Mokume Gane Wire

Mokume Gane - The Japanese Art of Patterning Metal Laminates

This style of metal manufacturing dates from feudal Japan and means "Wood Grain Metal". The style and look of patterns that can be created is limited only by your imagination.

The process of producing Mokume Gane feedstock is time consuming and not without problems and has been the niche of those brave and committed enough to adopt this lengthy process and accept the potential failures inherent to it. Suppliers of ready-bonded billets are few, so we decided to make it easy for you by offering the following combinations, ready for you to pattern and process into beautiful jewelry designs.

Un-patterned 6MM Square Wire:

(Minimum Order 2” length)

All Hoover & Strong Mokume Gane square wires are manufactured from diffusion bonded 17 sheet billets. After bonding, the billets are hot forged and drawn/rolled to size. There are numerous patterns possible from Mokume Gane wire, the majority of which are generated by twisting the wire, and then a combination of rolling and removing metal to expose layers and reveal the pattern.

While this produces very popular patterns to use for rings, it is also very unique in terms of manufacturing.

The number of twists done to the wire and the depth of the cut necessary to achieve a pattern will be dependant on how many “repeats” of the pattern are required, the size of the ring and also the height of the ring. Matching the pattern where it joins can be difficult as well. Different sizes and heights require their own patterning schedule. Due to the large number of patterning techniques, Hoover & Strong cannot supply Mokume Gane pre-patterned wire stock, the jeweler must create the uniqueness of the pattern themselves.

Karat Gold Alloys Bonded To Sterling Silver

These consist of alternate layers in the following 2-alloy and 3-alloy combinations, all starting and ending with sterling silver.

2-Alloy Combinations:
• 18K royal yellow gold and sterling silver (18R/STR)
• 14K palladium white gold and sterling silver (14D/STR)

3-Alloy Combinations:
• 18K royal yellow gold/14K palladium white gold/sterling silver (18R/14D/STR)
• 14K red gold/14K palladium white gold/sterling silver (14P/14D/STR)
• 18K royal yellow gold/14K red gold/sterling silver (18R/14P/STR)

Use these codes when ordering un-patterned square wire stock:

*Minimum order quantity is 2” of 6mm square wire. Wire products must be ordered in 2” increments. Maximum length is 6” for 6mm square wire.

Please Note: We do NOT sell Pre-Patterned Mokume Gane Wire.

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