Beads Beads Beads

Looking for gemstone or glass beads? Check out our new Supply section for a small selection of beads in Turquoise, Agate, Tiger Iron, and Owyhee Jasper along with glass filled red and orange beads that have been etched in dragons.

Visit Timeless Designs where we have marked down items for Mother’s Day and Easter! Just look for the ‘Sale’ tag and even some regular items have been reduced!

Copper - Gemstone or Mineral

Next to silver and gold, many jewelry designs are accented in copper. While it is not an actual gemstone, what is it really? Copper is a native element that occurs in nature uncombined with other elements. The native elements form under greatly contrasting physical and chemical conditions; in a variety of rock types. So, what is copper exactly? It is a naturally occurring free metallic state, considered to be one of the first metals to be used by humans. It is a relatively soft metal, easy to solder, flex and manipulate into any form; this is why it is a popular material used by wire workers in early designs or tests before conforming the designs to silver or gold. It gets its name from the Latin aes Cyprium, meaning ‘metal of Cyprus’, shortened to cyprium and later corrupted into cuprum.

Copper is found in large quantities, usually massive aggregates, some said to weight up to several tons. When copper is well crystallized, it can be found in cubic or dodecahedral crystals in the forms of mini tree-like shapes. It can be found all over the world with most common deposits in the United States. It is usually orange or copper red in color and looks good mixed with any gemstones.

Copper’s healing power have been used since the Middle Ages to promote smooth functioning of the glands and prevent wear and tear of joints. It encourages a positive attitude and self-confidence, improve decision making and brings harmony among the members of a family.

Many of the jewelry designs created at Timeless Designs incorporate copper in some way. Visit our website to see the selection of necklaces and pendants done with copper.

Purchase Wholesale

A lot of people wonder how to get the exotic cuts and stones along with the great deals. One way to do this of course is to have your business credentials; sales tax certificate, business license etc., whatever is needed for you to operate a business in your city and state and purchase through wholesale dealers or shows.

Some of the better deals and best vendors are those you can find at the Tucson show; however, many of those same dealers travel around to regional wholesale shows. I often will attend these over any ‘open to the public’ show, since the dealers and product are often much better at the wholesale shows. Check with your favorite vendors to see what shows they attend and make note over the year. This is really the best way to get the best deals on quality, exotic cuts and stones.

Here is a small list of several producers of wholesale shows:

Gem & Lapidary Wholesale Inc.
International Gem & Jewelry Show
Parker Trade Shows

And check the blog Gem Shows for information on gem, jewelry and lapidary shows, information and resource links.