Sterling Silver Beads

Sterling silver is very often used to make artifacts and artistic jewelry. Sterling silver has 7.5% copper content which makes it more durable. Because of durability, sterling silver jewlry is often preferred to ordinary silver jewelry. Sterling silver beads are one of the popular precious metal beads and also a major component of jewelry and decorative pieces. Sterling silver beads have a little difference in color when compared with silver beads. Before knowing different sterling silver bead types available for making sterling silver jewelry, it is apt to know as to what is sterling silver in the first place.

What is Sterling Silver?

Sterling silver is a precious metal- an alloy of silver containing 92.5% of silver by weight and 7.5% of other metals, usually copper. Sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925 and therefore one often hears about 925 sterling silver beads when discussing about these beads. Acceptable quality marks for sterling silver include:

• Sterling
• Sterling silver
• Ster 925

Sterling Silver Beads v/s Silver Beads

Fine silver metal which is 99.9% pure, is generally too soft for manufacturing objects for daily use. Therefore, silver is usually alloyed with copper to give the precious metal strength. Other metals alloyed with silver for making sterling silver include germanium, zinc and platinum etc. Alloying silver with other metals do not affect its ductility and beauty. Although silver beads are also used on a wide scale for making beaded jewelry, sterling silver beads are preferred choice when it comes to making of such jewelry that can be worn on a daily basis.

Sterling silver beads have reduced casting porosity, increased resistance to tarnish and also eliminate firescale as compared to silver beads. As pure silver is too soft, it is only used when malleability is required like when making handcrafted jewelry with intricate designs. Sterling silver is most often used for jewelry and other accessories due to its combination of beauty and durability.

Sterling Silver Bead Types

There are many types of sterling silver beads categorized on the basis of shapes, silver and other metal content, making styles & techniques etc. Some of the most beautiful sterling silver beads are made of Bali or Thai silver. It should always be kept in mind that brass beads and some plated beads like silver plated beads may turn dark over time. Therefore, buying sterling silver beads is worth the money spent. No doubt, sterling silver beads might tarnish too but the tarnish can be easily removed with special silver polishes. Some of the popular sterling silver bead types include the following.

Corrugated Sterling Silver Beads

Corrugated or folded type sterling silver beads are hollow metal beads having a tube-like or donut appearance. These are generally used as spacer beads (spacers are used in between beads for making such jewelry as necklace or bracelets.) Corrugations can be straight or spiral around the folded sterling silver bead. These beads are slightly rough and set off the jewelry piece well. Commonly-used sizes of corrugated sterling silver beads are in the range of 3mm to 7mm.

Round Sterling Silver Beads

The round beads made of sterling silver are smooth to feel as against the corrugated beads which have some or other texture on their surface. Round smooth sterling silver beads give a more classic look, particularly when strung together for the traditional effect in a piece of jewelry.

Bali Sterling Silver Beads

Bali beads made of sterling silver have a tribal touch of artistic expression. Bali style sterling silver beads come in a variety of shapes and sizes - from coin, saucer, and heart beads to oval, hexagon, and square beads among others. These beads are exotic that add a touch of tribal look to any jewelry piece.

Fancy Sterling Silver Beads

Sterling silver fancy beads are made in modern style- they are not in traditional spherical bead shape. They have different effects such as fancy sterling silver beads may be cut or set with crystals or they may be given the shape of saucers or made with corrugations.

Israel Casting Sterling Silver Beads

Israel beads made of sterling silver have typical shapes such as those of barrel or flower. Flower beads are particularly famous among the Israel sterling silver beads. They are mostly used with round beads for making jewelry. The size of these beads vary from 12.5mm to 14mm.

Rondelle Sterling Silver Beads

Rondelles are such sterling silver beads which are flat on the sides and not rounded as their name suggests. These roundel beads are used as spacers or accents for many jewelry pieces.

Stardust Sterling Silver Beads

Sterling silver stardust beads have a reflective glitz which adds a unique accent to any jewelry piece. These beads having a rough texture are mostly used as spacers. Their sizes range from 0.01mm to 8 mm.

Satin Finish or Sandblast Sterling Silver Beads

Sandblasted sterling silver beads have soft matte finish known as satin finish. This matte finish glows on its own. The effect is generally created with the use of chemicals or by sandblasting.

Laser Cut Sterling Silver Beads

Sterling silver laser cut beads have unique and interesting designs. These laser cut beads, sometimes called mirror cut beads are cut in a way to reflect the light from any angle. These are basically faceted beads which can give any jewelry piece a shimmering look.

Sterling Silver Beads Jewelry

Whenever, there is discussion about jewelry in general, gold and silver jewelry find special mention. Silver used for making jewelery is usually sterling silver or 92.5% fine silver. Of late sterling silver jewelry has become more popular due to their many qualities including beauty, durability and affordibility. Silver sterling beads too are a great addition to any woman’s jewelry collection. They provide great jewelry pieces to wear when someone do not feel like wearing anything too expensive but still something pretty. Sterling silver beads are used in many ways for making jewelry in the form of sterling silver bead caps, sterling silver findings, spacer beads, main central part of the jewelry or in combination with gemstones to produce exclusive jewelry. Some of the very popular sterling silver beads jewelry pieces include:

• Sterling silver charms
• Sterling silver bead bracelet
• Sterling silver bead necklace
• Sterling silver pendants
• Sterling silver chains
• Sterling silver charm bracelet
• Sterling silver rings

For making sterling silver necklace, bracelet or any other jewelry, all types of beads- smooth and shiny or those having corrugated or other texture- are available with the sterling silver beads suppliers, manufacturers, exporters dealing in retail as well wholesale beads. Tiny spacer beads, sterling silver alphabet beads, tube or "macaroni" beads and sterling silver beads shaped like moons or stars are all available. Some sterling silver beads have cubic zirconia (CZ) inserted into them for giving extra sparkle to the jewelry pieces.