Every pendant I make starts long before I pick up a single piece of wire.
It starts with the stone.
Finding the Right Stone
I'm very selective about where my stones come from. I source from reputable gemstone cutters and sellers here in the United States, as well as trusted international sellers who have been cutting and working with gemstones for years — in some cases, generations. These aren't mass-produced stones pulled from a bin. They're carefully cut pieces from people who take their craft as seriously as I take mine.
When I'm looking at a stone, I'm thinking about color, pattern, and how the light moves through it. I'm also thinking about shape — whether the natural form of the stone is going to lend itself to a pendant setting. Not every beautiful stone becomes a piece of jewelry. Some just aren't right for wire wrapping, and I'd rather wait for the right one than force it.
Choosing the Wire
For most of my pendants, I work with sterling silver wire. I love sterling silver for its warmth, its durability, and the way it complements almost every stone. Depending on the design, I'll use different gauges — thicker wire for the structural frame, finer wire for the wrapping details.
The Wrapping Process
Wire wrapping is a technique that uses no glue, no solder, and no heat. The wire itself is shaped and woven around the stone to hold it securely — it's all tension and technique.
I start by creating the base frame that will cradle the stone, then I wrap and weave finer wire around it to secure everything in place and add detail. Every wrap is done by hand. Depending on the complexity of the design, a single pendant can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours.
For this work, having the right tools matters. I use Xuron brand jewelry pliers and cutters — they're precise and built for the detail work that wire wrapping requires. I've got my eye on upgrading to Swanstrom pliers from Rio Grande Jewelry Supply one day — they're considered some of the best in the business!
It's slow, careful work — and I love it. There's something really satisfying about watching a stone go from sitting loose on my workbench to being held securely in a piece that someone will wear every day.
The Finishing Touches
Once the wrapping is done, I check every wire end to make sure nothing is sharp or poking out. I smooth and tuck each end carefully — this is one of those details you might not notice when everything is done right, but you'd definitely notice if it wasn't.
Then I add a bail (the loop at the top that the chain threads through), give the piece a final inspection, and it's ready.
Every Piece Is One of a Kind
Because I'm working with natural stones and wrapping by hand, no two pendants are ever exactly alike. The stone you receive is the stone in the listing — and the wrapping, while consistent in quality, will always have its own character.
That's what I love most about this work. It's not a factory. It's just me, a stone I fell in love with, and a lot of wire.
If you'd like to see some of my wire-wrapped pieces, here are a few favorites:
- Maligano Jasper Sterling Silver Pendant
- Amazonite Sterling Silver Wire Wrapped Necklace
- Fossilized Coral Sterling Silver Pendant Necklace
With love,
Amanda