Jewelry Findings Suppliers

The forum for discussion on business aspects of working with glass.

Moderator: Brad Walker

Post Reply
Riverviewglass
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 11:57 am
Location: WISCONSIN

Jewelry Findings Suppliers

Post by Riverviewglass »

:? I am wondering where you can buy Sterling Silver and 14K gold filled neckchains, earring posts, barrettes, wire for wrapping at good prices? R&T doesn't offer enough choice for me so I am looking for another source or 2 or 3.

thanks for the help! Kim K
Tony Smith
Posts: 1037
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2003 5:59 pm
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Contact:

Post by Tony Smith »

You might check fire mountain gems at http://www.firemountaingems.com

Tony
The tightrope between being strange and being creative is too narrow to walk without occasionally landing on both sides..." Scott Berkun
Anea
Posts: 41
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2003 9:20 pm
Location: Monterey CA
Contact:

Post by Anea »

I believe you can get them from Rio Grande. I also think they have a website, try http://www.riogrande.com.

anea
Jerry Cave
Posts: 78
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 2:59 pm
Location: Zig Zag Oregon

Post by Jerry Cave »

I buy those items from Rio. Nice stuff, never been disappointed. Now if they'd only fill my backorders. :cry:



jerry
KatyPattison
Posts: 21
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2003 4:51 pm
Location: Canada
Contact:

Post by KatyPattison »

I buy my silver wire, ear wires etc. from Halstead Beads. http://www.halsteadbead.com
They are strictly a wholesaler, you need your business licences etc. buy their prices can't be beaten!

My chains are all purchased through a wholesaler (House of Jewelry, Toronto,Canada) that I found at a wholesale gift show.

Katy
http://www.opalescencejewelry.com
Jerry Cave
Posts: 78
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 2:59 pm
Location: Zig Zag Oregon

Post by Jerry Cave »

A bit OT -

Some jewelers go to the extent of making their own wire and sheet goods. Seriously. Shot is used for lost wax casting. Gold and silver shot is less money than wire or sheet. Melt the shot, pour into an ingot and run the ingot through a rolling mill. They claim the finished product is less porous than purchased stuff. Of course they have the tools anyway, torch, rolling mill etc.

I think they have to much time on their hands. Some jewelers just enjoy the process.

22 gauge wire makes great hand made ear wires if you're the frugal type.
Geri Comstock
Posts: 340
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 4:16 pm
Location: Northern CA
Contact:

Post by Geri Comstock »

LOL.

I tried to make my own sterling sheet...once. I cast a rectangular ingot from scrap and rolled it, for what seemed like days, in hand-cranked rolling mill. It was porous because I had also melted in pieces with a bit of solder on them. What a mess!

I eventually just sent it to my metals recycler and let them melt it, remove the crud left from the solder, and roll it back into sheet for me (at a fee, of course, but much less wasted effort than rolling it myself).

This cured me of the desire I had at that time for learning to make my own mokemegame; it was why I tried rolling my own sheet in the first place with plain silver.

I do know people who draw their own wire from melted scrap. I also think they must have too much time on their hands.


Geri
Riverviewglass
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 11:57 am
Location: WISCONSIN

Post by Riverviewglass »

Thank you for the suggestions -
I have sent away for the catalogs and can't wait til they arrive - This board is such a big help! Thanks again for sharing your wealth of information. Kim K
Lou_Ohio
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 10:49 pm
Location: Highland Heights , Ohio

Post by Lou_Ohio »

Geri
Saw your post about mokemegame. I also have been cured of the need to make this material . After actually making it ( with a Power Break rolling Mill) and then using it some jewelry design ... no one cared . Could not sell it . I think it takes a lot education to a client to understand what it takes to make this material ... no time .

I have reversd engines and use very little metal in my jewerly designs.

Lou

"This cured me of the desire I had at that time for learning to make my own mokemegame; it was why I tried rolling my own sheet in the first place with plain silver."
Geri Comstock
Posts: 340
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 4:16 pm
Location: Northern CA
Contact:

Post by Geri Comstock »

Whew! Thanks for the warning. LOL.

I have a hard enough time trying to teach customers to say dichroic...let's see, at my show today, they called it "dichromic", "dicrylic", "dicromatic", and "dicrotic" glass, among other things. If they ask, I tell them how it's really pronounced.

I don't want to start trying to teach customers to say "mokemegame", too. Especially if they don't want to buy it. LOL.

Geri
Sara
Posts: 89
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2003 9:56 pm
Location: Magdalena, New Mexico, USA

Post by Sara »

Jerry Cave wrote:A bit OT -

Some jewelers go to the extent of making their own wire and sheet goods. Seriously. Shot is used for lost wax casting. Gold and silver shot is less money than wire or sheet. Melt the shot, pour into an ingot and run the ingot through a rolling mill. They claim the finished product is less porous than purchased stuff. Of course they have the tools anyway, torch, rolling mill etc.

I think they have to much time on their hands. Some jewelers just enjoy the process.

22 gauge wire makes great hand made ear wires if you're the frugal type.
Jerry and Riverview,

Here's another option . . .

I am the lazy sort 8) yet wanted my own look. I sketched my designs, found an excellent wax carver and silver caster and proceeded from there. Not only do I have my findings exactly as I want them they are a unique signature piece for me. In fact have some new designs on the sketchpad right now :wink:

Not nearly 'nuf time on these old hands,

Sara
Post Reply