Product Material Information

Some information which may help you to understand about the metals and other materials that our Beads, Findings and other products are made from.

Fine Silver - Precious Metal

Fine silver (99.9% pure) is generally too soft for producing large functional objects; therefore, the silver is usually alloyed with copper to give it strength . Other metals can replace the copper, usually with the intent to improve various properties of the basic sterling alloy such as reducing casting porosity , eliminating firescale , and increasing resistance to tarnishing . PMC - Precious Metal Art Clay Silver, once fired falls under the term "Fine Silver" due to the high silver content.

Sterling Silver - Precious Metal Alloy

The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925. Sterling is an alloy of pure silver containing 92.5 % pure silver and 7.5 % other metals, usually copper. Fine silver (99.9% pure) is generally too soft for producing large functional objects; therefore, the silver is usually alloyed with copper to give it strength . Other metals can replace the copper, usually with the intent to improve various properties of the basic sterling alloy such as reducing casting porosity , eliminating firescale , and increasing resistance to tarnishing. This standard is used to assure consistent quality among sterling products. Silver that is not describes as "sterling" or ". 925" usually has less pure silver content and more prone to scratching and denting, is darker in colour and less shiny.Sterl ing Silver is 92.5% pure instead of 100% pure in order to achieve the standard of hardness and stability to resist wear and tear, and hold its shape.

ing Silver is 92.5% pure instead of 100% pure in order to achieve the standard of hardness and stability to resist wear and tear, and hold its shape.

Gold Vermeil - Precious Metal Alloy

Gold Vermeil Definition (Vehr-MAY) Vermeil is a gold-plating process, which was developed in France in the mid-1700s. In the 19th century, France banned production of vermeil because the process involved the use of mercury. Present-day Vermeil refers to an over-plating of gold onto silver using a safe electrolytic process.

24kt Gold-Plated Sterling products give you the look of solid high gold at a fraction of the price. Yet, the product is still entirely made of precious metals. The base product is manufactured in sterling silver and then electroplated with a surface layer off 24kt gold.

Thai Karen Hill Tribe Silver - Precious Metal Alloy

Sometimes Thai Karen Hilltribe Silver(96-99%) fall under the term "Fine Silver" due to their high silver content. The higher Silver content ensures more resistance to tarnishing.

Made by the Karen Hill Tribe of Northern Thailand, traditional methods have been passed down from generation to generation, son to son, daughter to daughter. Thai Karen Hill Tribe Silversmiths handcraft each design from scratch using a high content of Pure Silver. Their designs incorporating a direct link with nature through beautiful organic designs and geometric shapes.

Thai Karen Hill Tribe Silver's purity can vary from about 96% ~ 99.9% ~ this is higher than Sterling at 92.5% ~ Considering that each piece is handmade; every piece is unique and will have slight variation in size weight and purity. No two pieces are alike, perfect for use in "one of a kind" Jewellery Design. Choosing Thai Karen Hill Tribe Silver helps to preserve the timeless culture of the Karen People and provide them with a reliable source of income.

Thai Karen Hil Tribe Gold Vermeil - Precious Metal Alloy

Thai Karen Hilltribe Gold Vermeil is high content Silver (96-99%), which is plated with 24 Kt Gold, so the beads and findings are made entirely from precious metals, Gold Vermeil is suitable of those with nickel allergies. With Thai Karen Hill Tribe Gold Vermeil you can have the look of expensive 24k Gold Jewellery at a fraction of the cost. Gold Vermeil is not a life-time product though, the Gold Plating can wear away. For longer lasting Gold, look to Gold Filled or Solid Gold.

Thai Karen Hill Tribe Rose Gold Vermeil - Precious Metal Alloy

Thai Karen Hilltribe Rose Gold Vermeil is high content Silver (96-99%) which is plated with a pink coloured gold plating (3 microns) The pink comes from from the inclusion of copper in the gold.

14Kt Gold

14kt gold is the solid gold standard in the United States. It contains 14 parts pure gold and 10 parts non gold metal, making it 58.3% pure gold. Pure gold needs an alloy or it is too soft.

Balinese Sterling Silver - Precious Metal Alloy

Bali Silver is handcrafted to very high standards by skilled Balinese Silversmiths. We stock bali silver from very relaible sources and the products are made from Sterling Silver 92.5%, unless otherwise stated.

Balinese Gold Vermeil

Bali Gold Vermeil is Sterling Silver, which is plated with 24 Kt Gold, so the beads and findings are made entirely from precious metals, Gold Vermeil is suitable of those with nickel allergies. With Bali Gold Vermeil you can have the look of expensive 24k Gold Jewellery at a fraction of the cost. Gold Vermeil is not a life-time product though, the Gold Plating can wear away. For longer lasting Gold, look to Gold Filled or Solid Gold.

Balinese Rose Gold Vermeil

Bali Rose Gold Vermeil is Sterling Silver which is plated with a pink coloured gold plating (3 microns) The pink comes from from the inclusion of copper in the gold.

Gold Filled

Gold-filled items are very durable. The gold layer will not wear off, as it may in plated products. It is a lifetime product. Gold-filled cannot be cast because it is a layered product and casting would mingle these separate layers and change the properties of the material.

14kt Gold-Filled is not the same as 14kt solid gold. It is an alternative gold product with less solid gold content. Jewellers are legally required to specify "Gold-Filled" when selling these products. Shortening the materials descriptions to just "14kt" or "14kt gold" is fraudulent.

Gold-Filled sheet metal and wire are made by bonding surface layers of fold to a supporting layer of brass with heat and pressure and then rolling, or drawing out, the metal to a desired thickness. The finished product has a surface layer of fold, which is very thick compared to rolled gold plate or the heaviest, electroplate ("gold plated") materials.

Pure Solid Copper

Pure Solid Copper is a ductile metal with excellent electrical conductivity and is rather soft in its pure state and has a pinkish luster which is (beside gold) unusual for metals which are normally silvery white. It finds extensive use as an electrical conductor, heat conductor, as a building material, and as a component of various alloys.

Copper has played a significant part in the history of humankind, which has used the easily accessible uncompounded metal for thousands of years. Several early civilizations have early evidence of using copper. During the Roman Empire, copper was principally mined on Cyprus, hence the origin of the name of the metal as Cyprium, "metal of Cyprus", later shortened to Cuprum. High demand relative to supply has caused a price spike in the 2000s

Copper has a significant presence as a decorative metal art with its beautiful warm colouring. We have a large and growing selection of Copper Beads and Findings.

Pewter

Pewter is a malleable metal alloy, traditionally between 85 and 99 percent tin, with the remainder commonly consisting of copper, antimony and lead. Copper and antimony act as hardeners while lead is common in the lower grades of pewter, which have a bluish tint. It has a low melting point, around 170–230 °C, depending on the exact mixture of metals. The word pewter is probably a variation of the word spelter, a non-scientific name for zinc.

Pewter was first used around the beginning of the Bronze Age in the Near East. The earliest piece of pewter found is from an Egyptian tomb from 1450 BC.

Modern pewters must contain at least 90% tin to be considered a pewter. They also no longer contain appreciable amounts of lead, which has been replaced by copper, antimony and bismuth. Older pewters with higher lead content are heavier, tarnish faster, and oxidation gives them a darker silver-grey color. When modern pewter does become tarnished, it is more easily cleaned than "classic" pewter.

Swarovski Crystal Beads

We do not sell any imitation products under the Swarovski label.
Swarovski Crystal is not a natural crystal but is man made. Swarovski Silver Crystal if fired using a combination of natural minerals and quartz sand, and then cooled slowly to avoid stress and inclusions. Crystal quality is dependent on the production method and the processing of the raw material. Both factors play a major role in determining its brilliance and the measure of its value. The factor that sets Swarovski crystal products apart are -and always has been - the superior quality of the cutting and polishing.

Swarovski Pearl Beads

Crystal Pearls by Swarovski are based on a crystal core. The mother of pearl-like layers is applied evenly to the core which ensures harmonious tones and colour matching. The surface finish is consistent and gently reflects light to create an irresistible appeal. They are resistant to wear, the suns rays, perspiration and perfume to retain their shimmer for a very long time.

Swarovski is a family owned business that was started in 1895 by Daniel Swarovski. His homeland of Bohemia belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and possessed a glass cutting industry that had been renowned for centuries. His father taught him the craft of crystal cutting at an early age. A visit to the first International Electric Exhibition in Vienna in 1883 inspired him to design an automatic jewellery stone cutting machine. He then leased an old factory in the tiny village of Wattens, tucked away into the Tyrolean Alps, to put his invention to use. Daniel Swarovski actually founded the company with the help of his brother-in-law, Franz Weis and financier Armand Kosmann. The superior quality of their jewellery stones soon made them well known in Paris, America and the Russian Empire.

Precious Metals: Gold, Palladium, Platinum, Rhodium, Silver

Precious Metal Alloys: Coloured Gold, Crown Gold, Electrum, Platinum Sterling, Sterling Silver, Britannia Silver, Tumbagea

Base Metals/alloys: Brass · Bronze, Copper, Stainless steel