Heishi beads, available in a variety of materials such as polymer clay and gemstone, suit every style thanks to their many colors. For DIY jewelry, the choice of wire depends on your project: nylon wire is lightweight, wired wire is sturdy for heavier creations, while elastic wire is ideal for beginners.
Ultra-easy to use, Heishi pearls are a hit with designers and fashionistas alike. And with good reason! Its innumerable colors match every style and make it the perfect complement to any outfit. What's more, it's available in different materials such as polymer clay, gemstone, shell, ceramic, resin, metal... to satisfy all our DIY jewelry-making desires, so it's hard to resist!
Would you like to try your hand at creating costume jewelry with these pretty, colorful rondelles? Find out which type of wire is best for stringing your favorite beads!
Stranded wire is a rigid metal wire. It is made up of several strands of metal, twisted together and sheathed in nylon. It is generally used to make beaded necklaces, bracelets or dangling earrings. Resistant, it can be used even for heavy creations.
When it comes to choosing the right wire, the more strands you have, the more supple it is. This is an important detail when it comes to giving your DIY jewelry the rigidity you desire.
To complete a creation, you don't need to master the art of knotting. Just use crushable pearls and a clasp.
Elastic thread is ideal for beginners to DIY costume jewelry! All you need is a knot to close it. If you don't know which one to choose, don't panic! We give you tips and advice on which elastic thread to choose when making jewelry.
Waxed wire is ideal for making adjustable bracelets. It attaches with a sliding knot, a simple technique. All you have to do is put the bracelet on your wrist and adjust the length as you wish.
Nylon thread is soft, strong and very light. With it, you can create a ring, a necklace, telephone jewelry or a bracelet. Be careful, however, if your creations are too heavy!
Memory wire, also known as shape memory wire, is a pre-formed metal wire wound on itself like a spring. Strong and resistant, it always keeps its shape, so you can make magnificent multi-ring rings and multi-row bracelets in the blink of an eye.
The advantage of memory wire is that you don't need rings and clasps to close it. Once you've finished your creation, simply make a loop at each end to prevent the beads from falling out.
Flexible, strong and very soft, silk thread can be used to make jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets...
The best wire for heishi beads will depend on your project and the material of your heishi beads. As a general rule, stranded, elastic and waxed wires are the most versatile and adaptable to all types of beads.
Here's a quick summary table to keep you up to date!
| Name | Materials | Available colors and finishes | Available wire diameters | Material of heishi beads to be used | Uses |
| Elastic thread | Silicone, Polyurethane, Nylon, Elastane | transparent, rose gold, black, white, green, ruby, blue, silver, pink | From 0.25 mm to 1 mm | Polymer clay, gemstone, ceramic, coconut, shell, metal | bracelet, necklace, telephone jewelry, ring |
| Wired wire | Gold-plated, Stainless steel, Brass, Copper | silver, gold, bronze, 24K fine gold, white, black, silver-gold, silver-rose, red, raspberry, violet, fuchsia, turquoise, Siam, Golden, pink, navy, zircon blue | From 0.30 mm to 2 mm | polymer clay, gemstone, ceramic, coco, shell, metal | bracelet, necklace, ring, earrings, telephone jewelry |
| Waxed thread | Polyester, Linen, Cotton, Nylon | beige, white, blue, fuchsia, gray, yellow, brown, black, orange, red, pink, turquoise, green, violet | From 0.30 mm to 1.5 mm | Polymer clay, Gemstone, Ceramics, Coconut, Shell, Metal | bracelet, necklace |
| Memory wire | Iron, steel, stainless steel | gold-plated, rhodium-plated, silver-plated, fuchsia, turquoise | From 0.60 mm to 1.5 mm | polymer clay, gemstone, ceramic, coco, shell, metal | ring, bracelet |
| Silk thread | Natural silk | beige, white, blue, grey, yellow, brown, black, orange, red, pink, turquoise, green, violet | From 0.30 mm to 1.05 mm | Polymer clay, coconut, shell | necklace, bracelet |
| Nylon thread | Nylon | white, blue, grey, black, red, transparent, green | From 0.06 mm to 0.60 mm | Polymer clay, coconut, shell | bracelet, necklace, ring, earrings, telephone jewelry |
Heishi natural stone beads may have slightly abrasive edges inside the hole. For these creations, prefer sheathed cable wire or braided silk/nylon wire (such as Jade wire or C-LON), which are more resistant to abrasion than standard elastic wire.
To make an adjustable bracelet with a macramé knot or a sliding knot, use waxed thread. Its structure allows the knots to hold while sliding smoothly.
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