Essential Resources

Sterling Silver

Items made of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper or other alloy, proportions fixed by law. Sterling silver will "patina" in time, taking on an antique look.

Stainless Steel

Get technical with stainless steel! Uncover its composition, delve into its myriad applications in jewelry- making, and explore the diverse varieties available.

Silver-Plated

A fine silver film deposited on a base metal by electrolysis, in the same kind of electrically-charged bath used to make gold electroplate.

Station

A pendant that is the focus of a design.

Pottery Shard

A piece of broken pottery.

Silver-Finished

Also called Silver Color or "washed." The base metal is brass or steel and the product is electroplated with a non-standardized thickness of silver.

Accu-Guard

A horseshoe-shaped loop of metal used to cradle and protect beading wire, thread or cord from fraying through contact with metal components such as clasps or links.

Polymer Clay

A plastic sculpting material made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), used to create jewelry beads and components.

Pewter

A metal alloy that is largely made from tin with trace elements, like copper or antimony added for hardness. Older or classic pewter contains tin while lower grades of pewter may contain lead or zinc and have a darker silver-grey color. Newer or modern pewter uses antimony or bismuth rather than lead.

Nickel Silver

An alloy, mostly containing nickel, popularized in German and Native American jewelry. Nickel silver resembles sterling silver in color, with a greyer tone.

Nickel-Plated

Items have an industry standard of .15 to .25 mils thickness of nickel which is plated to the surface of the base metal.

Preciosa Crystal Beads - Color and Effect

Discover the vibrant world of Preciosa Crystal with our handy chart! Identify, color match, and shop for the perfect crystals for your creative projects.

View Chart

Crystal Passions® Flat Back Crystal - Color and Effect

Get to know the colors and effects available in Crystal Passions® flat backs with this handy reference chart.

View Chart

Standard Jewelry Lengths and Number of Beads Needed

Learn how to calculate the number of beads necessary for each necklace length in this educational article.

View Chart

Crystal Passions® Crystal Fancy Stones - Color and Effect Guide

Find the perfect colors and effects of Crystal Passions(TM) crystal fancy stones for your next project with this useful chart.

View Chart

Crystal Passions® Crystal Pearl Colors

Use this chart to easily identify, color match and shop the different colors and effects of Crystal Passions for all your projects.

View Chart

Crystal Passions® Crystal Beads - Color and Effect

Use this chart to easily identify, color match and shop the different colors and effects of Crystal Passions for all your projects.

View Chart

Types and Sizes of Beading Thread and Stringing Material

This chart gives you a quick overview of beading thread and stringing materials, including their sizes, types and tensile strength.

View Chart

Chainmaille Weaves

Convenient chart lists a range of chainmaille weave styles, links to how-to instructions or videos, specific weave notes and more.

View Chart

Stopper Beads and Chains, Cords and Wires

Can't tell which stopper beads work the best? This chart helps you determine whether your large-hole beads plus stopper beads will stay put or slide around.

View Chart