Sterling silver is rising steadily, as it always has, but not nearly as fast or as furious as gold. But silver finished jewelry is more popular today than it has ever been. I will predict that the higher gold prices go the better sterling silver and non-tarnishing sterling silver (Argentium) wire jewelry will sell. Silver wire jewelry has held its own for a long time, but now is quickly passing up gold wire jewelry sales!

Silver wire jewelry products such as bracelets, rings and pendants will be the big thing people will be looking for if gold stays sky high. So silver sales may catch up to the gold sales of the past. But no matter what don’t let all this doom and gloom scare you people buy jewelry in good times and bad.

Any metal other than the precious metals, such as lead, bismuth, tin, antimony, copper, etc. Alloys of non-precious metals are also referred to as base metals. Findings made of base metal (silver or gold colored) are the cheapest to buy, and are great for practice for beginning beaders and children. For better pieces, use gold filled (a layer of gold stamped – not electroplated – over a base metal core) or sterling silver findings. Base metal findings are usually made of a nickel alloy material that can cause allergic reactions in some people, especially when used in body piercings. Those people who are sensitive to nickel alloys should use only 14 K (or higher) gold found in quality gold-filled findings. Surgical grade stainless steel findings are also available (usually referred to as Hypoallergenic). Most nickel-sensitive people can also tolerate sterling silver with no problems.

And no you don’t practice with gold and silver wire. You practice with copper or brass and I think for sculpture dead soft copper can’t be beat and for wire wrapping half hard brass is a good choice. When you use base metal wire get the biggest roll you can get it’s usually pretty cheap and by using the very cheap wire you are not afraid to take a chance trying to make a new design. With the price of gold it is pretty scary to try a real fancy move if it is going to cost you $8 just for that one move! And with the price of gold that’s what that attempt could cost you so you have to work out the bugs with cheap wire.