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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