About... Our Specialty Rings
Shaped wire rings fit together differently than round wire rings so the ring size recommendations are not the same. For most weaves, the shaped wire ring will have to be of a larger inside diameter than is required for a round wire ring. Half Round rings are the exception because they're slightly less than half the width of a round wire ring of the same size.
It will take time to develop the same extensive body of ring size recommendations for the shaped wire rings that we have for our round wire rings. Within our Weave Gallery, we'll be adding a full compliment of gauge/ID recommendations for each ring shape beneath each and every weave name. Obviously, that's a huge project and will take some serious time. Meanwhile, we suggest getting to know the new lines of rings by using them in places where exact sizing isn't as critical, such as to connect segments of byzantine made with round rings or to connect other types of jewelry elements together. Shaped wire rings add a lot of visual interest to a piece because they reflect the light differently than round rings. Except for the half round rings, all the specialty rings are a bit stronger and stiffer than round wire rings -- the Square and Diamond shapes because those corners mean there's more metal and the Twisted and MultiStrand rings because twisting the wire makes it harder -- so you can use rings of a larger aspect ratio than you're used to without sacrificing strength. This characteristic is advantageous when using the shaped rings for embellishment purposes.
The Half Round rings are the opposite of the other shaped rings in many ways. They are much weaker because there's so much less metal so treat them as though they're two gauges smaller than they actually are. By that I mean, use 16g Half Round the way you'd use 20g round rings. They're wider than 20g rings but they aren't any stronger than that, so they're a little tricky to use. One interesting advantage they offer is in making single spiral chain. Single spiral will hold a spiral shape when made from Half Round rings, something it will not do when made from round rings. Just remember that you have to use a much smaller aspect ratio ring than you would if the wire were round.
A good way to begin experimenting with these shaped rings is with the use of assortment packs, which are mixes of all different sizes in a single shape and a single metal, sold by weight. They're incredibly versatile because not only can you experiment with different sizes but you can add highlights to so many pieces of jewelry with just a single troy ounce of a mix. These rings are so eye catching that one per earring or 2, 3 or 5 used in a bracelet or necklace looks incredible. Because you can make a piece so special with so few rings, the assortment packs provide a lot more flexibility and value than any single ring size does, unless you have a specific project in mind.
The trick to making the most of the assortments is in choosing the amount that best suits your plans. If you want to make earrings, you're only likely to need size matched rings in pairs... meaning you only need two of a given size to be able to use them for earrings. The quarter, half or single troy ounce units will be useful for that purpose, you should always find at least two of the same size ring, even in the smallest assortments.
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If you're planning bracelets or necklaces and expect to need greater numbers of size matched rings, it's best to begin with a larger quantity of mix. If you'd like to use your rings 5 to 7 of the same size at a time, I'd recommend starting with at least 3 troy ounces of mix. If you want enough of one size to make a row of links long enough for, say, a bracelet, or you want to mix the specialty rings to make whole pieces of one of a kind jewelry straight out of the mix tins, like this photo, I'd recommend going with 5 troy ounces of mix.
I've added some speedy buttons to make it easy to order your choice of mixes. 1ozt 6 Pack means 1 troy ounce each of the 6 different shapes, 2ozt 6 Pack means 2 troy ounces each, etc. Having a generous amount of each of the assortments at hand when you're designing is inspiring, it's luxurious, it's probably even a little decadent, but it is so much fun.
Specialty Ring 6 Pack Assortments | ||||||
If you'd prefer to order specialty rings one type at a time, just click the name of the shape you want in the metal you want and you'll be taken directly to that assortment. |
