Essential Resources

Crow Bead

A bead cut from a tube of glass or plastic, then tumbled and polished to smooth the edges. Used on cornrow braids, fringe and in Native American styles.

Carat

The unit of weight used for precious stones. One carat equals one-fifth of a gram. Also a measurement of fitness in gold. Pure gold is expressed as 24Kt.The term ''carat'' dates back to the traders of the ancient world.

Crimp Tube

A metal bead or short metal tube used with all beading wires and some beading cords to secure the beginning and finish the end of a strand.

Crimping Pliers

Pliers with a grooved opening for folding, rolling and smoothing crimp beads and tubes. Crimping pliers create a smooth, rounded or curved crimp.

Crimp Clasp

Has structural crimps for attaching to the end of beading wire or cord with Crimping Pliers. Can include Hook-and-Eye, Lobster Claw and Magnetic Clasp styles.

Crimp Bead

A metal bead or short metal tube used with all beading wires and some beading cords to secure the beginning and finish the end of a strand.

Crimp

A metal bead or short metal tube used with all beading wires and some beading cords to secure the beginning and to finish the end of a strand.

Cord Coil

(see also Coil End) A wire coil bead with an end loop.

Cord

A thin, flexible length of twisted fibers.

Curb Chain

A form of chain with oval links that have been twisted, so that the entire chain lays flat.

Ice-Pick Bail

Similar to a prong bail, it will create a loop to attach a chain to when the prongs are closed into a cross-drilled pendant.

Cane Glass

Beads resembling old-fashioned candy sticks. Small canes of colored glass are fused together to create a larger rod, then coated with clear glass and fired.

Cone

Necklace terminator or beading finding used to bring multiple strands together at one point to attach a clasp or be part of the design.

Component

A smaller, self-contained part used in jewelry-making and beading.

Cameo

A carved gem or shell, in which the carved design stands out against a background of a different color.

Cultured Saltwater Pearl

Pearls created by a farmer, who inserts a "seed" of mother-of-pearl into a saltwater oyster. The oyster coats the seed with layers of nacre, creating a pearl.

Pearl, Cultured Freshwater

Pearls created by a farmer, who inserts a "seed" of mother-of-pearl into a freshwater oyster. The pearl oyster will coat the seed with nacre, creating a pearl.

Clasp

A fastener that connects two or more ends of a piece of jewelry together. Clasps can be utilitarian and purely functional, or embellished design elements.

Cloisonne

Enamel with surface decorations set in hollows formed by strips of wire welded to a metal plate.

Coil End

(see also Cord Coil) A wire coil bead with an end loop.

Celluloid

Thermoplastic material that was commonly used in jewelry before the invention of injection molding. Now used to simulate tortoiseshell.

Coil Bead

A bead created using coiled wire. Some styles can be pinched like a crimp bead.

Chevron Beads

Learn about chevron beads (also called rosetta beads or star beads). Explore their origins, evolution, and cultural significance in this enlightening article.

Chaton

A particular shape of cut glass or crystal, most commonly known as Crystal Passions® rhinestones. A chaton has a faceted, pavillion-shaped (pointed) bottom.

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