Need wire advice

[FeathersnThingz]

Hoping to get some input.....I have a customer that would like me to make a wire wrapped cuff bracelet for her (no clasp - needs to be sturdy enough to just stay on her wrist without a clasp). She wants me to wire wrap a favorite stone to match a necklace she bought from me and wants me to make a cuff like style (not solid cuff, more of a wire wrapped style). I have ideas in my head about design but am looking for advice on what gauge and hardness of wire might work best. I have to purchase it online which is a little hard - would be easier to see in person.

I will have a wire above and below the wire wrapped stone and then will use wraps at a couple of points on the cuff to attach these together. I am thinking 1/2 round wire might be best.

I am debating against 12 gauge (all I can find is dead soft) or 14 gauge half hard). I have a book that shows gauge sizes, but it still hard to visualize. I want it to be strong enough to hold it's shape but it needs to be somewhat workable for me to be able to bend and shape it. I do prefer that it is more difficult for me to bend so it is more sturdy for her bracelet. Also, not sure what gauge, shape and strength of binding wire would be best to hold the 2 pieces together at my wrap points.

Any advice/ideas would be extremely appreciated! I have only done wire wrapped pendants and earrings and never a bracelet so this is new territory for me!

[JewelryArtistry]

Are you only going to have 2 wires going around the wrist? I'd recommend you rethink this. At least 4 wires in order to anchor the stone well, for one thing. Also, to give the bracelet more body. Re: gauge, I'd try 16 HH. By the time you're done working it, it should be work hardened enough to hold its shape.

Hope this helps,
JoAnne

[FeathersnThingz]

JoAnne - thank you - actually that helps a lot! I really am not sure what my plan is yet - trying to think in my head how to make this work (also trying to figure out what the customer has in her head!). Using more than 2 wires, and then using those to wrap the stone as well actually is a really good idea. I will add that to the ideas swirling around in my head! Thanks a bunch! Laura K