Types of Beads for Jewelry Making

If you are new to jewelry making, you probably would like to know a bit about jewelry making beads.  Many jewelry making ideas begin with great beads.  But, it is important to look for the types of beads that suit your own taste.  There are many different types of jewelry making beads, but the two main categories fall under glamorous beads and simple beads.

If you are into the elegant jewelry pieces, you may want to find those glamorous types of beads for jewelry making.  If you like simpler accessories, then you can choose simple types of beads.  Before you decide on the beads you should use, first you should choose what type of jewelry you want to make and a specific jewelry making project.  Are you going to make a necklace, an anklet, a bracelet, earrings, a brooch, or even a complete jewelry set?  What you make can help you decide what type of jewelry making beads to use.

Here are a few examples of the types of beads available:

Pearl Beads – these are very popular beads for jewelry making, as they resemble natural pearls.  Although you can use real natural pearls, these tend to be expensive and if you are just beginning with jewelry making, you may want to opt for a more affordable place to start.  You may never be able to match the shine and lustre of natural pearls, but the fake ones can be really beautiful too in a jewelry piece, and they can add a touch of elegance.



Glass Beads – these are available in many different sizes, styles, designs and colors.  Typically they have colorful coatings and handmade designs on them.  Many of the glass beads available today are shipped from India and the Czech Republic.  Glass beads can be interspersed with other types of beads (like the pearl beads mentioned above) to create a uniquely beautiful piece of jewelry.  Depending on the quality and design detail, glass beads can come in a range of prices.  You just need to find the right beads to suit your style and budget.

Crystal Beads – these fall under the more glamorous beads category, as they tend to be more on the expensive side.  They are very popular however, because they can give a real ‘sparkle’ to your jewelry project.  If you do plan on using crystal beads (such as Swarovski crystal beads) be sure you purchase them from a reputable seller, because you can run across a number of people who claim that you are getting genuine crystal beads, but what you are really getting are cheap imitations. 




Seed Beads – these are small beads that come in all colors, and some even resemble pearl beads.  They come in various (albeit small) sizes, and are typically made in Japan and Taiwan.

Plastic Beads – many beginning jewelry making ideas start with plastic beads.  These are very cheaply priced and can be used in all type of jewelry making projects.  Many types plastic beads are used to create children’s jewelry because of the low cost, but they are great to use when you are first beginning jewelry making.

China Beads – china beads are among the most popular types of beads in the world.  They are readily available, fairly cheap in price and are generally of high quality.  (The cheaper cost of these beads is because of the cheap labor force creating them on a mass-produced level in China.)  These beads come in many varieties and colors and can be quite beautiful.





Metal Beads – making bead jewelry with metal beads allows you to have various metals, such as gold, silver, bronze, Tibetan silver (or other types of non-precious metals) to make your new jewelry piece exotic, or even rustic.  Using various metals beads can change your jewelry project to suit your own tastes.

Wood Beads – these beads are made from various types of wood and are usually painted or polished, for a finished look.

Paper Beads – these beads are typically hand-made by rolling colorful papers into a bead with a hollow centre.  They are then given a coating to harden them.  You can make these beads easily yourself, or purchase them, as you wish.

Taking into consideration the type of beads you like, and your beginning jewelry making skills, you can create wonderful jewelry pieces that suit your own tastes and personality.  Using the cheaper type of beads helps you make more jewelry projects to start to hone your jewelry making skills.  After you have made a few practice pieces with the cheaper beads, then you can move onto making truly spectacular jewelry projects using the more expensive (or glamour) beads.

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Essentials in Jewelry Making Supplies



Making beaded jewelry is a great way to spend one's free time. Some consider it as a hobby while others turn this craft into a viable opportunity. Whatever your reasons are on embarking in this new project, you have to use the right tools for the trade. The only way you can pursue this activity would be to stock up on the necessary jewelry making supplies. This means that you will needs the basic tools such as wires, pliers, cutters, magnifying glasses, soldering irons and other instruments that will facilitate a faster and easier way to create jewelries.

Stocking up on accessories

Beads play a major role in jewelry making since these will be the ones that will provide an aesthetic appeal to your creation. Today, you can select from a wide variety of options ranging from gemstones, crystals and other types of trinkets in the market. If you want to make sure that you have a constant supply of beading materials, you should purchase these in wholesale packages. This way, you will have a seemingly endless stock of beads and at the same time, you can save more with your purchases.

Choosing your trinkets

Beads come in a variety of colors and materials. One of the most popular would be the crystal beads because of the iridescent quality that they exude. Bead crystals are great if you are aiming for jewelries with light, fresh, young and elegant appeal. Apart from these, you can also choose from gemstones, clay, and other elements that are used to create beads. Trinkets also come in different shapes and sizes and thus, you will have unlimited options for your every project.

Purchasing supplies

Buying jewelry making supplies should come as one of the first steps in your project. You can opt to build your collection on a slower pace if you want to approach this as a hobby. However, if you want to sell these items, it would be best to look for wholesale suppliers so you can get huge discounts on the items that you buy. You can scour the internet to search for reliable suppliers which offer an extensive range of tools, trinkets and even additional accessories that you can use for your jewelry making projects.

If you don't have time to visit specialty and crafts stores, the best way for you to obtain unlimited selections would be to look for stores online. See to it that the business is legitimate prior to placing an order. Making jewelries can provide you with a productive use of your time. Just make sure that you handle this activity with care. Incorporating some research on the right beads, tools and styles is also a good way so that you can fully enjoy the results of every project.

Find more information on Jewelry Making Supplies and Crystal Beads at our website. Please visit for more information at gemmall.com

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