How do we get hold of Prima Bead when all the links go to Error 404 messages when I go to a search engine? How do we buy this product? I have had people asking me for stainless steel jewellery for a while and I'm interested.
Will you be going to the Gem Expo at the Hyatt in Toronto this weekend? I'll be selling turquoise -- hope to see you and fellow subscribers there!
All stainless steel alloys must contain at least 10.5% chromium to get its stainless and rust proof properties. As far as I know, lead is not typically used in these alloys.
I tested these stainless steel components with a magnet and found they were not very magnetic at all. This suggests that the other lesser components might be manganese, nitrogen and carbon according to this article here :
Hi, Pearl, if this is a repeat comment, delete -- I'm having problems leaving a comment -- it seems to ask me to leave one twice. Maybe this time it'll work!
How do we get to Prima Bead's website? All I get is an error message when I try to go to their site through a search engine.
I've had lots of requests from my customers about getting truly stainless steel components, not just "stainless steel coloured", so this is great news.
Will you be going to the Gem Expo this weekend at the Hyatt? I'll be there selling my turquoise. Hope to see you there.
The findings look really great but I would like to know their relative pricing with regard to brass findings and how people take to them as steel jewlery is usually frowned upon
Divya, I think the stainless steel prices are pretty good but maybe more than ordinary brass. Over here, many people like stainless steel jewelry (eg chain maille) because of the strength and durability. Stainless steel jewelry is often used for masculine jewelry.
Some readers are telling me that they have been so looking forward to more stainless steel components.
But having said that, there are market differences. So stainless steel may not be appropriate for the Indian market.
Please note that ordinary steel which is not stainless is not that popular.
Pearl what a lovely box of treasures Prima Beads sent you and I love how you used their components and findings. Lovely.
Nice to know that their stainless steel is not noticeably magnetic. I once purchased some stainless steel chain and then realized I could not use a magnetic clasp with it because it was attracted to the magnet. It was not a pretty sight, sort of like wearing a skirt with a lot of static cling. :D
Congratulations on these great designs and thank you for the informative post - good to know there is stainless steel that is hypo-allergenic and that it's quite forgiving when handled with tools.
Congratulations Pearl , the designs you have created are really great , and inspiring . When my husband came back from Canada last month , he brought some components from there , but frankly I was disappointed as he did not bring the seed beads that I had asked him to . BUT , after I read this post and saw the lovely things you have created with these and I am thrilled ! Coz the components that he has picked up for me are also similar and from Cousin Corporation and Prima beads too ! Once again , thank you for the lovely info and inspiration
These aren't expensive. I myself usually stick to sterling silver because I know it only contains silver and copper and no nickel. But these stainless steel findings were fine for me too.
But I have come across some women who cannot even wear sterling silver. So those few, I suggest niobium which is used for pacemakers.
Wow such a lovely designs. it’s completely superb. I like it very much. Now-a-days stainless steel wire accessories are very popular. These are very much used in design sector. I will definitely suggest to everyone to follow your blog.
July 22, 2014 at 1:12 AM
Remember my announcement about being accepted as one of Prima Bead's (Cousin subsidiary) blogging partners? Well, here is the first month's design challenge using their new stainless steel findings!
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The stainless steel findings were part of the welcome package we all received. It was like Christmas in July as I certainly wasn't expecting this!
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I was really keen to try out Prima Bead's stainless steel findings. I had previously purchased jewelry grade stainless steel wire which is softer to work with than the kind you get in the hardware store. But I had not come across good enough stainless steel components....until now.
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Why do I like stainless steel? There are several reasons :
doesn't tarnish
really strong and durable
resistance to tool marks
shiny metallic color
hypo-allergenic
not magnetic (you don't want it attach to other findings!)
There are actually different grades of stainless steel including some which contain nickel, the usual culprit for metal allergies. So it is important for people with metal allergies like myself that the kind used does not contain any nickel. I made myself a pair of earrings and tested the stainless steel used by wearing them for several days. The stainless steel passed with flying colors!
The mirror beads were neutral in color. So I did some very light funky wire wrapping with the sapphire blue coated copper wire to infuse the design with a little more color but still allowed the stainless steel wire to show through.
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Naturally the earrings to match! The stainless steel stud earrings were a nice change from the ball style.
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The welcome box also contained these Crystazzi bicones so I used the red ones for the next pendant design.
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I used a stainless steel headpin to form a bail and to connect together the aluminum flower, red rondelle crystal and the go-go hematite focal with the help of some wire wrapping with 28G red coated copper wire. I had no qualms about doing this because stainless steel is very strong. This headpin also did extra duty as a place to hang the 3 other bead laden headpins at the back!
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As for the earrings I made to test out the stainless steel, check the tutorial!
"Stainless Steel Wire Wrapped Jewelry Inspirations"
23 Comments -
Beautiful designs Pearl! Do you know the lead and other heavy meal content of these components?
July 24, 2013 at 8:48 AM
What a wonderful opportunity! Congratulations!!! Can't wait to see the designs at the next GRBS meeting.
July 24, 2013 at 9:15 AM
Hi, Pearl,
How do we get hold of Prima Bead when all the links go to Error 404 messages when I go to a search engine? How do we buy this product? I have had people asking me for stainless steel jewellery for a while and I'm interested.
Will you be going to the Gem Expo at the Hyatt in Toronto this weekend? I'll be selling turquoise -- hope to see you and fellow subscribers there!
Barbara
July 24, 2013 at 9:20 AM
All stainless steel alloys must contain at least 10.5% chromium to get its stainless and rust proof properties. As far as I know, lead is not typically used in these alloys.
I tested these stainless steel components with a magnet and found they were not very magnetic at all. This suggests that the other lesser components might be manganese, nitrogen and carbon according to this article here :
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-dont-magnets-work-on
If there were any nickel, it was below the amount needed to irritate my skin!
To be sure, we'd have to ask Prima.
July 24, 2013 at 9:33 AM
Hi, Pearl, if this is a repeat comment, delete -- I'm having problems leaving a comment -- it seems to ask me to leave one twice. Maybe this time it'll work!
How do we get to Prima Bead's website? All I get is an error message when I try to go to their site through a search engine.
I've had lots of requests from my customers about getting truly stainless steel components, not just "stainless steel coloured", so this is great news.
Will you be going to the Gem Expo this weekend at the Hyatt? I'll be there selling my turquoise. Hope to see you there.
Barbara
July 24, 2013 at 9:44 AM
The findings look really great but I would like to know their relative pricing with regard to brass findings and how people take to them as steel jewlery is usually frowned upon
July 24, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Barbara,
Please try again. The links work. If necessary, clear your browser cache and try again.
July 24, 2013 at 10:43 AM
Not sure if I have the time to go to the Gem Expo but if I do, I will check you out!
July 24, 2013 at 10:44 AM
Divya, I think the stainless steel prices are pretty good but maybe more than ordinary brass. Over here, many people like stainless steel jewelry (eg chain maille) because of the strength and durability. Stainless steel jewelry is often used for masculine jewelry.
Some readers are telling me that they have been so looking forward to more stainless steel components.
But having said that, there are market differences. So stainless steel may not be appropriate for the Indian market.
Please note that ordinary steel which is not stainless is not that popular.
July 24, 2013 at 10:49 AM
I really LOVE what you've done with the components Pearl! Looking forward to seeing the earrings too!
Kerrie :-)
July 24, 2013 at 11:33 AM
Thanks everyone for the kind comments!
July 24, 2013 at 11:43 AM
Your designs are very elegant, Pearl... good luck with your new opportunity!
July 24, 2013 at 11:45 AM
Pearl what a lovely box of treasures Prima Beads sent you and I love how you used their components and findings. Lovely.
Nice to know that their stainless steel is not noticeably magnetic. I once purchased some stainless steel chain and then realized I could not use a magnetic clasp with it because it was attracted to the magnet. It was not a pretty sight, sort of like wearing a skirt with a lot of static cling. :D
July 24, 2013 at 12:15 PM
That is hilarious! But a good point of why these stainless steel components are not magnetic.
July 24, 2013 at 2:25 PM
Congrats on the Prima Beads ambassadorship. love the red & hematite necklace. Hope you'll do a tute on it. Have fun with all your goodies!
July 24, 2013 at 2:44 PM
Thanks! Maybe, maybe not. So much to do and so little time!
July 24, 2013 at 4:07 PM
Congratulations on these great designs and thank you for the informative post - good to know there is stainless steel that is hypo-allergenic and that it's quite forgiving when handled with tools.
July 24, 2013 at 5:12 PM
Beautiful work, Pearl! I am in love with that pendant! :) Molly
July 24, 2013 at 10:50 PM
Congratulations Pearl , the designs you have created are really great , and inspiring . When my husband came back from Canada last month , he brought some components from there , but frankly I was disappointed as he did not bring the seed beads that I had asked him to . BUT , after I read this post and saw the lovely things you have created with these and I am thrilled ! Coz the components that he has picked up for me are also similar and from Cousin Corporation and Prima beads too ! Once again , thank you for the lovely info and inspiration
July 25, 2013 at 6:57 AM
Thanks again! It's great to know Cousin and Prima beads and components are widely available and your husband is not in the doghouse anymore! LOL!
July 25, 2013 at 8:46 AM
Hi Ms. Pearl, Thanks for posting about the Stainless steel, saw them in the store weeks ago but I am always leery of trying.
My mom "burns thru metal" so I am very careful about the brands I choose.
Anzia aka Zia Parks
July 26, 2013 at 10:37 AM
Hi Zia,
These aren't expensive. I myself usually stick to sterling silver because I know it only contains silver and copper and no nickel. But these stainless steel findings were fine for me too.
But I have come across some women who cannot even wear sterling silver. So those few, I suggest niobium which is used for pacemakers.
July 26, 2013 at 2:44 PM
Wow such a lovely designs. it’s completely superb. I like it very much. Now-a-days stainless steel wire accessories are very popular. These are very much used in design sector. I will definitely suggest to everyone to follow your blog.
July 22, 2014 at 1:12 AM