I try to strike a balance between quality materials and value when making my jewelry. Here is a list of the materials I most commonly use for jewelry pieces.

Terms I use on the site to describe materials are important to understand when it comes to caring for the pieces. Here’s a list of frequently referenced terms and what they mean.

Metals

Used for chain, findings (things like clasps, connectors), and occasionally the beads themselves.

• Goldtone, Silvertone, Antique Bronze, Gunmetal: Not “real”, but a mix of base metals (such as copper, zinc, brass or aluminum) which are coated to look like gold, silver, bronze, etc. All of the chains and findings I use to make jewelry sold on this site are labeled “nickel free” from the manufacturer. This is the most affordable type of chain and comes in a wide variety of designs, colors, and finishes.
• Silver plated or Silver filled, Gold plated or Gold filled: These items start with a base metal and have genuine silver or gold as the outside layer. This allows to get the same look at a more affordable price. Filled jewelry chain has a much thicker layer of the fine metal (gold or silver) than plated, allowing for more durable wear. Note plated pieces can wear over time, showing “tarnish” – which is really the base metal becoming visible.
• Sterling Silver or Genuine Silver: The metal being used is majority silver (note that no jewelry is made with 100% silver, as it’s too soft). Sterling silver may have different notations like 925, Sterling 9.25, Sterling, 925/1000, or S/S. The 925 stands for 92.5% silver in the item. In the case of my silver products, some of these markings are on the package themselves and not imprinted on the item, such as with fishhook earrings or lobster clasps. It’s easy to tell silver items by how they come clean – leaving tarnish behind with a polishing cloth.
• Stainless Steel: New to my jewelry making experience is the use of stainless steel. While equally shiny like its counterparts, It has a muted grey color that differentiates it from silver. Stainless steel is ideal for longer lasting pieces, as the finish that is extremely tarnish resistant and its composition stronger than many base-metal chains and findings. It is also very wear-friendly for those with allergies to base metals such as copper or brass – it’s generally considered “hypo-allergenic”.
• Beading Wire: I string the beaded necklaces for sale on the site with beading wire, which consists of thin, flexible stainless steel wire that is nylon coated. The coating may be clear or colored, so the wire appears gold, black, or bronze.

Natural Materials

• Genuine Leather: Used as string in bracelets or necklaces, or as features as well, genuine leather comes in a variety of colors, textures, and thicknesses.
• Porcelain and Ceramic: Used for colorful and often patterned beads or focals, this is the same material you have around your home in tile, sinks, etc. Offers tons of variety with durability, but could crack or chip if mistreated.
• Glass: Also with infinite variety as far as colors and shapes, glass beads can be tiny, faceted, coated – the options are limitless. Coated glass beads could lose their finish over time, while others have the color throughout the glass so the finish will not wear off.
• Shell: Shell materials in my jewelry items could be in the form of pendants or beads. They include mother-of-pearl shell, mussel or oyster shell, and are often dyed for color variety.
• Semi-precious Stones: These are stones usually in bead form which have a geological name, such as jasper, agate, lava, obsidian, amethyst, etc. There are hundreds of semi-precious stones and many are further classified by color. I strive to use genuine stones where possible and will note if the bead is an imitation.

Other Materials

• Synthetic or Faux Leather: This product is a less expensive option to genuine leather and is produced with a synthetic (aka plastic) base and treated to look or feel like leather or suede. Whether in sheets, rope or cording, faux leather (or as sometimes referred, “vegan” leather) comes in a wide variety of colors and applications.
• Acrylic: Most commonly lumped into the category of “plastic”, acrylic is very versatile in jewelry making. A hard and transparent plastic that, especially in higher-quality beads, can be cut or shaped to mimic glass with a much lighter weight. Acrylic beads can be finished to reflect light as well.
• Resin: Many jewelry makers are making their own pendants and beads using resin, which is another form of plastic mixed by the artist, poured into a mold, which solidifies into a hard plastic.