THE MATERIALS

Anatomy of a Hand/bag Bling Bead Strand

Most companies won’t tell you how their products are made but I want you to know everything that goes into your Hand/bag Bling bead strands so you know exactly what you’re getting and how much thought is behind the design and construction of your jewelry pieces.

1.     Removable clasp

  • You wouldn’t believe all the different clasps I tried, searching for the right one to use on Hand/bag Bling bead strands. The ones I chose are substantial but not heavy, made with real gold or silver, nickel and lead free, and they fit over both the bracelet clasps and the bag charm clasps without being too large or too small.

  • The clasps are removable, allowing you to:

    • Adjust the length of the bead strand by either one clasp or two.

    • Have more or less hardware visible on your bead strand.

  • Depending on how you style it, you will need one or both clasps attached to the bead strand to wear it with the bag charm clasps.

  • If you have trouble removing the clasp from the attached jump ring, look for the depressed slit on the jump ring and align that with the lever of the clasp.

  • Made of plated gold or sterling silver over brass. Nickel and lead free.

2. Jump ring

  • The last thing I wanted was to finish a beautiful, natural gemstone bead strand with a thin, cheap looking jump ring. I searched for months for rings made with real gold or silver, nickel and lead free, that were the right size and are as substantial as these. I’m so happy with the result and I hope you are, too.

  • Made of plated gold or silver over brass. Nickel and lead free.

3. Wire (not visible)

  • There are many jewelry wires on the market and I tried a number of them. The ones I chose for Hand/bag Bling are made from 7 to 49 braided strands of stainless steel and are strength tested for 5 to 40 lbs, depending on the thickness of the wire. A nylon coating helps prevent fraying as the natural bead materials rub against the wire over time. My wires are strong enough to support the weight of the beads while still flexible enough to drape over your wrist and move beautifully while carried on your bags.

  • Made in U.S.A. of stainless steel.

4. Wire guard

  • This horseshoe-shaped piece helps prevent the wire from fraying over time as it rubs against the attached jump ring. It also provides a more finished look to the bead strand.

  • 14k gold filled or sterling silver.

5. Crimp (not visible)

  • This is what holds the ends of the wire in place so the bead strands don’t fall apart. Originally, I tried sterling silver crimps but quickly learned the material was too soft and broke easily. I then upgraded to crimps made from a stronger alloy combining sterling silver with other materials. These have worked beautifully. I give each bead strand a strong tug after making it to be sure the wire is secure.

  • Made in U.S.A. of silver alloy.

6. Crimp bead

  • The crimp is not pretty. These beads cover the crimp.

  • Made in U.S.A. of 14/20 gold filled or sterling silver.

7. Beads

  • Hand/bag Bling beads are made of natural materials such as gemstones, shells, and wood. Sometimes I offer beads on the border of nature and man-made such as glass or ceramic. I avoid fully man-made materials like plastics.

  • Primarily, the beads I select are never altered, such as color enhancement from heat or dye. Once in a while, however, I find irresistibly beautiful altered beads that offer a color or other unique property not available in nature. In these cases, alteration information will be included in the bead strand’s listing.

  • I only select beads with rounded corners so they are unlikely to scratch you or your bags.

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Other Materials

Bracelet clasps

  • I have a treasure trove of countless clasps I tried and dismissed as I searched for the most beautiful, highest quality, and easiest to use bracelet clasps for my bead strands. The ones I chose work equally well, you just select which style and size match your tastes.

  • Made of 18k gold filled (yellow or white gold).

  • Some clasps include cubic zirconia stones.

Bag charm clasps (o-rings)

  • Honestly, there’s nothing special about these o-rings. They’re the same you’ll find anywhere else and the only hardware I offer that is not made with real gold or silver (they’d be cost prohibitive if they were). The advantage to mine is that I offer them in sets of 6 which include 3 colors - gold, silver, and gunmetal - so they’ll match the hardware on any of your bags, and 2 sizes – small and large. The smaller size is best with bags that have hardware you can easily clip a charm to. For bags lacking that hardware, the larger size clasp allows you to attach charms to most flat or rolled handles.

  • Made of zinc alloy.