Gold-filled Metal Price Madness?
I often buy supplies in bulk at some of the large jewelry shows I go to throughout the year, especially wire and findings. It is more economical to do that, and for me, I really have learned that the parts and pieces that make up your jewelry are critical to have around. It's great to have lots of beads, charms, or other components, or better yet make them, but if you can't turn them into jewelry because you are low on wire or don't have enough crimp beads, then it can get very frustrating.Since metal has risen, I have had to buy silver wire and other silver items, but I confess, it wasn't until recently that I seriously priced gold-filled wire. Woah momma! I mean, I know that gold was way, way (way) up there, and of course, there is some real gold in gold-filled wire, but I hadn't actually crunch the numbers, you know?
I have now invested in some brass and copper wire that I plan to experiment with, and not just for my design prototypes like I normally do, but for actually making finished jewelry pieces. This trend to other yellow metals is nothing new, but I guess I'm finally jumping on board too because I'm just not ready to fork over the big bucks for gold-filled right now!
What about you? Take this recent poll located on the forum: Is it just too expensive, or are you still buying gold-filled wire?
Or feel free to give your twenty-five cents here in a comment.
Comments
I hear you I love silver I have always called it the poor mans gold. Boy is that not true anymore. But I have also been working in copper, But find that to me it doesn’t go with as many colors as silver. But one thing is for sure with prices going up we will get more creative and thats for sure a good thing.
2 words.
Red Brass.
i have to keep my red brass wire adn my gold filled wire in separate ROOMS of the house or i get the 2 confused, even under magnification.
i have an etsy supplies shop, and i have seen a markable increase in requests and sales of red brass. It’s got more copper, so a warmer golden tone. it’s just perfect!
And i forgot to say, i have ALSO seen a markable increase in copper and brass jewelry sales.
the 2 retail shops i sell at REQUESTED i make more of it, since there is such a demand.
At shows, it’s ALWAYS the first to sell out.
Wire type depends on what my other investment in the piece is..stone type, time, who or what it’s for. I balk at the idea of not using G/F or silver on better pieces tho. However, I love copper and the new gunmetal for a casual look.
Also, I’ve also started making my own jump rings and simple clasps with the help of a basic wire class. While playing with wire is not my favorite thing to do, it sure helps!
I too have been using copper wire, but find it oxidizes quickly. Though it looks great in some pcs others it doesn’t. I like to hear more ahout the red copper!!!!!! and where can I get some?
Olfa,
it’s red Brass actually
Rio and Monsterslayer both have it, as well as some smaller placed.
Artistic Wire makes a clear coated copper wire, as well as a clear coated brass, but i don’t know if they have red brass.
that might be worth a look. I thing the big craft chains carry artistic wire.
it’s more expensive, but it it HARD to oxidize. In fact, i made something with a piece made with the coated copper ,and i tried for DAYS to get it to take oxidation, and no dice, it stayed shiny shiny.
you can also coat a component (like an earring drop) in krylon, It even comes in matte.
Another option,FMG sells a product called “jewelry shield” which i find works AWESOME for both keeping oxidation OFF shiny items, and keeping it ON for oxidized items.
It brushes on like nail polish and smells HORRIBLE, but it works great.
It would be great to use red brass in place of gold fill but isn’t it going to tarnish or patina later on to the point that it is obviously not gold colored anymore?
Kay,
In my experience red brass is SUPER easy to clean. I’ve been using it for a while now and it does patina, but a little jewelry cleaner or mild acid like lemon juice or canning citric acid for a minute or two and boom, all sparkle shiny again.
Artistic wire DOES have anti tarnish brass, but i do not know if it is red or yellow. it sure LOOKS red, but i bet a quick email to their customer support dept would tell you for sure.
Artistic Wire Brass
like i said, i can’t even MAKE the coper coated wire take a patina, so i’d imagine it’s pretty impervious to the elements.