Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper.
Tiger Tail
A strong woven stainless steel wire with a thin nylon coating.
Hypo-Allergenic
Metal used in jewellery which has fewer allergy causing components. Usually nickel free as this is the biggest cause of irritation in sensitive skin.
Memory Wire
An expandable stainless steel wire that retains its round shape after countless days of wear.
Acrylic
Transparent or opaque beads available in many shapes. They have a unique characteristic of being dyed where colour is absorbed into the plastic.
Swarvoski Crystal
One of the finest and most commonly used crystals in the world today. These Austrian crystals are superior in quality due to the precision of the cutting and polishing process used.
Ceramic
A mixture of clay and other materials are used to make ceramics and their qulaity and hardness depends on the contents. There are different types of slips and glazes used to fire in a colour or colour effect. The décor of the surface can be simple hand paint or may even have a decal that is glazed into the surface.
Cats Eye
Sometimes refered to as 'Fibre Optic' beads as they are made from quartz fibres that are fused together. They capture and refract light in a way that resembles a cats eye.
Foil
A coloured glass bead with silver or gold foil inside the glass. These beads are lampworked and add sparkle and colour.
Imitation Pearl
A bead that can be synthetic or glass that has been coated with any number of polymers or waxes to obtain a luxurious finish.
Enamel
A layer of glass fused to the surface of jewellery at temperatures close to the melting point of silver. Enamel gets its colour from the trace elements that give gemstones their colour.
Faceted
Beads or stones that have small, flat-cut surfaces, usually symetrical that make a sparkling effect on transparent beads, although transluscent and even sometimes opaque beads are faceted.
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