Where to find Jewellery Making Materials Online
Finding a good supplier for your jewellery materials can be a bit of a minefield. Unless you are lucky enough to live near one of the few traditional jewellery industry areas it is unlikely that you will have many suitable retailers within easy reach, which is why most people now buy their materials online. Whilst this is great for increasing your choice and your ability to shop around and find the best deal, you never actually get to see what you are buying until it arrives at your door. I have heard horror stories from several amateur jewellers who have been supplied with sub-standard materials – at often inflated prices – by people they can then never get in contact with.
For these reasons I have put together a list of 10 online retailers who supply quality jewellery making materials at competitive prices, helping you to avoid some of the pitfalls of choosing the right one for you.
1. Kernowcraft
A wide selection of stones, Beads and other materials, as well as tools and packaging.
www.kernowcraft.com
2. The Bead Shop
A beading specialist with a wide range of beading materials, tools and literature.
www.mailorder-beads.co.uk
3. Palmer Metals
A precious metals supplier, also with a wide range of tools.
www.palmermetals.co.uk
4. Metal Clay
A Metal Clay specialist with a range of related tools.
www.metalclay.co.uk
5. Argex
A specialist precious metals supplier and the UK’s only supplier of Argentium Silver.
www.argex.co.uk
6. Fire Mountain Gems
A bead and gemstone supplier who also have ranges of tools and packaging.
www.firemountaingems.com
7. Cookson Gold
A huge range of both precious metals and jewellery making tools.
www.cooksongold.com
8. The Silver Corporation
A wide selection of stones, beads and findings, as well as tools.
www.thesilvercorporation.co.uk
9. Marcia Lanyon
A large selection of gemstones and beads.
www.marcialanyon.co.uk
10. Beadworks UK
A large range of beads and findings, as well as tools.
www.beadworks.co.uk
I hope that you have found this list useful. For more information on jewellery making processes and techniques you can follow my Handmade Jewellery Blog.
About the Author
Michael Dennison is the Director of Jewellery Design for Hanfords of London. Since joining the company in early 2010 Michael has worked tirelessly in updating the Handmade Jewellery Collection, whilst bringing new ideas and techniques to the manufacturing process. He also writes Free Jewellery Tutorials for the Hanfords Online Jewellery School and is directly available to members to offer support and advice. Despite his busy schedule, Michael has kindly agreed to write a weekly jewellery blog about his work at Hanfords, including all aspects of the design process, the techniques that they use, news about new pieces and products, as well as all other aspects of the company. For more information about Michael and other members of the Hanfords team please visit their Handmade Jewellery Designers page.
Beading with Brap – FireMountainGems Unboxing – 1 of 2
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Wirework w/DVD: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping $17.04 Wirework with DVD is a step-by-step guide for the intermediate artist seeking new design possibilities combined with solid technique instruction. Jewelry artists will learn how to wire-wrap using faceted stones, how to create pendants with any size or shape of faceted stone, how to use several methods for working with and setting faceted stones, plus mixing wire gauges and tempers to create stable… |
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Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Catalog, June 2010 (June 2010) $14.95 … |
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FireMtn Gems Catalog $0 4+~~Fire Mountain Gems and Beads~~Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Inc.~~http://itunes.apple.com/app/firemtn-gems-catalog/id489179697?uo=5~~2011 Reserved~~2.3.4~~5477036~~3994982~~http://www.firemountaingems.com~~http://www.firemountaingems.com/customerservice |