Acrylic Resin - Transparent man-made resins used in making molded plastics.
Aurora Borealis (AB) - The name given for the Northern Lights, this is a term for crystal stones that have a highly iridescent surface. This effect is achieved by vapor blasting the facets of the lower part of the crystals with an invisible, micro thin metal sheet. The effect was created by SwarovskiŽ in 1955 in collaboration with Christian Dior. The term AB now refers to any iridescent finish.
Bail - A metal loop that is used to attach a chain or cord to a pendant.
Baroque Pearl - An irregularly-shaped pearl.
Barrel Clasp - A clasp made of two parts that screw together, usually used in necklaces.
Base Metal - Any non-precious metal e.g. copper, zinc, nickel, brass. Can be plated with silver, gold, gunmetal, copper or brass
Beadalon - is our favorite stringing material. Unlike Tiger Tail which can sometimes kink, Beadalon wire remains soft and pliable, even when using the smaller beads. Beadalon is a multi-strand braided stainless steel wire with a nylon coating.
Bezel - The metal groove or flange holding a gemstone in its setting, or the slanting face of a cut gem.
Biwa - A cultured pearl originally non-nucleated, grown in a freshwater mussel from Lake Biwa in Japan. Only those actually produced there should be called Biwas; others are simply called freshwater cultured pearls.
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.
Chain Tab - Metal tab stamped with metal content designation.
Cloisonne - Enamel with surface decorations set in hollows formed by strips of wire welded to a metal plate.
Finding - Manufactured components used to create jewelry. Generally, findings provide the structure for the jewelry design; the ornamentation is provided by both the design of the finding as well as the gems, beads or other decoration that is added. Findings include jumprings, clasps, bails, headpins, earwires, and charms, to name a few.
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.
Leather Cord - is always a popular stringing material as there is no finishing required. Simply add a pendant or centerpiece, tie a bow and go.
Memory Wire - is a pre-coiled stainless steel wire that retains it shape. Very popular for wine charm markers and bracelets.
Mohs Scale - a scale used to measure the hardness of minerals, with talc at zero and diamond at 10. Each mineral on the scale is hard enough to scratch the one below it in the scale.
Nylon Bead Cord - is used as an all purpose bead cord. You can use Beeswax to coat the cord to keep it from fraying and tangling when it is repeatedly threaded through metal beads with sharp edges. Wide spectrum of colors.
Using light colors against a dark bead will lighten that bead color... Dark color cord will darken a light bead. Example: White cord with Garnet bead will add to the luminosity of the bead.
Polishing - The process in the last stage of metal finishing in which a rotating instrument is dipped in a polishing substance. Increases shine and eliminates flaws.
Precious Stones - costly gems such as diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires.
Rattail - is a round, satin-like cord, often used to show off one large pendant or centerpiece as it's beautiful colors beg to be seen.
Semiprecious Stones - Natural stones that generally have a lower value than precious stones, including amethyst, aventurine, carnelian, garnet, opal, rose quartz, and others. Primarily used in fashion jewelry.
Silk Bead Cord - is used for beads with smaller holes such as freshwater pearls and beads under 5mm. You can add a designer look by using our Tri-Cord knotter, and placing knots on either side of the pearl. Wide spectrum of colors.
Spacer Bar - Jewelry finding used to hold multiple strands of beads in alignment and prevent tangling, are inserted at intervals while stringing the beads.
Spectrum - a continuous distribution of colored light produced when a beam of white light is dispersed into its components, e.g. by a prism.
Stretch Magic - is a flexible clear elastic cord. It is often used for slip-on crystal bracelets, and is a beader's favorite as it only requires a knot to finish.
Tiger Tail - is a commonly used stringing material, and does not require a needle.
Translucent Cord - is perfect for stringing Austrian Crystals, or any light colored bead when you don't want the cord to be visible.
Up Eye - Finding that can be bonded to round bead or tumbled stone to add a loop and create a pendant.
