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| Auntie's Beads Home > SmartCollections™ > Shop Beads by Metal |
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 Our exclusive SmartCollections™ by Metal brings together many of our beads, pendants and findings by finish. Shop antique copper, antique brass, gunmetal and silver all in one convenient place. Sort the collections any way you like: by newest, by price, by most reviews, and more. Sensible bead shopping from Auntie's Beads!
What's a SmartCollection™? Exclusively from Auntie's Beads, these are product listings that make sense for bead shoppers and jewelry designers, helping you to zero in on what you need without having to spend hours on warehouse-style bead sites. We make bead shopping fun again, while giving you more time for beading!
Brought to you by Auntie's Beads, the exclusive home of SmartBeadShopping™, a better way to shop for beads.
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Shopping for Metal Components
One of the hardest things for beginning - and even sometimes for more advanced - beaders is knowing what metal to use when. Sometimes choosing a color palette is simple but knowing what metal to use with your beads can be a bit tricky. Silver may be too shiny for the beaded bracelet you are making, but gunmetal is too dark. Gold is just not funky enough or has too much bling for your newest necklace creation. These choices which may seem simple are not always easy and, believe it or not, can make or break the look and feel of your piece. Here are a few tips and tricks to help make sure you pick the right metal every time.
Working with antique brass: Fairly neutral, antique brass works well with a variety of different gemstones and pearls. Because it has a matte finish, it can tone down beads that offer a lot of sparkle and shine, like Chinese crystal. Its soft, romantic vibe makes it perfect for colors like vintage rose. It also works well with blues and greens. Antique brass and gunmetal work nicely together because of their neutral coloring and the vintage feel they lend to jewelry design.
Working with antique copper: Antique copper is a versatile base metal. Its warm reddish-brown color makes it the perfect choice when you want to incorporate copper into a design but don't want the orange-red shine of true copper. It also works well when you want a more rustic or vintage look in your jewelry designs. Because of its color and finish, it is especially beautiful with everything from gemstone beads and Swarovski crystals; greens, blues and purples are the perfect colors to pair with antique copper. Antique copper is actually a great metal to mix with other metals as well. It works especially well with silver.
Working with antique gold: Traditional gold has a luxury and shine that makes it absolutely timeless. Antique gold is no less elegant, but has a duller finish and will turn your jewelry designs into pieces that look like they could have come from your mother's or grandmother's jewelry box. Because of its warm yellowish tone, antique gold looks absolutely brilliant when paired with amethyst gemstones or crystals. It is absolutely regal with green - especially deep emerald green - and dark blues like sapphire or navy. You can use antique gold plated beads and findings anywhere you would use gold filled beads and findings but when you desire a more vintage look.
Working with antique silver: Antique silver plated components are similar to antique gold plated components in the sense that you can use them as a substitute for their more expensive alternative (silver plated, silver filled or sterling silver). Like traditional silver, antique silver is a cool metal but it has more of a gray hue to it and a more matte finish. Very versatile, antique silver beads and findings can be used with just about any gemstone, crystal or pearl. Using antique silver in the place of silver plate will give your piece a vintage look and will subdue the shine of metal, allowing the beads to speak for themselves.
Working with gold: Gold is a precious metal. A lot of our gold beads and findings are gold filled, meaning they are created when gold is bonded to a base metal. Gold is a luxurious warm metal that goes well jewel tones like sapphire, amethyst, ruby and emerald. When you choose to incorporate gold into your jewelry designs, you are choosing to create pieces that will have a timeless, classic look.
Working with gunmetal: Gunmetal is almost black in color. Sometimes it is shiny, sometimes it has a matte finish; either way, gunmetal has a tendency to add depth and mystery to jewelry. When paired with silver and silver or white tones, you get brilliant contrast. Pastels like pink, peach and aqua can soften the harshness of gunmetal/black findings. Pearls add a touch of vintage elegance to gunmetal beads and findings.
Working with silver: Whether you choose to work with silver plated, silver filled or sterling silver beads and findings, you will get the same effect in your designs. Silver is a timeless metal; its cool, shiny effect allows it go with any color or material. Using jet crystals or black onyx gemstones with silver offers a classic contrast. You can even use silver with other metals - gold, copper and even gunmetal - to create balance.
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We don't just provide the products and information related to the products, we show you how to use them! Try out these free beading projects demonstrating how to use metal and color.
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