Silver Filled Wire

by Cindy D.
(Tarpon Springs)

Hi Stacy! Have you seen or used this new silver filled wire? It is suppose to be a less expensive alternative to sterling, and perform like sterling. What's your opinion?

Stacy's Answer:

Hi Cindy. I have never worked with silver-filled wire. Some suppliers seem to sell it for reasonable prices; others sell it for more than you can buy Sterling silver for.

Keep in mind because it's not a solid silver product, there could be some issues with tumbling, buffing or soldering. I have no idea about its durability factor. I'd be interested to read some comments here from artists who have used it.

Comments for Silver Filled Wire

Click here to add your own comments

May 16, 2011
 silver filled
by: Anonymous

There are many misconceptions about silver-filled.
It should be at least 1/20 not 1/40 which came from Europe. It can be soldered, but it is more difficult. Time and temperature are the key in soldering. There is a learning period, before you will be successful. We manufacture the same components in 1/20 .925 sterling as we do in sterling silver. They are clean and shine. Just imagine the same process as gold filled, but in silver.
Silver filled is at least 60-70% less than sterling at 35-40 silver, but the fabrication costs are as high or higer than gold filled.
It will become a category in jewelry even if sterling drops down another 20 -30%. The faster you try it the better you will sell it.

May 19, 2011
 silver filled wires
by: shimon

where can I buy these wires?
May 20, 2011
 SILVER FILLED
by: Anonymous

FIRE MOUNTAIN GEMS HAS SILVER FILLED WIRE AND SHORTLY THEY WILL HAVE MANY OTHER COMPONENTS
May 26, 2011
 Atlanticgems.com
by: Anonymous

I was at atlanticgems.com showroom today. They carry an assortment of silver filled findings and wire, and the owner said it will all be on the website by this weekend. All of his are /10. He was very particular about only carrying that quality.
Aug 04, 2011
 Silver Filled Wire
by: Mariana

I have bought my sterling filled wire from

https://cgmfindings.com/

1) They are the cheapest supplier I have found so far, and more importantly for me
2) the wire has a silver coloured core so that the core colours blends in with the silver.

Previously I had purchased some sterling filled wire with a copper core. It's fine for jump rings, but not appropriate for designs (like wire wrapping beads) where the copper core is visible when cut.

To give an idea on price --> The base price for SF wire (with a copper core) at Fire Mountain Gems is $18.07 for a 10ft spool of 20gauge wire.
CGM Findings sells their wire by the ounce; 20gauge wire is $16.56 and contains 21.5ft. So basically twice as much for a couple of dollars less.

They also have an assortment of sterling filled findings, including headpins, earwires and chains.

The minimum order amount is $50 at CGM Findings.
They are also a wholesaler so you need to register your business before you can buy from them.

Mariana
Aug 04, 2011
 Silver filled wire
by: Cindy D.

Rio Grande now has silver filled wire. It is $16.26 per troy ounce. The lowest price I have seen so far.
Aug 04, 2011
 Site owner
by: Stacy Perry

Thanks Cindy! Rio has a lot of other silver-filled items as well. I noticed that the sheet stock is brass-backed.....not sure how that would look in a finished piece or how easy it would be to work with in the heavier gauges as it's brass. Might be interesting to see how it responds to heat texturing!

Thanks to everyone sharing their information in this thread. There is certainly lots to think about when purchasing and using silver-filled wire and sheet.

I would love to hear from folks about how the silver-filled products hold up to different types of jewelry making and how the finished products look and wear.

Stacy :)
Aug 04, 2011
 silver filled items
by: Anonymous

You can solder the silver filled from all the companies that I have seen mentioned here. Heat and time are important. The silver filled reacts as sterling does. It can tarnish and yellow,but shines right up even with a finger touch.
We make the items for all of these companies.
Oct 23, 2011
 I've worked with silver filled now
by: Cindy D.

Hi Stacey! I did a blog post today about my results working with silver filled wire. I'd like to share it with you and your readers.
http://devinedesignsjewelry.blogspot.com/2011/10/bit-about-silver-filled-wire.html
Oct 23, 2011
 silver filled works
by: Anonymous

We manufacture hundreds of items in silver filled, the same items we manufacture in sterling silver and gold filled and sell to many of the major wholesalers,finding wholesalers and manufacturers.

We use the same tools for all. We solder, bend and do everything in all 3 metals, but Silver filled costs so much less the word should be spread. Thanks for all of your commenTs you are helping out our business.
Oct 30, 2011
 Silver Filled at RioGrande
by: Deb Mae

Rio Grande sells the 1/20 filled silver wire at way better pricing than Fire Mountain Gems. It seems to be of better quality also.
Feb 26, 2012
 RE: Soldering sterling silver filled
by: Tanya

I am so glad I found this site. I have been searching for two days and this is the only site that said you can solder sterling silver filled wire. Thanks for all the advice. I am so happy now. You made my day. :)
Feb 26, 2012
 silver filled durabilty
by: Anonymous

There are no issues with slightly buffing or tumbling or soldering SILVER FILLED WIRE The only issue is if you have an exposed end where a slight tinge of yellow color may be seen because of the inside layer as gold filled would , also have. In the thinnest wire it is hardly noticeable. In thicker wire you need to figure out a trick to cover the ends. Other than that there re no problems with silver filled wire. we make 2500-3000 different silver filled items from wire and sheet.
THE ONLY OTHER ISSUE IS IT'S MUCH CHEAPER THAN STERLING SILVER AND THAT'S GOOD.
Jan 24, 2014
 soldering silver filled with copper base
by: tanya

Well the copper cone out if heated to much?
Jan 24, 2014
 silver filled
by: Anonymous

If you can work with gold filled you can work with silver filled. it is as simple as that.
Feb 19, 2015
 Silver filled wire
by: Judith

I have used silver filled in wire wrapping. This medium looks and acts as Sterling wire. Hardens a bit faster if manipulating alot but a great product considering price. Excellent polish and shine also.
Thanks for all the info on this site and the contributing artist input!
Jan 19, 2016
 Is this OK or not
by: Barb L

I have silver-filled wire, and have used it successfully for a while. A recent pair of earrings with much manipulation of wire and added color resulted in patches of exposed copper. The silver, dark blue, and copper with a kyanite stone really look good, so I kept on and finished the earrings. If I describe the reasons for color to a client who still likes the piece, is it OK to sell it? I was thinking of doing this deliberately for effect.
Or, is this innately the equivalent of a mortal sin?
Jan 22, 2016
 Exposing Silver-filled Wire
by: Stacy

Hi Barb!

Thanks for your thoughtful question! Silver-filled wire is usually either a copper or brass cored wire. Hammering, filing, heating can all disturb the outer thin layer of precious metal, exposing the base metal core.

If the filled wire works well for a patination technique complementing your design, I say go for it! AS LONG As you are upfront with your customers and in your product description state that the wire is not solid Sterling silver, but silver-filled.

Jewelry is made from all sorts of metals and materials! As long as you're truthful, I see no problem!

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Jewelry Q & A.