Know Your Gemstone and Jewelry Terms
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