Orthodontic archwires are the primary aid to achieve desirable tooth movement. These wires are also considered to be the backbone of orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic archwires are available in various materials. The journey of advancement of these wires has shown immense growth in aesthetics as well as the mechanical properties of the materials used to ultimately provide patient satisfaction. This review highlights the properties of orthodontic archwires and the disadvantages associated with these wires which limit their use in today's era. The major role of the clinician is to choose the most appropriate alloy as per the needs of the patient. This can be done by accurately analyzing the properties of every material. The introduction of robotic systems in bending archwires and the properties of newer materials like organic polymer wires and bactericide archwires have also been described in this review. Thus, this review article focuses on the recent advances in orthodontic archwires and their properties for selection as per need.