Page 21   Jewelry Making with Beads and Wire -- What a Beginner Needs to Know

Here are some do's and don'ts about choosing jewelry wire:

• In general use 20G wire for earrings, 18G wire for Bracelet components and 18 or 16 G wire for necklace components.
• In general use 20 or 22G wire for making wrapped bead links in bracelets and necklaces.
• In general don't use 22G wire to make a wire component that must stand by itself, unless that component is very small.
• In general, when buying 16G wire, buy soft wire, half-hard may be too stiff.
• In general use soft wire for spirals and half-hard wire where you will have wrapped loops.
• When making an ear wire, consider 20 or 21G wire.  22G wire is probably too thin and may be uncomfortable to wear. 
• Do not use Artistic Wire or any other dyed wire for making ear wires.  The dyes have chemicals that do not belong inside the human body. 

The following two pages provide additional information on the advantages and disadvantages of several types of jewelry wire.