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Helpful information about Beads sizes, cords,wire and other things.
Wire & Cord
Nylon Wire - is used as an all purpose cord. You can use Beeswax to coat the cord to keep it from fraying and tangling when it is repeatedly threaded through metal beads with sharp edges. Wide spectrum of colors. It must for seed beaders and weavers.
Organza/Silk Ribbon - comes in a wide variety of colors that will add a classy touch to your packaging. Use it for tying up bags, bundling cards, paper, or gifts and also for ribbon embroidery and ribbon necklaces.
Suede - is a kind of soft material, always being used as necklace cord. ¡¯Faux¡¯ suede is quite durable and less costly than suede leather.
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Birthstone | |||
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Birth Month |
Modern |
Traditional |
Mystical |
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January |
Garnet |
Garnet |
Emerald |
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February |
Amethyst |
Amethyst |
Bloodstone |
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March |
Aquamarine, Bloodstone |
Bloodstone |
Jade |
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April |
Diamond |
Diamond |
Opal |
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May |
Emerald |
Emerald |
Sapphire |
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June |
Pearl, Moonstone |
Alexandrite |
Moonstone |
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July |
Ruby |
Ruby |
Ruby |
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August |
Peridot |
Sardonyx |
Diamond |
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September |
Sapphire |
Sapphire |
Agate |
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October |
Opal, Tourmaline |
Tourmaline |
Jasper |
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November |
Yellow Topaz, Citrine |
Citrine |
Pearl |
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December |
Turquoise, Blue Zircon, Tanzanite |
Zircon, Lapis Lazuli |
Onyx |
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There are seldom 100% pure natural pearls on market now, and most of so-called natural are artificial cultured. Usually the pearls can be divided into two parts¡ªSeawater and Freshwater.
Generally speaking, fresh water beads have a growth period about 4~5 years. The longer they grow, the bigger they will be. The quality will vary due to the different growth environment, water quality and mother shell or nacre. They are different in size, shape, luster and surface perfection. Grade A is best with high quality while Grade B¡¯s quality is plain. | |||
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Specification |
Grade A |
Grade B |
Remark |
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Size |
Strand: the beads and strand is well-proportioned. |
Strand: Most of the beads in the strand are well-proportioned, but some are bigger or smaller. |
Round or approximate round beads are shown by the diameter. Other shapes are shown by the smallest size. |
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Shape |
Round Strand: diameter deviation rate¡Ü8% |
Round Strand: diameter deviation rate¡Ü12% |
Of all the shapes, round has the highest quality. Some irregular shapes¡¯ surfaces aren¡¯t smooth. |
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Luster |
With light reflection on the smooth surface. |
Obscure reflection on the smooth surface. |
Luster is the most remarkable charm of pearl beads and excellent beads must have powerful luster with rainbow-like color. |
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Surface Perfection |
It is hard to see the flaws on the surface by eye |
It¡¯s clear to see the flaws on the surface which is about 1/4 of the total area. |
Just like other precious stones, pearls also have flaws. The fewer flaws, the higher quality. The flaws always distribute on the surface, such as protuberance, line, stain, gap, chip, split, nick and so on. Of all the flaws, gap and split have the heaviest effect on the quality of pearls. If the flaws are unclear, the pearls will have high quality. |
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Pearl Care Tips:
o Avoid touching or using corrosive materials (Acids, Alkali and Oxidants such as cleaning fluids). o Avoid touching firm and coarse materials. o You¡¯d better not use perfume when girding the pearl jewelry and not use cosmetic when the pearl jewelry is close to your skin, avoid sweat. o To conserve the pearl jewelry, since it in water with mild washing liquid, such as "woolite".Gently pat dry and pack it in soft, clean cloth to avoid abrasion. | |||
Alabaster - have a unique finish much like the old milk glass of the past, a dense translucent white or tinted finish.
Aurora Borealis - Also known as Rainbow and Iris and Fancy. Has a finish that appears to either have several shades of the same color highlighted or various highlights in more than one color on the surface. These are also called rainbow.
Black-Lined - The hole is lined with black and gives depth to the color.
Brass-Lined - The hole is lined with brass and radiates a brass tone .
Ceylon - Sometimes identified as pearlized because of the pearly appearance of the finish. Color-Lined - The hole is lined with a color.
Color-Lined Transparent - Clear glass with color added inside the hole.
Copper-Lined - The hole is lined with copper and radiates a copper tone.
Dark - That are extremely dark in hue (color).
Deep - Has more depth and color saturation compared to a "dark" bead of the same color.
Bead Size Per Inch 7" 16" 24" 32" 36" 3mm 8.25 57 132 200 265 288 4mm 6.25 43 100 150 200 225 5mm 5.00 35 82 124 160 180 6mm 4.25 28 67 100 132 153 7mm 3.50 24 57 85 114 126 8mm 3.25 22 50 75 100 112 10mm 2.50 18 40 60 80 90 12mm 2.00 15 33 50 66 72 14mm 1.75 13 29 43 56 63 16mm 1.50 11 25 38 50 54 18mm 1.25 10 23 34 45 50 20mm 1.20 8 20 29 38 43 Please note that it allows for the length of your clasp. If you use spacer beads or mix sizes, this chart may not be accurate. Wire Gauge to Inches and Millimeters Conversion Chart Gauge Inches Millimeters 10 0.102 2.59 11 0.091 2.31 12 0.081 2.06 13 0.072 1.83 14 0.064 1.63 15 0.057 1.45 16 0.052 1.32 17 0.045 1.14 18 0.04 1.02 19 0.036 0.91 20 0.032 0.81 21 0.028 0.71 22 0.025 0.64 23 0.023 0.58 24 0.02 0.51 25 0.0179 0.455 26 0.0159 0.404 27 0.0142 0.361 28 0.0126 0.32 29 0.0113 0.287 30 0.01 0.25 31 0.0089 0.226 32 0.008 0.2 33 0.0071 0.18 34 0.0063 0.16 35 0.0056 0.142 36 0.005 0.13 37 0.0045 0.114 38 0.004 0.1
Silver-lined (SL) The hole is lined with silver color.
Ghost - Are lined with copper, silver, brass, gold or other metal. a rainbow or silver-lined with a matte finish.
Hex - Size 11/0 and 8/0 Hex beads have 6 distinct sides. They are glitzy because light hits the various 6 sides. The Hex beads are also known as 2-cuts.
Light - The overall appearance is a light saturation in comparison to other in the same color family.
Luster - The finish is a soft reflected light, sometimes having a radiant sheen.
Matte - Have been submerged in an etch compound or tumbled, removing part or all of the top layer of the surface, leaving a smooth finish.These have a unique feel to them. Beads can appear very matted or semi-matted, depending on how long the beads were left in the etching compound.
Matte Rainbow - These have a matte finish over the rainbow colour.
Medium - The overall appearance is a medium saturation in comparison to others in the same color family.
Metallic Rainbow - Appear to be made of metallic colors. Purple, Blue, Brown and Green. These have permanent colors. Each color includes more than the basic color, such as purple metallic rainbow will have primarily purple with dashes of bronze, green and blue metallic beads.
Opaque - These have no transparency; you can not see through them. The finish is flat and there is minimal shine to the surface.
Opaque Rain- These have no transparency and the surface has a rainbow appearance. If you had a black opaque and it had a rainbow finish, the rainbow could include blue and green rainbow highlights, or even a purple highlight.
Rain- These are also known as Aurora Borealis (AB), Iris and Fancy. They have finishes that appear either as several shades of the same color highlighted or various highlights in more than one color on the surface.
Round Hole - These have a round hole in the center. They are not as shiny as the square hole beads and usually have a more sedate surface and an elegance to the finish.
Square Hole - These have a square hole in the center and traditionally the hole is larger than round holed. Silver-lined, brass-lined and copper-lined beads that have a square bead hole; making the surface very glitzy and shiny.
Transparent - Light passes throught it, but quite as clear as transparent.
