AWG (American Wire Gauge) is a unit of measurement used to evaluate the thickness of wires, essential for jewelry. The higher the AWG value, the smaller the diameter, making it easier to choose between Gold Filled and copper wires, for example. To help you, a conversion table between gauge and millimeter is also available.
You've found the perfect wire for your next piece of jewelry, but it's measured in gauges rather than millimeters? Don't panic, this guide is for you!
Here's everything you need to know so you'll never be stuck for an AWG measurement again.
AWG (American Wire Gauge) is an American unit of measurement. It is used to evaluate three characteristics of a wire:
In DIY jewelry, it's mainly the diameter that interests us. This unit is used in particular for Gold Filled wire, Artistic Wire and Beadalon copper wire.
đź’ˇ Golden rule to remember: the higher the AWG number, the finer the wire. A 28 gauge wire is therefore much thinner than an 18 gauge wire.
But what does this measurement correspond to when converted to millimeters? Our gauge to mm conversion chart will help you:
To better visualize these correspondences, here are a few wires from our catalog:
You can find all our wires with their gauge and mm measurements directly on the product sheets.
Gauge (or AWG, American Wire Gauge) is an American unit of measurement that indicates the diameter of a wire. The higher the number, the thinner the wire. It is widely used for copper, brass and Gold Filled wires sold in jewelry stores.
To convert an AWG measurement into millimeters, refer to the conversion table above. For example, an 18 gauge wire corresponds to 1.02 mm, and a 24 gauge wire to 0.51 mm.
For beginners, 20 or 22 gauge (0.81 or 0.64 mm) is ideal: strong enough to hold the shape, but flexible enough to be worked by hand without too much effort. We recommend starting with copper before moving on to Gold Filled.
They are simply two different measurement systems. The millimeter system is European, while the AWG (gauge) system is American. Many brands, such as Artistic Wire or Beadalon, use gauge, which is why it's a good idea to have a conversion table.
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