Beads & Jewellery Making Supplies FAQs

Welcome to The Beadster’s FAQ.

Whether you’re making jewellery for yourself, creating gifts, selling your own designs or simply looking for that elusive bead or finding for a project, we hope you’ll find the answer here.

We’ve been supplying beads and jewellery-making supplies since 2007. If you can’t find the answer to your question, please get in touch — we’re always happy to help.

Ordering from The Beadster

What can I buy from The Beadster?

We stock a wide range of beads, charms and jewellery-making supplies, including glass beads, lampwork beads, freshwater pearls, ceramic beads, metal beads, sterling silver beads and findings, clasps, jump rings, crimps, wire, cord, chain and jewellery-making accessories.

We also stock jewellery boxes, packaging and other useful supplies for making and presenting finished jewellery.

Do I need an account to order?

No. You can place an order without creating an account.

Creating an account is optional, but it can make future orders quicker and easier by saving your details and allowing you to view previous orders.

How do I place an order?

Find the products you want, select any available quantity or variation and add them to your basket.

When you’ve finished shopping, go to your basket and proceed to checkout. Follow the instructions to enter your delivery and payment details and complete your order.

Can I order more than one type of bead?

Of course. You can add as many different products as you need to your basket and order them together.

This is particularly useful when you’re putting together the components for a jewellery-making project.

Can I order small quantities?

Yes. Many of our products are available in relatively small quantities, making them suitable for individual jewellery projects as well as larger-scale making.

The quantity supplied is shown on the individual product page. Some products are sold individually, while others are supplied in pairs, strands, bags, packs or other quantities.

Always check the product description before ordering if the exact quantity is important to your project.

Beads & Materials

What types of beads do you sell?

We stock a wide variety of beads in different materials, colours, shapes and sizes.

Our range includes glass beads, lampwork beads, freshwater pearls, ceramic beads, metal beads and many other styles. We also stock charms and other decorative components.

What are glass beads?

Glass beads are made from glass and are available in an enormous variety of colours, finishes, shapes and sizes.

Depending on how they are made and finished, glass beads can have transparent, opaque, translucent, frosted, metallic, iridescent or other effects.

They are one of the most versatile choices for jewellery making and beadwork.

What are lampwork beads?

Lampwork beads are handmade glass beads produced by heating and shaping glass, traditionally using a small flame.

Because they are handmade, individual lampwork beads can vary slightly in size, shape, colour and pattern. These small differences are part of their character and are not necessarily defects.

What are freshwater pearls?

Freshwater pearls are natural pearls produced by freshwater mussels.

Unlike perfectly uniform manufactured beads, natural pearls can vary in shape, size, colour and surface appearance. This means that two pearls may not be completely identical.

Freshwater pearls are particularly popular for necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other jewellery designs.

Are natural beads all the same?

No. Natural materials can have variations in colour, shape, size and surface appearance.

If you’re using natural beads such as freshwater pearls, these variations should generally be regarded as part of the natural material rather than a fault.

What are ceramic beads?

Ceramic beads are made from ceramic material and can have a wide variety of colours, glazes, textures and finishes.

They can be particularly useful when you want something with a more substantial or distinctive appearance than a conventional glass bead.

Bead Sizes & Quantities

How are bead sizes measured?

Bead dimensions are normally given in millimetres (mm).

For a round bead, the measurement generally refers to the diameter. For shaped beads, the dimensions may be given as length × width × depth or another appropriate measurement.

Product descriptions will give the relevant dimensions wherever possible.

What does 6mm bead mean?

A 6mm round bead is approximately 6mm in diameter.

The actual size can vary slightly depending on the material and manufacturing method, particularly with handmade or natural beads.

How many beads do I need for a necklace?

That depends on the size of the beads, the length of the necklace and the design.

As a rough guide, a 16-inch necklace made entirely from 6mm round beads would require considerably more beads than one made from 10mm beads.

If you’re planning a particular project and aren’t sure how many beads you need, contact us and we’ll do our best to help.

What does “per strand” mean?

If a product is described as being sold per strand, you will receive one complete strand containing the number of beads stated in the product description.

The number of beads on a strand can vary according to the size and type of bead.

What does “per pair” mean?

A product sold per pair contains two matching pieces.

This is commonly used for items such as beads or components intended for making a pair of earrings.

What does “per bag” or “per pack” mean?

It means the product is supplied as the quantity specified in the product description.

Always check the product page carefully before ordering, particularly where you need a specific number of components.

Jewellery Findings & Components

What are jewellery findings?

Jewellery findings are the small components used to assemble and finish jewellery.

They include items such as clasps, jump rings, split rings, crimps, head pins, eye pins, earring findings, connectors, bails and chain.

They may be small, but they’re the bits that often hold the whole piece together!

What are jump rings used for?

Jump rings are small metal rings used to connect jewellery components.

They can be used to attach clasps, charms, pendants, chains and other findings.

Jump rings are available in different sizes, gauges and finishes, so it’s important to choose one appropriate for the job.

What are split rings?

Split rings are similar in appearance to miniature key rings. The two layers of wire overlap, helping to prevent attached components from coming off.

They are particularly useful where a more secure connection is required.

What are crimps used for?

Crimp beads and tubes are used to secure beading wire.

The wire is passed through the crimp and then the crimp is compressed using an appropriate pair of crimping pliers or another suitable tool.

What are head pins and eye pins?

Head pins and eye pins are used to create jewellery components and connect beads.

A head pin has a stop at one end, allowing beads to be threaded onto it before the other end is formed into a loop.

An eye pin has a loop at one end and can be used to connect a series of beads or components together.

What are jewellery clasps?

Clasps are used to fasten necklaces and bracelets.

There are many different types, including lobster clasps, bolt rings, toggle clasps and magnetic clasps. The best choice depends on the style of jewellery you’re making and how secure or easy to use you want the fastening to be.

What are sterling silver findings?

Sterling silver findings are jewellery components made from sterling silver.

They are popular for jewellery making because sterling silver provides a traditional precious-metal finish and works well with many different types of beads.

Always check the individual product description for the material and finish of a particular item.

Choosing Beads & Supplies

How do I choose the right beads for my project?

Start with the overall design you want to create, then consider:

• the size and shape of the beads
• the colour and finish
• the material
• the size of the bead hole
• how the beads will be strung or connected
• the findings and other components you intend to use

The bead hole is particularly important. A beautiful bead isn’t much use if your chosen cord or wire won’t pass through it!

How do I know whether a bead will fit my jewellery wire or cord?

Check the stated hole size of the bead against the diameter of your chosen wire, cord or thread.

Remember that the hole needs to be large enough for the material to pass through comfortably. If you’re making a design that requires the cord or wire to pass through the bead more than once, you’ll need to allow for that too.

Can I mix different types of beads?

Yes — and that’s often where the fun starts.

Glass, ceramic, metal, pearl and other beads can be combined to create contrast in colour, texture, size and finish.

There are no hard rules, although it’s worth considering the weight of the finished piece and making sure your chosen findings are suitable.

How do I match beads and findings?

Consider both colour and finish.

For example, silver-coloured findings can work well with cool colours, while gold-coloured findings can complement warmer colours. However, mixing finishes can also create an interesting effect.

If you’re trying to match a particular colour or finish, we’re happy to help where we can.

Can I buy beads for making earrings?

Yes. Many of our beads and findings are suitable for earrings.

Remember that earrings are normally made as a pair, so check whether the beads you choose are sold individually or as pairs and allow for sufficient findings to complete both earrings.

Postage & Delivery

Where does The Beadster deliver?

We currently deliver within the UK.

Please see our Postage page for current delivery options, charges and any other delivery information.

How quickly will my order be dispatched?

We aim to process orders promptly after payment has been received.

Delivery times can vary depending on the delivery service and circumstances outside our control. Please allow additional time during weekends, bank holidays and particularly busy periods.

Will I receive an order confirmation?

Yes. An order confirmation should be sent to the email address supplied when you place your order.

If you don’t see it, please check your spam or junk folder.

What should I do if my order hasn’t arrived?

If your order has taken longer than expected, please contact us with your order number and we’ll investigate it for you.

Please don’t assume that your order has been lost simply because it hasn’t arrived when expected — postal delays do happen.

Returns & Refunds

Can I return an item if I change my mind?

Yes. If you decide that you don’t want an item, you can return it to us at your own cost, subject to the conditions in our Returns Policy.

We will refund the cost of the returned item.

What if my item is faulty or arrives damaged?

Please contact us as soon as possible if an item arrives damaged or is faulty.

Please keep the item and its packaging until we’ve advised you what to do.

Can I return part of my order?

Yes. You can return individual items rather than having to return the complete order.

Please see our Returns Policy for the full details and conditions.

Where can I find your full returns information?

Our Returns Policy contains the full information about returning unwanted, faulty or damaged goods.

The FAQ is intended to provide a quick answer; the Returns Policy is the place to go for the complete details.

About The Beadster

How long has The Beadster been trading?

The Beadster was established in 2007.

We originally operated from a physical shop in Shaftesbury, Dorset, before becoming an online-only business.

Do you have a physical shop?

No. Our former shop in Shaftesbury has closed and The Beadster now operates online.

This means you can browse our range and order from wherever you are, without needing to visit a physical shop.

Can I ask for help choosing products?

Yes.

We have years of experience working with beads and jewellery-making supplies, so if you’re unsure what you need for a particular project, please get in touch.

If you can tell us what you’re making, the approximate size, the materials you’re considering and any particular requirements, we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction.

I can’t find what I’m looking for. What should I do?

Don’t give up!

With a large and constantly changing range of beads and jewellery-making supplies, something may be listed under a name you weren’t expecting.

Try searching for the material, colour, shape or type of component you’re looking for. If you still can’t find it, contact us and we’ll see if we can help.

Still Have a Question?

If your question isn’t answered here, please get in touch with The Beadster.

Whether you’re looking for a particular bead, trying to find the right finding for a project or simply aren’t sure what you need, we’re happy to help.

The Beadster — beads, jewellery-making supplies and lots of possibilities.

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