On some jewelry, lapidary and gem forums chatter has been wire techniques. I’ve been asked by several people lately from these forums what is exactly a wire wrapping technique.
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There is the traditional wire wrapping done mostly on the East coast, from what I’ve found of many wire wrappers. This is the Victorian style with big looping and swirls; most over-do the technique and end up overshadowing the gemstone.
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Another technique that is emerging on the West coast is more of a free style or form. This form of wire wrapping is being referred to by East coasters as ‘just wire holding’ and not even a real technique. The free form follows the form of the stone or just creates different corners to hold the stone among the wires.
Emerging somewhere in-between is a very unusual technique, wire sculpture
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where the individual has really used their imagination and done a mix of many techniques; traditional, free form, and soldering. This is really more of a form of artwork and very intense.
It really doesn’t really matter what type of technique you use, as long as you create something that is unique, a piece of art that you are proud of to share with everyone else!