FAQ & Site Info

We accept payments via Stripe and Paypal.

Yes. You pay through PayPal or Stripe not through this site. We never even see your credit card number; PayPal and Stripe just tells us that you've paid and we ship you your stuff. We get your money through PayPal or Stripe later.

No, we only ship within the United states and its territories.

Yes, we accept returns within 30 days of receiving your order. REFUNDS: BeadSouk wants you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. If for any reason you're not, send it back for a refund of the item price. Contact me to let me know that you would like a return at beadsouk@gmail.com. Items must be mailed back to me in their original condition and packaging, undamaged, and unworn. The shipping charges for returning items for a refund will be the responsibility of the buyer. Once we receive the item, a refund will be issued minus original shipping costs. SHIPMENT OF YOUR PRODUCTS: Shipping of your products are done within 1-2 days of receiving your order. Please allow up to 10 days for delivery via USPS First Class Mail. If using PayPal eCheck for payment, then shipment of your products will be delayed for an extra 5 days (checks need to be cleared by PayPal).

A sales tax of 6% is charged for orders shipped within the State of Michigan.

United States Postal Service. First-Class Mail Parcel service.

Yes, when your order ships out, you will receive an email confirmation and tracking number for your order.

Shipping charges are based on weight.

Orders are processed within 24 hours of receiving your order and then shipped out. Shipping times can vary from 3 to 9 days depending on your location.

Please send inquiries to beadsouk@gmail.com

No discounts are offered, but if you are a Michigan resident with a current sales tax license and want to place an order, then you do not have to pay a Michigan sales tax. NOTE: You will have to contact me before placing an order and send me a copy of your current sales tax license.

No, we only sell at retail prices. BeadSouk specialty is to offer smaller quantities of jewelry supplies intended for those crafters who may only need a few things to complete their projects.

We are located in Dearborn, Michigan, USA.

I use coins from the USA and from foreign countries. All coins are used coins. Some are still in circulation and some are not minted anymore.

14 kt gold filled metal is used for the bezel, bail, and necklace chain.

Gold-filled jewelry is economical. It has the warm tones of gold at a fraction of the cost of pure gold. Gold-filled, or gold overlay, is made by heat and pressure bonding a thin layer of 14Kt or 12Kt gold onto a brass base. The 14/20 or 12/10 notation refers to the ratio of karat gold to brass core by weight and indicates the karat value of the gold. "14/20" gold-filled material is made with 14-karat gold and the gold represents 1/20th (or 5%) of the total weight of the material. The value of gold-filled is greater than gold-plated because gold-filled has an actual layer of karat gold, not just a microscopic film. Gold filled is tarnish resistant, which means it is resistant not tarnish proof; it is still susceptible to tarnish but it may take months or years of for this to happen. Keep your gold filled jewelry piece in your jewelry box will help slow down tarnishing, and can be easily cleaned with polishing clothes. I found that silver polishing clothes can be used on gold filled as well as sterling silver and even copper metal. These can be purchased at your local jewelry stores.

Pure (fine) gold is yellow. Gold (Au) is the most malleable and ductile of all metals. It is chemically inactive; in other words, it is not affected by oxygen, sulfur, or acids; however it can be dissolved in a mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid. Gold is used for many purposes, jewelry, dental, coins, decorative. Pure gold is soft and is alloyed with other metals to resist wear. When gold is alloyed with other metals such as silver, copper, nickel, or platinum the resultant color that is produced will vary. For example, mix gold with platinum, or nickel, will produce white gold. Green gold is made by mixing gold with silver and copper. Red gold or rose gold is produced by adding a little more copper than silver. Gold mixed with silver, copper, and zinc produces yellow gold; the amount of pure gold is measured in units of karats. 24 karat is pure gold, 18 karat is 75% pure gold (18/24), 14 karat is 58.3% (14/24) pure gold, and 10 karat is 41.7% (10/24) pure gold. Most jewelry pieces are stamped to indicate its purity, for example, 14kt, or 14K, or 583 (jewelry made in Europe will be stamped in this manner). The following is a list of melting points for pure gold and alloyed gold: 24 karat pure gold 1945°F 18 karat white gold 1730°F 18 karat yellow gold 1700°F 14 karat white gold 1825°F 14 karat yellow gold 1615°F 10 karat yellow gold 1665°F Gold filled metal is used often as an inexpensive alternative to gold. It is gold layered onto a base metal, like brass or steel. There is 14 karat or 12 karat gold filled metal. A jewelry piece will be marked for example, 1/10 12K, means that the jewelry piece consists of a metal covered with 12 karat gold with the layer being 1/10 part by weight of the entire piece. Another gold product often used is Vermeil (pronounced: Vehr-MAY). Vermeil is a product that is made from a base of sterling silver that is coated or plated on its surfaces with gold of at least 14 kt and at least 2.5 microns thick (100/1,000,000 inch). Vermeil is also known as silver gilt, gold Vermeil, and sometimes as silver gilded. A gold plated piece means that a very thin layer (1/100,000 of an inch) of 10 karat gold is layered onto base metal like brass or steel. Gold filled is better quality but more expensive than gold plated. Usually, a gold plated item will tarnish, and gold filled does not. Troy ounce is the unit of weight traditionally used for precious metals. Silver, gold and platinum are precious metals. Troy ounce is equal to about 1.1 ordinary ounces. The word ounce when applied to precious metals refers to a troy ounce. Many people don’t know this so when they look at the precious metal market quotes they think on a per ounce basis; it is really a troy ounce. 1 troy ounce = 1.1 ounces.

Natural and synthetic gemstones need to be cleaned and stored properly . Here are some tips on how to take care of your stones to extend their life and luster. Clean stones with warm, soapy water. Dry stones thoroughly with a soft towel. Some stones can be safely cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner and some cannot such as amber, coral, lapis, opal, pearl, and turquoise.(see below) Rub gems with a smooth soft cloth to remove fingerprints and to help keep them shiny. Store stones away from intense heat and light. Opals and pearls should be cleaned by just using a soft cloth; immersing in water is not a good idea. Should your stones be steam or ultrasonic cleaned? See list below. Agate - Okay to for ultrasonic cleaner. No steam cleaning. Amber-Never steam nor ultrasonic Amethyst-Okay to for ultrasonic cleaner. No steam cleaning. Aquamarine- Okay for ultrasonic and steam cleaning. Citrine- Okay to for ultrasonic cleaner. No steam cleaning. Coral- Never steam nor ultrasonic Garnet - Okay to for ultrasonic cleaner. No steam cleaning. Iolite - Never steam nor ultrasonic Jasper - Okay to for ultrasonic cleaner. No steam cleaning. Lapis Lazuli- Never steam nor ultrasonic Malachite- Never steam nor ultrasonic Opal - Never steam nor ultrasonic Pearls - Never steam nor ultrasonic Peridot - Never steam nor ultrasonic Ruby - Okay for ultrasonic and steam cleaning. Sapphire - Okay for ultrasonic and steam cleaning. Spinel - Okay for ultrasonic and steam cleaning. Topaz - Never steam nor ultrasonic Tourmaline - Never steam nor ultrasonic Turquoise - Never steam nor ultrasonic

Agates are part of the quartz family and can be found all over the world. Quartz is the crystal form of silicon dioxide and is very hard, Mohs scale of mineral hardness 7 or 8. What differs agates from other types of quartz is their banding seen throughout the stone. Chalcedony, a type of quartz, consists of a microcrystalline structure; carnelian and Chrysoprase fall under this category. The different mineral content give these stones its color. Chalcedony stones that are banded are classified as agates are also known as the banded Chalcedony. Depending on the trace mineral within the agate, can be gray, blue, red, yellow, brown, black, white, and green. For example, Agates that are red to orange contain trace amounts of iron oxide to give the reddish color. Agates are mostly translucent, have a waxy luster, and are porous. Agates form from an empty pocket within a rock. Microcrystals build upon each other layer by layer, slowly forming concentric bands or rings that are heavily influenced by changes in pressure, temperature, and mineral content. As a result each Agate stone is unique.

Tree agate is a synonym for Moss agate. This type of chalcedony (chalcedony is a microcrystalline variety of quartz, agates falls under this category) consists of tubular, inclusions and branching, filamentous growths within the stone which resembles moss. This stone contains iron minerals giving moss agates shades of red, brown, yellow, black, and green. Moss agates do not have the concentric banding that agates are commonly associated with. Moss agates can appear messy like overgrown vines. Some moss agates may contain concentric banding in small areas and also have the moss-like inclusions. However, mostly all moss agate does not contain the concentric banding of agates. But, because moss agates are mainly made of chalcedony, they are considered an agate. One of the best theories available today regarding Moss agate formations was hypothesized by Raphael Liesegang. The theory is that Moss agate formation is a series of chemical reactions between ferrous sulfate (iron and sulfur) and sodium silicate combined with high pressures. These chemical reactions produce a “channeling” effect throughout the molten mass of silica leaving a trail of tubular structures within the rock. The beauty of moss agates are only seen when the stone has been cut and polished. These stones are very common and used for jewelry making and carvings.

Citrine is a variety of quartz and comes in yellow, orange, or light brown (like a topaz color). The name is derived from Latin citrina which means "yellow". Brazil is the major producer of citrine. Natural citrine is a rare find. Most citrine stones on the gem market are produced by heat treating Amethyst and Smoky Quartz. Sometimes Citrine and Amethyst are found together in the same mineral and is referred to as Ametrine which is a mixture of the yellow of Citrine and the purple colors of Amethyst. Citrine is a protection stone and aids in healing and self development. Citrine energizes, and invigorates, promotes warmth, comfort, and energy. Citrine is worn for good luck in business and is known as the stone of success. Worn by those who need courage and self discipline to get tasks done, to develop self worth, and help them through their daily business activities.

Blue tourmaline, also called indicolite or indigolite, is a very rare and special kind of tourmaline. The word Indicolite is derived from the Latin word, meaning 'indicum plant'. Indicolite or blue tourmaline is found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, the United States (Maine and California), Madagascar, Nigeria and Mozambique. Tourmaline is not a single mineral, but a group of minerals related in their physical and chemical properties. Tourmaline is a crystalline boron silicate mineral compounded with elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. Tourmaline is classified as a semi-precious stone and the gemstone comes in a wide variety of colors. Depending of the proportions of the various mineral components, Tourmaline may form as red, pink, yellow, brown, black, green, blue or violet. The name Tourmaline comes from an ancient Sinhalese word turmali, meaning "a mixed color precious stone," or turamali, meaning "something small from the earth". The mineral Elbaite is the member of the Tourmaline group and is the most well-known and valuable form of Tourmaline. Elbaite is perhaps the most multicolored mineral, coming in virtually every color of the spectrum. Most of the multicolored Tourmalines and almost all of the Tourmaline gemstones are of the Elbaite variety.

Discovered in the 1970's, Larimar is only found in the Dominican Republic. Larimar is a rare form of the mineral pectolite , NaCa2Si3O8(OH), Sodium Calcium Silicate Hydroxide. The blue color is given by the trace copper mineral content. It has an incredible blue appearance similar to the color of the ocean in tropical areas and sometimes is confused with turquoise. A white matrix or streaks embedded in the stone provide a beautiful contrast to the blue color. Hardness varies between 5-7 on the Mohs scale with the darker blue stones ranging closer to 7.

Lapis lazuli is a metamorphic rock made from several minerals. It is know for its intense blue color. Its name means "stone of blue". Its has been made into beads and used in jewelry for thousands of years and was considered a stone fit for loyalty. Lapis has been found in many of the treasures uncovered in the tombs of Egypt. Lapis was also used in artist's paint as a pigment by grinding the stone into a powder. The main mineral in Lapis lazuli is Lazurite. Lazurite is a silicate mineral with sulfate, sulfur and chloride. Its formula is (Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(SO4,S,Cl)2. Lapis Lazuli has been mined for over 6,000 years in the Afghanistan. It is also mined in Siberia, Italy,Burma,Canada, and the United States.

ber is fossilized tree sap from coniferous trees that have taken millions of years to form. Tree sap (also called resin) oozes and bubbles, plant matter and various insects become trapped and preserved over millions of years. These types of inclusions add to the beauty of amber you see today. Resin is produced by trees as a form of protection to help heal wounds such as from a broken branch. The odor from the sap repels and attracts insects. The two main sources of amber on the market today are the Baltic States (located in north-central Europe, on the eastern edge of the Baltic Sea) and the Dominican Republic. Amber colors include: Most common colors of amber found on the market are yellow, orange, red, brown, green, and bluish. Amber beads are used for making jewelry. The gorgeous brown and golden colors of amber look stunning with antiqued sterling silver. Other colors to use with amber are turquoise, a beautiful combination of warm and cool colors. Metaphysical qualities of Amber: Known as a cleanser, healer, absorbs pain, alleviates stress and negative energy. Allows the body to rebalance and heal itself. Helps strengthen memory and intellect. Calms and centers the body.

Amazonite is a translucent to opaque microcline feldspar composed of potassium aluminum silicate. Amazointe, also known as Amazon Stone, ranges in color from blue-green to green. It's an opaque stone often found with white, yellow, or gray inclusions and a silky luster or a silvery sheen. Mohs hardness 6-6.5. Amazonite was named after South America's Amazon River, which flows through Brazil. However, mineralogists claim that no green despoits of feldspar exist in this region. Amazonite and other green feldspars does occur naturally in other areas of Brazil but not in the Amazon River. Amazonite is associated with deposits of granite and quartz and is found in parts of Colorado, USA, Norway, Canada, Russia, India, Madagascar, Nambia and Tanzania. The coloration varies from light green to a darker ''emerald'' green, depending on the region it comes from.

Turquoise often referred to as the “sky stone” is native to the Americas, Persia (Iran), Egypt, Tibet, and China. It forms in arid climates like the Southwest where large deposits have been found. Cerrillos, Bisbee, Sleeping Beauty, Kingman, Morenci, Number 8, Royston, Pilot Mountain, Carico Lake, and Blue Gem are some of the turquoise mines found in the Southwest. The Native Americans would carve turquoise into animal fetishes, overlaid it into wood, shell, or bone. When silversmithing was introduced to the Americas by the Spanish, the Native Americans combined this new technique with turquoise to create an industry of sterling silver turquoise jewelry. Currently, 80% of all the turquoise on the market is Chinese or Tibetan. The remaining 20% is American, coming from the Sleeping Beauty and Kingman mines. The other American mines are mostly depleted producing very little or no turquoise. Any turquoise found that are from these depleted mines are most likely on the market from collections. American turquoise is very expensive compared to turquoise from China. Turquoise is classified as a semiprecious opaque mineral composed of hydrated copper and aluminum phosphate. The chemical formula is Cu(Al6Fe)(PO4)4(OH)8(4H2O). It is a porous stone and can have varying degrees of hardness. Turquoise can be bright blue, light blue, deep blue, green, very deep green, blue-green, and yellow-green. The color is determined by other minerals that are present in the turquoise such as iron making turquoise more greenish, and copper giving turquoise it’s blue color. Besides color, turquoise can display a matrix or patterns of brown, black, or white. Some types of turquoise found on the market: Natural turquoise: Turquoise that is untreated. It is mined, cut, polished, and made into jewelry. Less than 3% of all the turquoise found is natural and is much more expensive. The color of natural turquoise will deepen over time due to the absorption of natural skin oils as it is worn. Stabilized turquoise: This type of turquoise is a good buy since it is so economical. This is soft or “chalk” turquoise that has been infused with a clear epoxy resin to give the stone its hardness. It also makes the color of the stone permanent and will not change when worn on the skin. Most turquoise on the market is stabilized turquoise. Reconstituted Turquoise: This is soft turquoise that has been ground to a powder. Epoxy resin is mixed with it. Then dyed and pressed into cakes to be cut into shapes for jewelry making. This type of turquoise should be even less expensive then the stabilized turquoise. Imitation Turquoise is not turquoise at all. It can be a gemstone such Howlite (which is white in its natural state) that can be dyed to look like turquoise. Resin can also be made to look like turquoise. Mosaic Turquoise is made of chalk turquoise chips, magnesite mixed with resin, then dyed.