My Next Try at Herringbone Wire Wrapping – Dragonblood Stone Earrings

This week, I continued learning a particular jewelry technique: herringbone wire wrapping. I’ve admired this elegant, woven style for a while, and recently decided to give it a shot. Using 20 gauge (0.8 mm) copper wire and a pair of natural 6 mm dragonblood stones, I made a pair of herringbone-wrapped earrings.

At first, it was a bit tricky—getting the wire to lay evenly and wrap tightly around the stone at both sides took some practice. But once I got into the rhythm, the pattern started to flow, and the look came together almost well. The rich green and deep red tones of the dragonblood stones contrast perfectly with the warmth of the copper, giving the earrings a natural, earthy vibe.

I adore copper’s natural color but this metal oxidizes very quickly in the air and with skin contact, too. So I artificially oxidize it with ammonia fumes and protect it with Rennaisance wax. This is the oxidized copper wire structure:

I finished the bottom part by folding the base wire towards the back. This was maybe not the best idea because this piece of handmade jewelry could be a bit lighter otherwise. It’s not heavy now but I love my earrings to be super lightweight.

Check out the variability of the stone’s color. I just love dragonblood jasper!

For maximal comfort I made ear wires from sterling silver wire and attached the herringbone weaved elements on them. So these are the finished earrings:

I’m like how they turned out, though a lot more can be wished. This definitely won’t be my last time experimenting with herringbone wrapping—I’m already thinking about trying it with other stones and maybe even mixing metals. Stay tuned for more!

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