Do you think this website is reliable?
http://www.jewelrysupply.com/
It just seems so cheap! because If you compare it to firemountaingems.com its just SOO cheap! and also at the bottom of everything it has this WARNING that says that the products may have lead in them and you should wash your hands every time you touch! is that tru for all jewelry? do I really have to do that or what?? and If im going to make a necklace is this all I need?:
chain (already finished)
swarvoski heart pendent
ice pick style leaf bail
one pearl
one round swarvoski bead
2 head pins
2 jump rings
-and if im going to make a charm bracelet is this all I need:
chain(unfinished)
toggle clasp
jump rings (do I use them to attach the clasp?)
headpins
pearl beads
swarvoski round beads
heart pendent
wolf charm
IM NEW TO JEWELRY MAKING SO IM NOT SURE IF I’VE GOT ALL I NEED. if I need anything else please tell me! THANKS!
Hello there,
I am not familiar with that supply house. I have done silver work for a few years and have bought from Rio Grande since the mid 70s. I compared your site to Rio Grande on a commonly used basic item to check the price. 2mm sterling beads. You use lots of them if you make ear rings, necklaces or do anything with liquid silver.
Rio Grande base price is $0.078
Jewelry Supply Co. base price is $0.098
I did not find Jewelry Supply Co. to be cheap. They do sell in small quantities. But if you are making jewelry to sell, you are buying in mid to large lots.
About the lead warnings. There are now laws requiring disclosure of lead content in jewelry. Also laws prohibiting the sales of lead content jewelry to children. Nearly all base metal findings have some lead in them. Use at your own risk. Frankly, I found that if your earrings rot the customers ears or your bracelets turn their wrist green, the customers do not come back (except to ask for their money back). I always stayed away from base metal findings. Silver, gold, gold rolled, and surgical steel cost more, but they are worth more. You get what you pay for. You are going to invest your time in your pieces of jewelry. You want those pieces to reflect yourartisticc skill. Using base metal findings I never thought made a good reflection on the artist. It said cheap.
I take it you like Swarvoski jewelry. There are other beads available without lead. You may want to consider using pearls or natural stone beads also. There is a lot to talk about in the way of findings. Your needs will vary with the designs you have in mind. Also, you need to give some thought to your tools. Really not enough room here to discuss all that.
If you wish to pick my brain, please feel free to email me through the link in my profile.
Later,
Hello again, I see someone answered while I was writing my answer. Allow me to comment on that answer. Buying jewelry at a thrift store is not a viable method of obtaining sufficient supplies to manufacture jewelry. I mentioned the lead disclaimer. Here is a link to more information on that subject. Go down to item 16 Lead Content.
http://www.riogrande.com/help.aspx
About the jump rings. Those are wire circles. You simply bend one side of at the cut sideways to attach an item. Then bend it back in place. You do not bend it so that it distorts the circle shape. Also, buying jump rings is all right if you will not use many. If you plan to use a lot, you want to make them. Simple. In a minute or so, you can make a hundred of them.
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Just use a hammer and a nail to pierce your bottle caps.