this wire wrap stone technique, you can create exclusive pendant designs using any type of material and stone. Let's take a look on how to wire wrap stones.

How to Wire Wrap Stones

Wire wrap is especially applicable to secure irregular shaped, natural gemstones, which are difficult for machine mounting. The unusual shaped stones can be secured tightly by wire wrapping without making the use of glue or machine settings. The methodology to wire wrap stones is the same for all types of precious stones such as ruby, emerald, amethyst, pearls, opal etc.

Wire Wrap Instructions
The technique of wire wrapping is very versatile. However, for every style, the basic wire wrap instructions include twisting the wrapping wire, twinning a bundle of wire (as per your design), adjusting the wrap to align with the stone, shaping the wrap and cutting the wire properly. Follow the wire wrap instructions carefully to secure the stone with the wrapping wire. Otherwise, there are chances that the stone falls on one side or it is loosely mounted.

Wire Wrap Tools
Wire wrap tools and materials include ruler, plier (round nose, flat nose plier), file, wire cutter, wire (soft wire, hard wire) and stones. You can select jewelry wire from a wide range of shapes, sizes and materials. They are available in brass, copper, silver, gold or filled gold materials; the shapes include flat, patterned, square, triangle, round and half round. Each of these wire shapes is preferable for a particular stone and jewelery type. For example, round wire is most suited for wrapping earring stones, while a half round wire is ideal for rings.

Wire Wrap Patterns
Wire wrap patterns are endless; in fact, you can sketch any cool looking design including beads and stones and start wrapping the stones with wire. In case of implementing wire wrap patterns for earrings, the basic tip is to start with the center design and finish the top and bottom wiring. According to the design, fix the beads and gemstones in between the wire wraps. If you are familiar with the simple design patterns, you can try making unique heavy designs. Some of the plus points of wire wrap stones include unlimited design patterns, usage of simple tools and quick making procedure. You can complete wire wrapping a stone within an hour, provided that you have the right tools and materials.

Well! This in in brief on how to wire wrap stones. You can follow these simple wire wrap instructions to create attractive designs and incorporate in earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Use the wire wrapped pendants to make a simple looking necklace into an admirable, priceless possession. In addition to learning wire wrap stones with your own, there are several schools that offer courses for wire wrap patterns, ideas and designs. If you have a passion for jewelry making and designing, then you can join a short-term training course for wire wrapping. Imagine creating your own line of wire wrap pendants, bracelets, earrings and much more.