Crimp Beads - Long-Lasting Gold Plating (2x1.5mm) 100, 500 Or 1000 pcs.

Long-lasting means that the jewelry finding has a plating made to hold its color longer than a regular gold plating or silver plating. It's a great choice for jewelry you wear often and that needs to keep its shine for a long time.

What makes the plating long-lasting?

Quite simply: the plating is thicker and stronger than on regular plated jewelry findings. Typically, it's a plating of genuine 18K gold on the gold-plated pieces and of 925 sterling silver on the silver-plated ones. The more plating there is to wear down, the longer the jewelry finding keeps its color.

The difference between long-lasting and waterproof

Long-lasting and waterproof are not the same thing. A waterproof jewelry finding withstands water and sweat and can be worn in the shower and during exercise. A long-lasting plating lasts longer than a regular plating, but does best when kept away from water, sweat, and chemicals.

How to make it last the longest

• Take off the jewelry when you shower, swim, or do the dishes
• Apply perfume, lotion, and hairspray first – and put on the jewelry last
• Avoid direct sunlight and strenuous physical work while wearing the jewelry
• Store each jewelry finding separately in a closed bag or box, in a cool, dry place
• Bring back the shine with a soft polishing cloth

In short: if you want jewelry findings that hold their color longer than regular plating, long-lasting is a great choice. And with a bit of care in everyday life, you'll enjoy them even more.

Crimp beads are small metal beads that give a secure and neat finish when making jewelry on jewelry wire. You thread the wire through the crimp bead and the clasp, flatten the bead – and the clasp stays in place.

How to do it

1. Thread a crimp bead onto the wire, pass the wire through the eye of the clasp, and bring it back through the crimp bead.
2. Slide the crimp bead up against the clasp, but leave a small loop so the clasp can move freely.
3. Squeeze first in the back notch on the crimping pliers, so the bead folds around the two wires. Turn it a quarter turn and squeeze in the front notch, so it becomes round and neat.
4. Gently pull on the clasp to check that the crimp bead is secure.
5. Cut off the excess wire close to the crimp bead, or hide the end inside the next bead.

Without crimping pliers

You can also flatten the crimp bead with a pair of flat nose pliers. It will hold, but won't become as round and neat as with crimping pliers.

Choose the right size

The hole in the crimp bead needs to be big enough for two layers of wire, but not so big that it can't clamp firmly around them. Crimping pliers are made for a specific size – several of ours are made for 2 mm crimp beads. A wire protector around the loop also protects the wire at the clasp.

In short: With a crimp bead and crimping pliers, your jewelry on wire gets a finish that both holds and looks neat.