Cloisonne Beads: Ever Wonder What They Are Made Of?

Cloisonne Beads: Ever Wonder What They Are Made Of?

If you’re a jewelry making enthusiast or entrepreneur, chances are you’ve added Cloisonne beads in your jewelry making supplies kit. These beads have been popular for centuries across the globe and continue to be a favorite today. What are these time-tested beads made of?

Cloisonne Beads Have a Unique Composition

Cloisonne beads are made of a base metal of copper, featuring twists of wires that allow crafters to create distinctive designs. Enamel is deposited into the thin strips between the wires. Craftsmen add to the beauty of the beads by enameling colorful surface design to the various bead shapes they’ve created like tiny stained-glass art. Each section of the structure holds colorful enamel. The finished product is fired in a kiln, bringing the art to life. Every piece is unique.

The Long History of Cloisonne Beads

The process of making Cloisonne beads stretches back to the Egyptians, crisscrossing the globe through Rome, China, France, Europe, and America. Chinese craftsman furthered the art, improving the enameling process with their casting, glass production, and glazing skills. These beads, which double as art, continue to be coveted in jewelry designs for their unique beauty.

These beads should be cared for like art. Storing them in bags protects the enamel against scratches. When cleaning is necessary, they should not be soaked, as small holes in the body of the beads could absorb fluids. Use only water and a soft, lint-free cloth. Avoid abrasive and harsh cleaners, as well as ultrasonic jewelry cleaners, which can damage the surface of the beads.

Popular Cloisonne Bead Applications

The detailing of Cloisonne beads pairs wonderfully with gold-filled beads and findings. They work well in many jewelry designs, from beaded necklaces and bracelets to rosaries and pendants, rings, earrings, and pins.

Tips for Identifying High-Quality Cloisonne Beads

When shopping for Cloisonne beads, look for carefully constructed beads with a smooth surface, free of protruding wires. Beads should be uniformly shaped, each section filled with enamel. No divots or bulges should be present. Beads crafted with precious metals, such as our copper constructed Cloisonne beads, offer superior quality. These top-quality beads often advertise their precious metal content.

Crystal Findings Offers Cloisonne Bead in a Wide Variety of Styles

Crystal Findings carries Cloisonne beads in an array of sizes, styles, colors, and prints. With most of our designs, you can buy as many or as few as you need. Our premium Cloisonne beads come in popular geometric shapes, flattened styles, tube-shaped, fancy Cloisonne beads, twist-on and clasp-style beads, and novelty options. We ship our beads fast, directly to your doorstep via your choice of UPS and USPS services.

Incorporate the vibrancy and beauty of Cloisonne beads into your jewelry designs. Add Cloisonne beads to your collection. Shop one of the largest selections of wholesale beading supplies in the USA at Crystal Findings today.

Looking for a High Quality Shamballa Beads Supplier? You Have Come to the Right Place!

Looking for a High Quality Shamballa Beads Supplier? You Have Come to the Right Place!

Shamballa beads make beautiful jewelry. They are most commonly used in bracelets reflecting the Tibetan and Buddhist tradition. However, these shimmering beads also make stunning necklaces and earrings as well. These shimmering, disco-ball like beads are becoming increasingly popular for jewelry enthusiasts young and old, making them increasingly difficult to find. Fortunately, if you’re looking for colorful, high-quality Shamballa beads, you’re in the right place. Crystal Findings has an extensive variety of exceptional offerings.

High-Quality Czech Crystal Shamballa Beads

Our Shamballa beads feature a synthetic base studded with premium Czech lead glass crystal cubic zirconia. They are studded by hand and come in a rainbow of sparkling colors. Crystal findings offer a variety of Shamballa bead sizes and shapes, including:

Affordable Pricing

Despite the skyrocketing prices of many items due to shortages caused by the pandemic, we have kept our Shamballa beads at the lowest possible price for our customers. No matter where you are in the US, you can continue to enjoy affordably crafting jewelry, whether as a business or quarantine hobby. We offer most orders same-day shipping Monday-Friday, ensuring you get your beads and findings fast.  All orders are custom quantity preparations and bigger orders usually takes a day extra. There is no minimum order, and we sell to individuals and businesses.

Make a Striking Statement with Shamballa Bead Designs

Shamballa symbolizes a mystical, spiritual sanctuary reachable only by those who have achieved a deep karmic connection to spirit. It is believed to be a perfect place filled with love, enlightenment, and peace. Shamballa bead colors represent Sanskrit/Indian centers of spiritual power in the body, known as chakras. Each shade is associated with an aspect of physical and emotional well-being. We offer colors representing traditional Shamballa colors for the 7 chakras, in addition to other popular hues.

Note: We may not have all the colors available at all times, please contact us if you are unable to find a specific color and we will work with you.

Get to Know this Versatile Bead Style

Shamballa beads pair well with many jewelry styles, from premium knotting cord to simple hemp cord designs. Accentuate your jewelry with your favorite bead styles and colors, interspersing your Shamballa beads with gemstones and gold filled and silver beads and findings. When choosing accompanying beads, however, be sure each is large enough to accommodate two strands of cord.

New to Shamballa Bead Designs?

The trickiest part is the sliding clasp. Learn how to make Shamballa jewelry now with our latest tutorial. If it’s not already part of your regular design lineup, you’ll soon come to love its unique square knot macrame design and make it a staple in your repertoire.

Create stunning, must-have Shamballa jewelry from only the finest materials. Shop the wide variety of shimmering Shamballa beads at Crystal Findings today.

Is it Worth Investing in Swarovski Crystals for Jewelry Design? What You Need to Know

Is it Worth Investing in Swarovski Crystals for Jewelry Design? What You Need to Know

Swarovski crystal is a favorite among professional jewelry makers and designers. The Swarovski name has remained synonymous with quality and luxury since 1892. Competitors try but fail to replicate their quality. Is it worth investing in Swarovski crystal beads for jewelry design? There are many reasons why these stunning crystals look better and cost more than bargain replicas.

5 Reasons Why Swarovski Crystals are Worth It

1. Swarovski crystals are made from real lead glass.

Swarovski crystals are not simply made but involve a complex process dependent on high-quality materials. These manmade luxury crystal pendants and beads are made only by Swarovski of Austria. They are neither a crystal nor a gem, but a form of lead glass. Swarovski’s proprietary blend of quartz, sand, minerals, and about 32% lead maximizes refraction, giving the crystals their signature shimmer, creating a look similar to that of a diamond. Such clarity in crystal is difficult to produce, requiring pure materials and precise production methods.

2. Highly specialized cutting practices create higher refraction and more sparkle.

Precision cutting with a patented electric cutting machine ensures accurate, consistent cuts. Swarovski crystals are created with as many as 100 facets, which mirror and bend light in many directions, producing a higher refraction index and increased sparkle. After cutting each crystal, each one is polished to perfection, some enhanced with coatings that refract light in different color spectrums.

3. Every Swarovski Crystal meets strict quality standards.

Crystals with inconsistencies often seen in inferior quality beads such as bubbles, scratches, and dull or lackluster finish will not meet Swarovski quality standards for perfection. Premium Swarovski crystal beads must be consistently produced to meet the company’s rigid manufacturing standards. Authenticated Swarovski crystals:

    • Are identical in size and cut.
    • Contain no bubbles.
    • Are clear, smooth, brilliants, and without blemish.
    • Possess a diamond-like shine.
    • Have facets that meet and point upwards.
    • Are identical in color tone.
    • Are sold loose, except for Swarovski pearls, which are strung together.

4. Swarovski crystal uphold their resale value.

Due to their demanding design standards and lasting popularity, Swarovski crystals hold their value quite well, making them a favorite among designers and jewelry aficionados.

5. Swarovski crystals are easy to maintain.

A bit of mild dish soap and warm water easily restores Swarovski crystals back to their former brilliance. No professional cleaning is required.

Crystal Findings Has the Largest Stock of Swarovski Products Available Online

We carry Swarovski bead in a large variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, including our popular and affordable Swarovski Crystal Pendants. Fast shipping is our specialty. Most orders ship within 24 hours. Choose from first class, priority, and express mail shipping speeds, or UPS shipping. You can have your favorite Swarovski crystal beads on your desk in as little as 48 hours.

Put the precise workmanship of authentic Swarovski crystals to work in your designs. Shop the wide selection of Swarovski crystal beads and pendants at Crystal Findings today.

Besides Branding, What Differentiates a Swarovski Crystal from a Normal Crystal?

Besides Branding, What Differentiates a Swarovski Crystal from a Normal Crystal?

Swarovski is more than a brand name. Swarovski crystal beads outperform competing crystal beads on many fronts. What makes stunning Swarovski crystals different from ordinary crystals? Learn why top fashion designers like Christian Dior, Louboutin, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel prefer Swarovski products over imitators and what it is about Swarovski crystals that keeps customers coming back for more.

Swarovski Crystal Beads Deliver Superior Clarity and Brilliance

Swarovski crystal beads are crystal clear, unlike lower quality competitors, which often have blemishes and swirl marks, air bubbles, or an oily sheen. This does not happen by accident. Such quality and clarity are difficult to produce. The Swarovski crystal making process relies on quality materials and precise manufacturing. Swarovski beads are a form of lead glass, comprised of a proprietary blend of quartz, sand, minerals, and about 32% lead which create the refractory effect that gives Swarovski crystals their signature sparkle. Though they are called crystals, Swarovski crystal pendants and beads are actually closer in composition to gemstones, with a higher refraction index than true crystal, more like a diamond. The inventor of Swarovski crystals envisioned them as a more accessible “diamond for everyone.”

The Cut of Swarovski Crystals is Superior

After they are formed, each Swarovski crystal is precisely cut. The cut pattern that will produce maximum light refraction is first calculated by computer, then simulated in 3-D and optimized before being applied to the stones. Advanced cutting machinery is then used to apply the pattern of facets – up to 100 total per stone, each capable of bending light in different directions for maximum effect. Unlike imitators, each facet and juncture on Swarovski stones points up, meeting in a single, precise point, similar to the facets on a diamond. They are later polished, then sometimes coated to refract light in different color spectrums. The complicated process of creating each crystal is a tremendous technological feat.

Swarovski Crystals are Stocked by only a Few Selected Suppliers

Crystal Findings is one of the very few stores that have large stocks of merchandise directly purchased from Swarovski. We offer genuine Swarovski beads and pendants in a wide selection of colors, shapes, and sizes. When you purchase from us, you can shop secure in the knowledge you are getting genuine Swarovski crystals – not imitations! Our genuine Swarovski crystal beads ship directly to your door in clearly branded, sealed envelopes bearing the sparkling silver holographic Swarovski logo. Authentic Swarovski beads never arrive strung, only Swarovski pearls are delivered this way.

We specialize in fast shipping, getting most orders out within 24 hours of placement. Choose from first class, priority, and express mail shipping speeds, or UPS shipping, getting your favorite Swarovski crystal beads delivered right to your door in as little as 48 hours.

Ready to splurge on Swarovski? Enhance your jewelry designs while staying within budget. Shop the wide assortment of Swarovski crystal beads, pendants, pearls, and other jewelry making beads and supplies at Crystal Findings today.

Wondering How to Choose your Color for a Shamballa Bracelet?

Wondering How to Choose your Color for a Shamballa Bracelet?

Crystal Findings offers sparkling Shamballa beads in so many colors, it’s hard to know which to choose. Opt for popular color combinations or choose the perfect hues to reflect the traditional origins of these infamous beads. While many select the shades of their Shamballa beads for their beauty, interest is growing in the spiritual benefits of particular jewels and colors used in Shamballa designs.

Tips for Choosing the Perfect Color for Your Shamballa Jewelry Design

Shamballa jewelry has a Tibetan and Indian Buddhist background. Shamballa bead colors represent the chakras, centers of spiritual power within the body. Each Shamballa bead color is believed to have a unique meaning and effect on particular aspects of your physical and emotional well-being:

  • Black
    This popular color inspires strength and fosters inner power. It helps with focus and calming of the mind. It is a favorite for masculine designs.
  • White
    White reflects innocence and purity, truth/integrity, and new beginnings. It fosters openness and kindness, brings clarity and peace, and supports physical and mental health.
  • Red
    Red reflects passion, sensuality, and emotion, inspiring motivation and enthusiasm. It supports a feeling of security and banishes fears, allowing you to move forward with confidence.
  • Orange
    This sacral chakra color is associate with emotion and intimacy. It increases feelings of affection and creativity, rekindling bonds and forgotten passions. Orange is also believed to balance emotions, relieving stress and blocks in life. It inspires boldness and bravery, fighting introversion and shyness.
  • Yellow/Gold
    Yellow is the color of the solar plexus chakra, supporting self-confidence and will power. It is strongly associated with feelings of happiness, inner peace, stability, and control of the world around you. It stifles negativity, supporting logical, clear thinking.
  • Green
    This color of the heart chakra brings balance and harmony between the mind/body. It is linked with nature, producing a similar effect as exposure to nature would in the body: Serenity, calmness, and renewal. It is also believed to manifest luck, abundance, and wealth.
  • Blue
    Blue is associated with the throat chakra, evoking communication and inspiring trust, loyalty, and affection. Like the ocean, it inspires tranquility and healing, encouraging relaxation and rejuvenation.
  • Indigo
    Associated with the third eye or intuition, the chakra located in the center of the forehead, indigo opens the mind and relieves creative blocks, spurring the imagination. It is the color of choice for inspiring confidence and connecting with your true identity.
  • Violet
    Violet is associated with the crown chakra at the top of the head. It promotes a higher understanding of self and life purpose. Violet is the color of royalty, grandeur, and creativity. Simultaneously stimulating and soothing, it brings balance, making it an ideal choice for those with physical and emotional issues, especially insomnia.

Note: We may not always carry all the colors listed above. Check our website to see the colors we have in stock at any time!

Shamballa Bead Shapes

Crystal Findings offers many varieties, including traditional round Shamballa beads, curved tube Shamballa beads, and heart-shaped Shamballa beads perfect for creating beautiful pendants, Bracelets, Necklaces, or making dress pins. All of our shimmering shades of Shamballa beads feature high-quality, manmade, lead glass Czech crystal cubic zirconia rhinestones.

Create a custom Shamballa design. Stock up for your upcoming jewelry-making projects. Shop the wide selection of premium wholesale beads and jewelry making supplies at Crystal Findings today.

Shamballa Beads – What They Are and Tips for Using Them in Jewelry Making

Shamballa Beads – What They Are and Tips for Using Them in Jewelry Making

Shamballa beads, used for making beautiful bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, are steeped in history. Inspired by Tibetan and Indian Buddhism, these colorful, shimmering, disco-ball like beads are a favorite among jewelry makers, making a striking statement in any design. Shamballa is believed to be a magical, spiritual sanctuary reachable only by those who hold a deep karmic connection to spirit. A perfect place filled with love, enlightenment, and peace. Shamballa bead colors represent Sanskrit/Indian centers of spiritual power in the body, called chakras, each associated with an aspect of well-being.

Shamballa Designs

Shamballa beads are widely used for making bracelets. Shamballa designs are easy to recognize by their signature square knot design, which features special knots based on macrame techniques. Bracelet cord is woven, knotted, and braided into various designs, featuring different colors of shimmering Shamballa beads and gemstones.

Shamballa Bead Varieties

Shamballa beads begin with a synthetic base, which is studded by hand with Czech crystals – high quality, manmade, lead glass crystal cubic zirconia rhinestones. Crystal Findings offers many varieties, including traditional round Shamballa beads, curved tube Shamballa beads, and heart-shaped Shamballa beads perfect for creating beautiful pendants, bracelets,necklaces, or making dress pins. Many colors are available, including traditional Shamballa colors representing the 7 chakras, alongside many other popular hues.

Suggestions for Using Shamballa Beads in Jewelry Making

  • Choosing beads and cord
    Shamballa bead designs work well with many styles, from simple hemp cord designs to premium knotting cord. Accentuate your design with any beads you desire, interspersing your Shamballa beads with gemstones and gold and silver beads and findings. Just be sure beads are large enough to accommodate two strands of cord.
  • Shamballa design tips
    A clipboard or board with binder clip are necessary tools for creating square knot Shamballa bead designs, helping you secure cords as you work. You can add as many knots as you desire between beads, though most agree odd numbers of knots look best.
  • Mastering the sliding clasp
    The tricky part of Shamballa jewelry designs is creating the sliding clasp to finish your Shamballa bracelet design. However, once you learn this trick, making this popular jewelry staple is a snap. Here’s how it’s done:

    • Form your completed bracelet design into a circle. Overlap the anchor cords, tying them together temporarily with a string.
    • Clip the top to your clipboard/board and binder work surface.
    • Next, cut a 12-inch piece of cord. Center it beneath the 4 anchor cords.
    • Tie in square knots just like you did in your original bracelet design, continuing for about half an inch.
    • Sew the ends back in once that is complete, creating a section of knots capable of sliding back and forth on the anchor cords.
    • Take the tail knots and make slipknots 1-2 inches from the clasp on each of the anchor ends, allowing enough length to loosen the bracelet to fit over your hand. Add beads for stoppers to prevent the ends from sliding out of the clasp.

Note: We do not carry the knotting cords for making shamballa bracelets or necklaces. Our Shamballa beads come in small hole sizes only.

Get a more in-depth look at creating fun Shamballa bead jewelry designs on our blog.

Create this popular, must-have jewelry look for family, friends, and customers. Place your order now for the season. Shop the wide variety of wholesale beads jewelry making supplies at Crystal Findings today.