Recommended Metal Gauges

Get the recommended metal gauge for common jewelry items like bracelets, ear wires rings and more, straight from our Jewelry Tech Team.

Last edited: 9/4/2020

If you’re creating components from raw material, such as sheet or wire, you know how important it is to start with the right metal thickness (or gauge) for the item you’re making. Straight from our Jewelry Tech Team, this chart gives you the recommended minimum metal gauge for common jewelry items, including bezels, bracelets, ear wires, rings and more.

If you’re working with brass or bronze, follow the recommendations for sterling silver; for copper, follow fine silver.

Silver-Filled Sterling Silver (925) Fine Silver (999) Gold-Filled 10-Karat Gold 14-Karat Gold 18-Karat Gold 22-Karat Gold 24-Karat Gold
Backing plate 26 26 24 26 28 28 28 26 24
Bail 24 24 18 24 24 24 24 24 22
Bangle, sheet 20 20 18 20 22 22 22 20 20
Bangle, wire 18 18 16 18 20 20 20 20 16
Bangle, 1/2-round 12 12 NR* 12 12 12 12 12 NR*
Bezel 28 28 28 28 30 30 30 30 28
Cuff bracelet, sheet 20 20 18 20 20 20 20 20 18
Cuff bracelet, wire 12 12 10 12 14 14 14 14 10
Cuff bracelet, 1/2-round 6 6 2 6 8 8 8 8 2
Ear posts 20 20 NR* 20 20 20 20 20 NR*
Ear wires 20 20 NR* 20 20 20 20 20 NR*
Ring, men's 14 14 10 14 16 16 16 14 10
Ring, woman's 16 16 12 16 18 18 18 16 12
Ring, mens, 1/2-round 8 8 NR* 8 10 10 10 8 NR*
Ring, women's, 1/2-round 10 10 NR* 10 12 12 12 10 NR*

*For this application, we do not recommend using this metal type.

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