Beads: Swarovski Crystal may be the finest crystal beads, due to
their clarity, color and variety. Swarovski is an Austrian
company that makes high-quality rhinestones, beautiful cut
crystals, costume jewelry, and other glass-related items.
Czech Glass Beads have the same vibrancy and shine as the
Swarovski crystal, yet are a more cost effective alternative.
Metals: Bali Beads are handcrafted in Bali, Indonesia and are
exceptional in quality and detail. Because these items are
individually crafted from silver by many bead artisans, there
may be slight variations in bead size, form, hole size, and
oxidation. Because of its popularity, more countries are now
producing this type of beads. Therefore, the term “Bali beads”
is now generally referring to “Bali-style beads”. Bali Silver
usually has less than 92.5% silver content therefore cannot be
identified as sterling. Handmade Bali beads are far more
superior in quality, giving more value to your jewelry.
Hill Tribe Silver of Thailand (Thai Silver) are beads and
pendants that have been made by the ethnic minorities that live
in the mountain regions of northern Thailand.
Rhodium is a white precious metal. Rhodium is often used to
plate precious and base metals, giving jewelry a hard,
platinum-like sheen.
Sterling silver is becoming one of the most popular metals in
the jewelry industry. Most people that have allergic reactions
to some metals are able to wear sterling silver. Sterling silver
is easy to clean and care for. It will tarnish with time, but a
little rubbing with a polishing cloth, and it will look good as
new.
14kt gold-filled or 1/20 gold is created by heating and
pressure-bonding a layer of 14kt gold to a brass core. The
gold-filled wire is tarnish-resistant and has a much better
value than gold-plated because it has an actual layer, not just
a minuscule film. The layer of 14kt gold will not rub off like
gold-plated metals either.
Gemstones:
Agate comes in many forms and colors. It is a variety of
chalcedony that occurs in rocks like volcanic lava. Agate is
distinguished from chalcedony by the distinct banding that runs
through it. Wearers of agate are guaranteed health, wealth and a
long life. I’d better get myself a strand!
Amethyst IS the most valuable form of quartz. It’s color ranges
from light to dark purple. Amethyst promotes inner peace &
spiritual insight. Wow! Works awful hard and just think, all you
have to do is wear it!
Aquamarine is excellent for meditation. Gives a sense of peace
and serenity.
Aventurine is in the quartz family. It has tiny flecks of mica
throughout it. It’s color ranges from pale to medium green.
Aventurine helps to dissolve unhealthy thoughts, feeling and
related physical problems. It assists in keeping one balanced
and harmonized.
Black Onyx is not onyx at all. It is chalcedony, which is
another variety of quartz, that has been dyed black.
Hematite is a gemstones that are made up of iron oxide and has
an opaque and iridescent surface. It’s known to calm, soothe,
and ease stress. Sounds like a cup of tea, to me!
Bloodstone is a powerful healer and physical cleanser. It
purifies bloodstreams and strengthens kidneys, liver and spleen.
Blue Lace Agate clears voice and communications and gives
insight into complex problems.
Carnelian grounds and gives focus into the present moment. It
also stimulates curiosity and initiative.
Onyx is a semi translucent to opaque quartz that comes in a wide
range of colors–reds, apricot, oranges, and browns. It is said
to protect the wearer from any negativity.
Pearls are becoming more affordable due to the cultured pearls
available from China. It helps the wearer to have
self-acceptance and added femininity.
Rhodolite is from the garnet family. One of the reasons that
Rhodolite made such a big splash is because of it’s brilliant
purple coloring, close to the color of grape juice. Rhodolite is
a very durable gem stone with a 7.5 on the mohs hardness scale.
Rose Quartz is a type of quartz that ranges in color from pink
to deep red.
Smoky Quartz is becoming very popular in jewelry. It’s color is
pale to a rich smoky brown. It is said to benefit those that are
dealing with depression and fatigue.
Turquoise is a stone that comes in a wide range of colors, the
finest being an intense blue, with the poorer color tending to
be yellowish green. All turquoise will turn colors with aging.
It is very important to take good care of your turquoise to
minimize discoloration. Turquoise is considered by some to be a
lucky stone.
The Mohs Scale is a measurement that tells a substance’s
hardness. The higher the mohs number (1-10) the more durable the
gem stone. Diamonds are 10 on the Mohs scale, while Amethyst is
a 7 and Ruby is a 9.
Other: Mother of Pearl is a more affordable way to acquire the
luster of pearl jewelry. It is the lining of the shell that
houses the pearl.
Raku is a unique ceramic firing process. Each piece is sealed
with a glaze that is high in copper. Each piece is fired in a
ceramic kiln until the heat from the piece ignites paper,
causing a reaction with the copper in the glaze. The result is a
wide range of colors on the surface of the piece full of
beautiful colors, luster, and patterns.
Greek Leather is known for its smooth finish and consistent
color.
Misnamed Stones: This is an issue that was discussed on the
Jewelry Making forum. The following “stones” are not necessarily
even stones.
The Fruit Quartz’ – Cherry quartz, blue quartz, strawberry
quartz, pineapple quartz are all synthetic beads that are made
to look like quartz. They are still a beautiful bead and add
beauty to many pieces of jewelry. As long as they are identified
as being synthetic, there is not a problem with these “quartz’”.
There is such a thing as real cherry quartz, but is very rare
and extremely expensive.
Amazonite is sometimes just dyed onyx that is being sold as
amazonite.
Moonstone is sometimes no more than pressed glass.
Goldstone is a manmade product made out of copper crystals in
glass. Goldstone is sometimes sold as a semi-precious gemstone.
Rhodocrosite/Rhodonite are sometimes confused for each other.
Rhodocrosite has white striations and rhodonite is black.
Chalcedony is actually agate. It comes in a variety of colors.
Chrysophrase and carnelian are both types of chalcedony.