Methods of preparing silver nanowires by reducing silver cations are disclosed and claimed, where the silver cation reduction occurs in at least two stages. Such methods can exhibit improved reproducibility and reduced variability. For example the following method can be provided, which comprises the following steps: providing at least one first composition comprising 1,2-propylene glycol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and ammonium chloride; adding at least one second composition to the at least one first composition, the adding occurring over the course of at least about 16 hrs, and the at least one second composition comprising 1,2-propylene glycol and silver nitrate; and reducing at least a portion of the silver nitrate to silver nanowires. The such produced nanowires are useful in, for example, electronics applications.