Bargain Beads

Bead Guide

Beads have been around from over 40,000 yrs ago. They have been made from many different substances including gemstones glass, bone, horn, clay, paper, metals, shells, porcelain, wood, and ivory. The beads have always been made for adornment, status indicators, or religious purposes. In some places, beads used to play the role of money.

The charm of beaded jewelry lies in its intricacy, beautiful colors, different shapes, sizes and design.

What are Findings?

All types of fasteners, and construction components used in jewelry making. Examples are crimps, clasps, bails, bead caps, jump rings, headpins, spacers and more.

What is a Jump Ring?

A small wire ring, not soldered shut, used to link elements of jewelry.

What is a crimp?

Small, soft metal beads that are squeezed shut to secure loops of threading material fasteners onto clasps.

What is Millefiori?

Means "thousand flowers" in Italian. A method of creating glass or clay beads with intricate patterns using canes.

What is Abalone?

A deposit made from inside a seashell, also called mother-of-pearl.

What metal do I use?

Customers wonder if they should invest in expensive sterling or gold findings. It depends on the use and on your taste. For bracelet clasps, nickel plated or gold plated base metal are stronger, last longer. Sterling silver is not really robust enough unless you use really solid pieces. Sterling tarnishes, and gold sometimes turns skin black. We prefer the base metal findings for many applications. However we do like the look of a sterling or carat gold clasp for a necklace or bracelet that has precious or semiprecious stones or beads, or special unusual beads.

Birthstones:

January - Garnet
February - Amethyst
March - Aquamarine
April - Diamond
May - Emerald
June - Pearl or Moonstone
July - Ruby
August - Peridot
September - Sapphire
October - Opal
November - Citrine or Topaz
December - Turquoise or Zircon

Beads Per Inch Chart

This chart shows you the approximate

number of beads for various lengths.

(length of strand excludes clasp)

Beads Per Inch Chart
Bead Size (mm)	1"	4"	16"	20"	24"	28"	32"
3	8.46	33.8	136	170	204	237	271
4	6.35	25.4	102	127	153	178	204
5	5.08	20.32	82	102	125	143	164
6	4.23	16.9	68	84	101	118	136
7	3.62	14.4	58	70	86	101	116
8	3.17	12.68	51	64	76	89	102
10	2.54	10.16	41	51	61	71	81
12	2.11	8.44	34	42	51	59	68
14	1.81	7.24	29	36	43	50	58
16	1.58	6.32	25	32	38	44	51
18	1.41	5.64	23	28	34	39	45

How big are the bead holes?

Czech Round Beads
Bead	Hole Size (mm)	Hole Size (inches)	Max. Size Metal Wire to Use
4mm	1.03	0.04	18GA
6mm	1.05	0.04	18GA
8mm	1.05	0.045	18GA
10mm	1.31	0.051	18GA

Linking beads is easy!

Glass Surfaces & Finishes

Opaque	Light can not pass through it.
Transparent	Light can pass through it. Often referred to as "glass".
Translucent	Allows partial transmission of light through it.
Matte	Dull appearance, Achieved by tumbling beads or dipping in a glass etching solution.
Silver Lined	Have a mirror like finish inside the bead. Which adds sparkle to the bead.
Color Lined	Usually seen in a two color mix with an opaque color inside of a transparent bead.
Luster	A very shinny finish covering the entire outer layer of the bead.
Ceylon	Translucent bead with a luster finish
Dyed	A process of surface color dying often seen in Japanese beads. Color will come off if you do not protect them. Clear spray paint may be used.
Metallic	Bead surface has a fired on metal like finish. Which adds shine to the bead
AB (Aurora Borealis)	A rainbow like surface which has been fired onto the bead.