| wrote: Im looking for web addresses to buy semi-precious stones beads... Do you know any of them ? Thank you Dominique FRANCE [You might try the Bead Bugle Info-base at http://www.nfobase.com. They have put a lot of energy into collecting bead-related information- and it seems to be paying off for them, at least in hits- they claim to have gotten 4 million last year...] |
| Is this correct? Thats a good summary. Im not sure if there is any standard for the kt content of the gold plate in vermeil, but I believe it is usually relatively high - maybe 18? - so it tends to look "richer" than the GF, but I do think that the GF will wear longer. And no, for basics like metal beads or findings, you will do better with catalogs, whether paper or on-line, than at the gem shows. At the shows I generally buy things I need to see - like pearls or semi-precious. (you only need to get taken once on a lousy strand of lapis to learn!) |
| For semi-precious beads, good wholesale to public source is South Pacific Wholesale Co. 1-800-338-2162 good prices and quality. If quality is poor, he says so. |
| I have a good friend in the pearl and semi-precious stone distribution business which allows me to bring limited but high quality beads to my auctions, from time to time. I also hand select everything and inspect each/every strand. Quality is of the utmost importance and then there is the price. I am quite amazed to find the same items I sell are in catalogs for double the opening bid price. Sometimes more. |
| Christina Thanks Christina - my problem is that most of the pony or roller beads in s-p stone that Ive seen even at Fire Mtn or Rio all have smaller holes than I need and I was hoping to find a source that meant I didnt need to ream each one out to significantly enlarge the hole. Im making silver bangle bracelets with lampwork and semi-prec stones (when I can find them). |
