I'm really into making metal jewelry these days...so I bought a couple of copper sheets so I could play. Silver is really expensive and I'm not as likely to experiment with it - and besides, copper is "in" right now. I love the options you have with copper - patina, etch, stamp, etc. I wasn't sure what gauge 0.032" translated to - but it turns out it's about 20 gauge. It's very sturdy - a great weight for making jewelry things. Terrific gauge for those beginning to learn using a jewelry saw. It has a great consistent color/finish to it.