Jump Rings

Jump Ring Varieties

Jumprings At Let’s Bead! you’ll find a vast selection of high quality saw-cut jump rings in a variety of materials for chain maille jewelry. There are several factors to consider when choosing a particular metal for your project, including overall look, durability, ease of handling, and price. We carry jump rings in gauges 12 to 22. Remember, the higher the gauge, the thinner the ring. Also note, jump rings for chain maille work are measured by the inside (ID) diameter of the rings.

Metal	Description
Sterling Silver	Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper (or other metal). Because silver is a soft metal, the addition of other metals strengthens it and makes it suitable for jewelry. The natural patina that develops on sterling silver is due to the copper content. It can be minimized by storing jump rings/jewelry in a zip plastic bag or airtight container.
Gold-Fill	Gold-filled jump rings have a layer of gold surrounding a base metal core. Gold-fill is usually described as a fraction, such as 14/20. The first number refers to the number of karats of gold of a total 24 karats. The second number means that the gold layer is 1/20 the total thickness of the wire. The layer of gold in a gold-fill jump ring is about 100 times thicker than the gold in a plated layer, and it will not flake off.
Copper	Copper is a soft metal and is easy to work with. It tarnishes quickly, so it should be stored in an airtight container.
Enameled Copper	Enameled copper is soft copper coated in a layer of colored plastic. The wire is coated before the rings are formed and cut, so the copper core is visible at the ends. Sometimes the wire is coated with silver before the enamel is applied, so those colors appear more vivid. The color can be scratched, so work carefully with pliers, or coat the tips of pliers with Tool Magic.
Anodized Aluminum	Aluminum rings are placed in an electrically charged solution and then dyed to create anodized aluminum jump rings. The rings can vary in depth of color, even in the same batch. The color can be scratched, so work carefully with pliers or coat the tips of pliers with Tool Magic. The color of anodized aluminum rings can change over time.
Bright Aluminum	Bright Aluminum is clean, shiny and light. Aluminum is 3½ times lighter in weight than copper. It may dull over time, but washing in hot soapy water or tumbling will restore the shine.
Jewelers Brass	Jewelers Brass (also called NuGold, Jewelers Bronze and Red Brass) is an alloy of 85% copper and 15% zinc. Freshly polished jewelry brass is very close to the color of high carat gold. Jewelry brass develops a soft patina at a rate similar to copper. To keep the surface sparkling, tumble with stainless steel shot for 10 minutes. Remove from the tumbler, rinse, and air dry.
Anodized Niobium	Anodized Niobium is a strong, lightweight, hypoallergenic wire that is anodized to give it vibrant color. Niobium is a “reactive” metal. If you pass an electrical current through it, the surface of the metal changes color. There are no dyes involved. The color depends on the amount of voltage in the electrically charged solution. Colors may be consistent or may vary within a batch. The colors black, red and orange are not in the spectrum. The color can be scratched, so work carefully with pliers or coat the tips of pliers with Tool Magic. Color can change over time. Clean with soap and water. Do not use a polishing cloth.

Let's Bead! has a huge selection of jump rings made of sterling silver, gold-fill, copper, enamel on copper, anodized aluminum, bright aluminum, jewelers brass, and anodized niobium