Transparent man-made resins used in making molded plastics.

AKA "AB" finish, it covers half of the bead with a coating that gives off an iridescent rainbow appearance. Some Swarovski crystals are available in ABx2 finish, which coats the entire crystal and completely changes the entire look of the same color crystal.

The trademarked name for synthetic resins and plastics developed by a US chemist. Jewelry pieces made of Bakelite, especially with animal and fruit motifs, were extremely popular in the US in the 1930s and are now considered collectors items. Though still a highly specialized category. Bakelite has had something of a renaissance in this country in recent years

These beads are created with 24k carat gold electroplating over Bali .925 silver beads.

Imported handcrafted sterling silver beads from Bali Indonesia. Made with a minimum of 92.5% sterling silver and 7.5% lead or copper. Bali .925 silver beads are available in an oxidized finished with the black accents and a bright finish look. They are both .925 silver and it is just a matter of customer preference of which one looks best. They are also available in an unusual look consisting of copper and .925 silver. There is a difference between Bali beads and Bali style beads. True Bali Beads are actually crafted in Indonesia where other Bali style beads are created to imitate the style of Bali silver beads. The Bali beads are very amazing with such a variety of intricate patterns in the silver.

An irregularly-shaped pearl.

A diamond shape cone created from two faceted cones lined up and connected at the base. Swarovski crystals come in a variety of sizes and colors. Please "click here" (hyper link) to visit our Swarovski information page.

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.

A brown gemstone in pyroxene mineral family. The iron like substance creates a metallic bronze like sheen on the surface of the gemstone.

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

Handcrafted furnace glass cane beads are high quality beads made by several companies in the United States, each bead is handcrafted one by one with cane glass rods.

Also known as Fiber Optic Beads that come bead in a variety of brilliant shades with a reflective band of light creating a unique 'Cats Eye' look. The grade 'A' Fiber optic glass beads are the most reflective and come in more brilliant colors vs. the less expensive 'B' grade.

Hand-faceted genuine leaded crystal glass made in the Orient.

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

Various types of colored quartz, usually with a milky appearance, including carnelian, agate, cat's eye and jasper.

An ornamental chain, pin or clasp, usually worn at a womans waist, to which trinkets, keys, a purse, or other articles are attached. Also used to refer to pins with two figures linked together by a chain.

These glass beads are less expensive and are lead-free created to resemble Swarovski crystals. Although even with the naked eye you can immediately spot the Swarovski crystal when side by side with the China crystals, the difference is remarkable.

Interesting beads with intricate patterns created in the silver or gold metal and then filled in with decorative colored enamel then the bead is fused together.

Synthetic gemstone developed in 1977 to simulate a diamond.

Pearls made from freshwater sources, often from man made sources. These pearls are from organic sources and vary in size, shape, and color.

'Old Style' beads in which the beads are machine cut made in the Czech Republic.

Glass seed beads made in Czech Republic, these 'Old Style' beads are usually less uniform sizes and have smaller holes vs. the Japanese seed beads.

The most uniform seed bead made. Glass beads made of precisely cut glass, uniform in size, shape, and color. They tend to have a more brilliant color and larger holes than the Czech seed beads.

These have been called diamond cut style and sparkling silver beads. They have a bright finish and have shiny intricate uniform patterns cut into the beads giving them a bright dazzling appearance that is unique from the Bali oxidized style bead.

Coating a metal surface (in fashion or bridge jewelry, usually with copper, nickel, chromium, gold, silver or rhodium) by means of electrolysis. The amount of electroplate on an object is measured in microns (one micron = .001 mm). See also Gold Electroplating and Silver Plate.

The process of raising a domed design on the front of a piece of metal by beating it from behind with punches and a hammer.

These are usually plastic bead with a imitation 'pearl' coating that create a inexpensive pearl look in uniform sizes. Often this 'pearl coating' will crack or rub off over time leaving the original unattractive bead that it started as. Isabella's Beads uses Swarovski's crystal-based pearls as they are scratch resistant and are a higher quality that is designed for longer wear.

Lace-like ornamental work of fine gold or silver wire.

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 jump rings, clasps, bails, headpins, ear wires, and charms, to name a few.

Any item that is used as the central element in a necklace, bracelet, or other jewelry design. A focal component is intended to be the main attention-getter, the "focal point." Examples include pendants, carved gemstone beads, cabochons in settings, etc. Sometimes referred to as a "station."

An electrolytic coating with gold, or with an alloy of not less than 10% fineness to a minimum thickness throughout that is equivalent to seven millionths of an inch. This means that where the fineness is less than 24kt, the thickness must be proportionately greater, so that the same amount of fine gold is seven millionths of an inch, it may be marked - heavy gold electroplate.

Carat gold plated on top of top of some type of base metal, which could be iron, copper, or another type of inexpensive metal.

Pearls are almost completely smooth with less than 10% imperfections. These pearls have an extremely good luster.

Medium luster pearls are thick are slightly off in shape and contain light blemishes or imperfections.

High luster pearls are very thick almost completely round and smooth and contain none or very few blemishes or imperfections. The best pearls are usually selected for earrings.

Pearls contain some imperfections over less than 30% of the surface and can still have a beautiful luster to them. Most pearls will fall into the B grade. I don't use any pearl below Grade B in my designs.

Pearls contain some ripples and imperfections over less than 70% of their surface and have an average luster.

Pearls contain imperfections over more than 70% of their surface but not extreme. This is the lowest grade a pearl can be.

One of the oldest jewelry design techniques, dating to 2500 BC. Tiny grains of gold or other metal are stuck to a surface as ornaments

Heishi (pronounced Hee-Shee) is a term that was originally used by Pueblo Indians to describe shell disks of a consistent size that had been drilled and strung as a necklace, creating a rope-like tube that was as fluid as a serpent when it moved.

Today, this term is synonymous with thin, uniform disk-shaped shell, gemstone and metal beads that are center drilled and strung in a row.

To set pieces of wood or ivory, for example, into a surface, usually at the same level, to form a design.

Decoration made by carving or engraving a design into a gem or other hard material. Intaglio is the opposite of cameo.

Handcrafted glass beads made one at a time with a seven step process, which increases the cost compared to normal pressed glass beads, slender rods are manipulated to particular shape using a torch then placed in a kiln to harden.There is a difference between handcrafted Lampwork glass beads and mass produced Lampwork beads that are created in factories for pennies. With the personal touch that goes into a handcrafted Lampwork beads by the Artist; such as the best glass rods, unique color combinations and designs, and a bead that is not mass produced also comes a higher priced one of a kind sought after finished jewelry design. Some of the Lampwork beads used in some of my designs are created by US artists and some are imported glass beads from other countries. Some of the beads used are mass produced and others are limited editions. Some are just impossible to find again.

An open ended necklace that is held together by a flexible element such as a drop or ring. Length is 48" or longer.

Many of the pendants you will see with small inlayed stones are called 'Marcasite Pendants' but it is really another term in the jewelry world for pyrite. Both Marcasite and Pyrite are made up of the same composite minerals although their structure is slightly different.

A single row necklace ranging form 20 inches to 25 inches length

These glass beads have been created with a rough dull finish to give the matte almost frosty and then shined up slightly.

Normal glass beads that have been given a lustrous sparkling 'metal' like finish on the bead, normally as a substance coating over the surface of the bead.

A unit of length equivalent to 0.001 mm, used for measuring the thickness of electroplating.

Created by fusion of several glass rods arranged so that the cross-section creates a flower or pattern with a mosaic-like appearance.

This refers to the hardness of a gemstone on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the hardest. A Diamond has a scale of 10. Click here to see Moh's Scale.

A silver-white metal popular for plating because it is malleable and resists oxidation. The most common of metal allergies.

Niobium items are made of a hypo-allergenic metal first engineered to protect hypersonic aerospace vehicles from extreme conditions. After manufacturing into the desired shape - such as earwires, headpins, eyepins or jumprings - the natural grey base metal niobium is then anodized to create six signature colors. Most people who are metal-sensitive can comfortably wear niobium. Although the anodized jewel tone colors are not certified hypo-allergenic, most metal sensitive people can wear them comfortably.

An especially long strand necklace. Length is 26 inches to 36 inches.

This oxidized finish can be found on .925 sterling silver and silver-plated beads. This look is created by darkening segments of the bead giving it an 'antiqued' silver finish look. Silver naturally oxidizes as it is exposed to air.

The method of setting stones very close together so that very little metal shows between them.

Also called essence d'orient. A crystalline substance extracted from fish scales and combined with acrylic resins. Used to make imitation pearls. In better imitations, the essence is applied over opaline glass beads; in cheaper imitations, over plastic beads. Discovered in 1565 by Jaquin, a French manufacturer of rosaries, when he accidentally dipped some pearls into water in which he had washed fish. Refined versions today produce spectacular results.

These are cast metal beads that are made without lead. However, these beads may contain trace amounts of lead which could require a warning in some states. I have been assured by the companies that produce these cast metal beads that they are safe to use in jewelry designs and safe to wear.

Rare and costly gems: diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires

An 18" length necklace.

Quartz can be heated to produce a variety of colors including amethyst. Lighter shades of amethyst can be heated to create citrine, and partially heated to create ametrine.

Patterns or decorations achieved with punches or chasing hammers.

A solid or semi-solid organic (carbon based) material, either natural or synthetic. In general, non-soluble in water.

Originally quartz from the gold washings along the Rhine river. Today, generally means colorless potash-and-lead glass that contains quartz in the form of melted lead crystal and is cut like a diamond. Also called strass, diamante.

An expensive whitish-gray metallic element from the platinum family.

This gemstone is from the mineral corundum and comes in a range of colors from pink to brown. Other color variations would be in the sapphire family. On a scale of 1-10 ruby has the hardness factor of a 9. Rubies have a wide range of prices depending on the cut, color, clarity, and size of the gemstone.

A coating that creates a satin like appearance on the outer surface of the bead.

A long necklace, usually made of pearls or beads and often ending in a tassel. Popularized in the 1920's

An image of a beetle held sacred by ancient Egyptians, carved in a stone or gem.

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.

A mechanical bonding with a silver alloy of at least 92.5 percent fineness. The bonding must be equal to at least one-twentieth of the metal in the article. This can also be called silver overlay, but never silver plate.

Silver-plated beads are Sterling silver on top of some type of base metal, which could be iron, copper, or another type of inexpensive metal.

In order for Sterling Silver to receive the stamp .925 it must contain a minimum of 92.5% pure sterling silver alloy. The other 7% is made with other metals, usually copper. Silver is soft and easy to work and a very desirable material to use in jewelry designing. The alloy sterling silver alone is soft and must be combined with other metals to keep its form. The 7% based metal varies from suppliers which means not all sterling silver is created equal. Silver is best stored away from air in plastic zip lock bags, as it tarnishes quickly with long exposures to air. This is known as oxidation

This Austrian company has been the leading manufacturer of crystals since 1892 when Daniel Swarovski created the automatic cutting machine. These crystals contain 30-32% lead, depending on the color, and produce a highly refractive quality.

Many other companies create lead crystal beads but the quality in Swarovski is unmistakable and their brilliance is truly unmatched. When the beads are placed side by side the Swarovski crystal bead stands out beside it's competitor's bead every time.

These beads are created for durability and strength. They are uniform in size and are created by the same company that produces Swarovski Austrian crystals. These gorgeous crystal-based pearls are scratch resistant and have a satin like luster and come in a variety of colors.

Jewelry constructed entirely of metal and without stones. Introduced by Alfred Phillippe, who drew for Trifari.

A popular choker-type, multi-strand necklace in which the strands twist around each other.

January - Garnet
February - Amethyst
March - Aquamarine
April - Crystal; Diamond
May - Emerald
June - Moonstone; Alexandrite
July - Ruby
August - Peridot
September - Sapphire
October - Tourmaline; Opal
November - Topaz; Citrine
December - Blue Topaz;Tanzanite

Wonderful sterling silver beads handcrafted with quality in Turkey. The intricate beads are crafted with 95% sterling silver and 5% cadmium. The alloy Cadmium helps prevent the silver from tarnishing quickly although the price is considerably higher than the Bali 92.5% silver beads. Turkish beads weigh less than Bali silver since they contain more silver which is a lighter alloy. The cadmium gives the beads a brighter cleaner look.

Imported handcrafted glass beads from Venice, Italy. Venetian glass beads date back to 1291 and the beads are exquisite! The focal pendants used are unique and created with high quality glass and have 24k gold white gold and/or .925 sterling silver foiled melted in the glass.

Alloys with heavy tin or lead content, such as pewter. Also called Britannia metal or tin plate. One of the most commonly used metals in costume jewelry.