Bead Brief: Tips - Techniques - Industry Insights Ep. 3: Craft Store Gemstone Identification

Join Lauren as we look at some craft store gemstone strands, and learn common labeling issues, misnomers, and imitations to look out for when shopping the bead aisle!

[@CynthiaMiller-px9yb]

This is one of the ways you have built such a loyal customer base: integrity, informatiion and respect for your field. Thanks!

[@beadboxbargains]

@@CynthiaMiller-px9yb thank you so much! That means the world!

[@janicemiller1381]

Wow Lauren this is great....Where did you learn all of this info?❤

[@beadboxbargains]

@@janicemiller1381 years and years of buying closeout lots and doing research to identify the stones in them! 😅 I’ve asked gemologists on message boards questions, consulted reputable dealers, and done a whole, whole lot of reading. I’ve been sorting and handling gemstone lots for about 20 years now (which is crazy to me).

[@janicemiller1381]

Amazing...it would be neat to have a crash course in identifying gems...quality of stones...etc.. Also .it would be great to videos about how czech beads are made... now I have a BBB PACKAGE TO OPEN UP NOW❤🎉❤

[@beadboxbargains]

@@janicemiller1381 our first Bead Brief was about Czech glass and the different styles/manufacturing techniques!

[@lisajewelrydesigns]

I really appreciate your transparency.

[@cherylmccall9391]

This is great. I knew there were discrepancies in their labeling but didn't realize the extent.

[@kathiruppe1350]

Thanks for your info on bead strands. You''re the best.

[@lindamccoid126]

Wow Lauren! So informative! Thank you for teaching us as well as supplying us with beautiful beads.

[@robinshade1]

Thank you very much. I have purchased things from the crafts store and looked closer at home. I was perturbed that I purchased resin and it was labeled a stone. I'm so grateful for the info and your honesty 🙏.... thank you again!

[@beadboxbargains]

@@robinshade1 thank you so much for the kind words! That would definitely frustrate me as well- I’m sorry you had to deal with it. :/

[@robinshade1]

@beadboxbargains thank you! I guess perturbed is being kind. I was upset. I was beginning to wonder about the quality of everything after that. So thankful we have you as a trusted source ❤️

[@florarobles506]

I haven’t bought bead store beads since I joined BBB but I do have quite a collection of jasper beads that I’m going to have to look at closely. This was a good lesson, thank you Lauren.

[@libbydearing2374]

Great video! You bring so much useful information so that your customers can be knowledgeable of the products they wear or sell. You all are the best!

[@beadboxbargains]

@@libbydearing2374 thank you so much for the kind words and support! I appreciate it so much! 💕

[@tgal1163]

Thank you Lauren for the bead educational video. I always love to learn about these beads / materials. Very much appreciated!

[@JaneThomas58]

Thank you for this. It matters to me because I sell products and integrity is everything to staying in business.

[@beadboxbargains]

❤ I completely understand, I feel exactly the same way! That's why labeling issues bother me as well.

[@JaneThomas58]

@@beadboxbargains your extensive knowledge is invaluable and I would enjoy learning more about accurate identification. You are an exemplary business woman 💪

[@kimtellez9722]

Really enjoyed this video. Thanks for all the info!

[@ANISSAWARREN]

❤❤❤.Education is the most important when shopping. 1:33 Alot of people don't know.

[@bonniewilliams864]

Thank you so much for bringing these samples and for your expertise.

[@rosieswinson7110]

This is why I stick with you - truth in advertising… and a great education!

[@hollylowery26]

Thank you Lauren! I love it when I am looking at beads in the summertime, then I look down and see dye on my hands a when I have only been looking at the natural stones! They think we are to stupid to realize what þh beefy😮

[@rlutker1]

I have great respect for you and your company because you are so authentic and honest. Your prices cannot be beat and I will be a long time customer. Thank you for this.

[@beadboxbargains]

Thank you so much for your support!

[@juanitaurrutia1544]

Greatly appreciate your videos and your store. Thank you!

[@lesliefriedley4819]

Very informative. Love the 🐔 beads

[@galady8632]

I only go in craft stores when I need a component 'now' - a component for a gift for someone I didn't know I would be seeing or a custom, last minute order. I do enjoy the stores but I do not appreciate being misinformed (aka lied to), re the labeling of beads. I understand it's corporate's decisions and I do not blame the staff. My local Michael's has some of the nicest staff members, and they are funny. I responded to a Feedback request re a visit. I praised various employees by name and then inquired about incorrect labeling. I received a nice thank you message and a code for a 10% discount on my next purchase and ZERO mention of labeling errors. If someone orders a Lapis necklace I do not want to create a piece with resin. My clients do not care where I obtain my components but if a piece isn't as specified "I' lose credibility. It's my responsibility, credibility and my reputation on the line. I have absolute trust in Lauren's descriptions. Lauren has All lThe T's FenTY CredibiliTY ResponsibiliTY HonesTY and of course BeauTY!

[@beadboxbargains]

@@galady8632 oh my goodness, you’re TOO kind! 😭😭 I am very much human but promise I will always do my absolute utmost to be worthy of your trust! 💕 And I agree, at the end of the day, as a jewelry maker I am responsible for the jewelry I sell to customers. Misinformation like this about stone composition just isn’t helpful at ALL and can unintentionally damage a completely honest designer’s credibility. :/ Thanks SO much for your kind words and support, it truly means the world!

[@agnieszkajezyk-chlebowska9274]

@@beadboxbargains I wonder whether they price fake stones like for natural ones? misleading people about the stone composition is one thing, cheating with prices is another one.

[@beadboxbargains]

@@agnieszkajezyk-chlebowska9274 I definitely can’t say whether they are intentionally cheating people, but their genuine and imitation stones were largely priced the same.

[@agnieszkajezyk-chlebowska9274]

@@beadboxbargains yeah, selling fake products for the same price as genuine ones is definitely cheating people.

[@Jennyhawkins09]

Oh my goodness I love that Unakite focal necklace 😍

[@beadboxbargains]

@@Jennyhawkins09 me too!! That was all Joy’s making 💕

[@margiemather7206]

Thank you. This is so informative. I buy beads from Michaels Arts & Crafts and it doesn’t look like any of these are from that store. Michaels is very good with their labels.

[@beadboxbargains]

@@margiemather7206 I don’t have a Michael’s near me so I can’t speak for them! I hope they’re better than these two. 😬

[@julieritchie2361]

Thank you so much for such good information! I have learned alot!❤

[@JackieJones-r1g]

Very useful information, I love it.😊

[@DeborahJohnson-bh9nd]

Thank you! I did learn a lot and I admit I would probably have been taken in by the sodalite (probably spelled that wrong). Anyway, love these lessons/tutorials. Please keep it up!

[@AprilDesignsSMD]

Now that I'm older, I realize that when craft stores have unbelievable bead sales, it's because they are overcharging in the first place. I've bought things that I thought were pretty and good quality only to find them fall apart or look and feel cheap when I get home. I also noticed that bead section lighting isn't the best. I could go on and on but I'll respect your time lol

[@angelagrisham6754]

Thank you Thank you. I needed this

[@sandykaser439]

Enjoying learning -- thanks for sharing your research.. So sad that products "in all areas" are not labeled HONESTLY!

[@beadboxbargains]

@@sandykaser439 right?! It honestly makes me so irritated to see fakes sold like this, and craft stores certainly aren’t alone in it. Some manufacturers don’t differentiate between real and imitation products in their marketing, which certainly doesn’t help. That’s why I believe it’s so important to know what you’re looking at! 💕

[@JewelrybyJeanette]

Very helpful; thank you!

[@charliefarrar7149]

Another great video. I have a question. Can Sandstone be used as a stone for jewelry? The reason I am asking is because I know natural it is a very soft stone that breaks extremely easy. Is it treated in some way to make it stronger? If so, do you know what that treatment is? I would love to work with it and have tried but it just shattered so would love to try a treatment on it if that works.

[@beadboxbargains]

@@charliefarrar7149 that’s a great question! I don’t think I’ve ever come across natural sandstone beads before, likely because it is such a soft stone. Stabilization treatments are used for a lot of soft stones like turquoise or magnesite, so maybe some kind of similar treatment could help? Or a resin coat or something?

[@bridgethanbery8464]

Thanks so much! Did you study gem stones, etc or learn on your own?

[@beadboxbargains]

Sort of both? I have 20 years industry experience rather than a degree in geology (my college degree is actually in technical and professional writing, lol). But I have done a LOT of studying and reading as I've worked to identify gemstones over the years!

[@Dreadnought242]

It seems that you don't know that "Aqua Terra" jasper is a resin-infused composite, like regelite and sea sediment jasper, which are made from scraps of stone that may actually be jasper (or may not be jasper). The craft store Aqua Terra is just more resin than the material you have sourced, but both are composites.

[@beadboxbargains]

Hey! I did some further research to double-check, and I did find sources confirming that genuine aqua terra jasper like the strand I showed is a naturally-occurring onyx marble, which makes a lot of sense. There is a LOT of synthetic aqua terra jasper on the market, but the natural marble kind has an entirely different feel to it. It's much heavier, takes a polish like a marble and not a resin, and the colors are more subdued as well. I hope that's helpful! Edit to add: I am going to do a resin test on these, just to make absolutely sure my sources are correct. I'll let you know what I find!

[@Jennyhawkins09]

Cherry quartz is always glass isn’t it?

[@beadboxbargains]

@@Jennyhawkins09 yes, cherry “quartz” glass is the correct name for this material. :)

[@dianag8069]

As soon as you started describing how reconstituted beads are made, I began thinking about chicken nuggets!

[@beadboxbargains]

@@dianag8069 that is actually a very apt comparison! 🤣 love it!

[@HawraStarseed]

👍🏻👍🏻👏🏻

[@angelagrisham6754]

I have been frustrated looking up stones. Every time reads as turquoise or jade.

[@beadboxbargains]

@@angelagrisham6754 could you tell me what you’re using to look them up?

[@kathyv01]

Well wasn’t this enlightening. Thank you Lauren.

[@jessmess13]

I bought some beads that were labeled as “malachite quartz” do you know what that actually is??

[@beadboxbargains]

@@jessmess13 that’s a new one! If you can send me a pic at [e-mail], I’d be happy to see if I can identify it. :)

[@beadboxbargains]

@@jessmess13 were they pricey?Thinking on it, I’ve seen malachite IN quartz, which is an expensive ($$$) combination and looks like mostly clear quartz with green malachite crystals in it.