Ask the Experts Zebra Wire Q&A

I used gold-colored Zebra copper wire 20 gauge and in less than a week my son’s necklace has faded to grey. I'm kind of shocked. I tried cleaning it and polishing to no avail. I'm hoping this doesn't happen to any of the pieces I have sold. Very upsetting. 

Zebra Wire™ is copper wire that has been coated to achieve colors, like gold. It’s best used in pieces where it does not rub against the skin—earrings or a free-hanging pendant, for example—as the coating will wear. It’s advisable to use more durably finished wire like solid copper, gold-filled, sterling silver-filled, Argentium® silver or sterling silver for anything that will receive wear against the skin, such as a choker or bracelet. Avoiding coated, anodized and plated metals will increase longevity of the piece.