Stone Beads Buying Tips

Stone beads can be precious or semi-precious. These gemstones are used to make beaded jewelry and also for decoration.  All of these can be obtained in many different sizes and shapes such as oval, round, square, rectangle, drop, etc.  These are now produced also in some fancy shapes and cuts. The most popular gemstones include ruby, sapphire, carnelian, and many, many more. Stone beads are very high in quality, although they can be classified according to grades that define the stones cut, clarity and color. They are also valued according to these aspects.

Colored stone beads are mostly the hot choices, but you should look at them under bright light.  In dim lights, most of the defects are not very noticeable.  Refrain from buying gemstone beads that are wrapped in plastic bags, as you will not be able to see if there are scratches or cracks when they are wrapped.  If it is seed beads that you are buying, then it is okay to buy them in plastic bags. 

You can visit an online bead shop to find a wide variety of gemstone beads.  You can even have the opportunity to view some finished pieces that are made of different types of stone beads, such as necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. All these are beautiful and attractive, being made of natural materials.  The online stores are the best sources of gemstone jewelry pieces.  The prices are also cheaper than when you buy them from your local bead and jewelry shops.

If you are in need of stone beads for your jewelry projects, the best advice that you can get is to buy them online, in bulk at wholesale prices. Some buyers think that wholesalers sell only to people who can pay a lot of money for a big quantity of stone beads. This, however, is not always the case.  Today, the term wholesale does not always denote a huge quantity of purchase.  Wholesale prices can also mean prices that are cheaper than when you buy on retail basis. You need to be careful, though, when selecting a wholesaler to deal with.  Not all sellers who claim that they are wholesalers are real wholesalers; some of them are actually retailers and offer cheap prices only if your order is very big in quantity.

When you buy stone beads from reputable suppliers in bulk at wholesale prices, you can make substantial savings; but only when you plan ahead and determine what you need.  You can keep the unit cost of the beads down doing this way.  If the quantity is too huge for your needs, you can pool with other bead workers, or you can re-sell what you cannot use at some online auction sites.

If you can afford it, buy at least a $100 worth of stone beads a time. You can save more and the more these wholesalers will take you seriously.  If you are in the USA, it is advised that you get a tax ID number; this will save you from paying taxes on your beads purchases.  The tax ID number or a business license will also make you look like a customer that is serious in doing business.