Happy 2008! Bead Sizes, Garnet, Old Newsletters & a Bead Crossword

Happy 2008 from MrBead! Bead Sizes, Garnet, Old Newsletters & a Bead Crossword

This month is bead sizes, January's birthstone garnet + our old newsletters and a fun bead crossword. Scroll down, or click one of the links below on the html version to go to a certain section. If you have any suggestions for the future, please e-mail me at suggestions@mrbead.com. To go to the MrBead store click here. New UK Bead Shop in GB Pounds: MrBead.co.uk

To see the full HTML color version with photos click http://www.mrbead.com/december07.htm

Bead Sizes
Garnet - January's gemstone
Old MrBead Newsletters
Bead Crossword Puzzle
Free 2008 Calendar
Special Offer - 15% Off!

Bead Sizes

I often get letters telling me the 8mm beads we mailed are not 8mm. Some people say our 4mm beads look bigger on the picture! Others insist we've sent them the wrong size strand of pearls because most are smaller than we say. Size of beads can either be exact or approximate depending on the type of bead. Simple round bead sizes should be exact: 4mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm etc. But chip beads, being naturally all different sizes, will not be exactly the size quoted in the sale - some will be longer, but most will be shorter. Bead sellers usually quote the largest size in the strand, this is especially true with natural pearls. Under 25% of the pearls in a strand may be the full size quoted. Nuggets, again being natural, will all be different to an average size listed in the sale. Strands of beads are usually 16-inches (400mm) long. Although pearls are normally sold in 15-inch strands and chips in 32-inch strands. A Choker necklace is 16-inches long, a Princess necklace 18-inches, a Matinee necklace 24-inches, Opera necklace 32-inches, and a Mala necklace of 108-beads can be of any length! A bracelet is usually 7-inches and an anklet 9-inches.

Measuring Rings

How to measure your finger
1. Wrap a piece of string or paper strip around the base of your finger.
2. Mark the string or paper where it overlaps to form a complete circle.
3. Measure the length of the section of string or paper where it overlaps around the finger.
4. Compare your measurement with this chart to determine your ring size.
5. Please note: You need to take the knuckle into consideration when sizing. The base of your finger may be smaller then your knuckle. Also wider bands should be sized ½ -1 size larger.
To get your girlfriends ring size, ask to clean her rings the next time your in the mall together. Most jewelry stores will do it for free. Then you can secretly ask the sales person to check the size for you. Or you can slip her ring on your finger and mark the spot it fits. Then measure that spot with the directions above.

To measure a rings for its size, you need to purchase a ring measure like the below. Just slip the ring over the measure and the size is the middle line.

Garnet - January's Gemstone

Garnet is January's birthstone, a name given to over ten gemstones with similar chemical structure. Although red occurs most, there are also shades of green, pale to bright yellow and fiery orange garnet. Some rare garnets even change color from daylight to artificial light. "Garnet" derives from the Latin "granum" meaning "grain". Describing the typically rounded shape of the gemstone and also reminds of pomegranate seeds.

Garnet makes good jewelry because it is very hard, and so resistant to wear. Garnet has been found in jewelry from ancient Greece, Rome, and dating back to 3100 BC in Egypt. Chinese and Japanese warriors made bullets out of garnet because they believed that these would inflict more damage. Even Noah used a lantern from garnet to steer his Ark through the night. Travelers wore garnets for protection from evil, poison and wounds. People thought garnet brightened the night because of its high refraction of light. It was also believed to help depression and prevent nightmares. A red garnet in particular is said to break a fever, stop bleeding and to reduce inflammation.

Today, garnet is prized for its beauty rather than its magical powers. People like its naturalness, its brilliance, and color of a sun-drenched Indian summer. Garnet is said to symbolize happiness as well as deep and enduring love and friendships. Green garnets are the rarest and therefore highly prized. Emerald green and colorless garnet is next rarest, followed by pure red. Garnet comes today mainly from Africa, but also from India, Russia, central and south America. Skilled gem cutters all over the world shape them in classical forms and modern fancy designer's cuts.

33 months of MrBead Newsletters

December is the 33rd MrBead newsletter, and I thank you all for such enthusiastic comments and appreciation. Just click below to see the past newsletters:

Everything About Pearls - from MrBead..... Mailed: Apr 24 2005
Jade Jewelry & How to Make it ...... Mailed: May 22 2005
All about Turquoise - from MrBead ...... Mailed: Jun 26 2005
Summer Beads - Carnelian & Peridot ...... Mailed: Jul 24 2005
Buying Beads ...... Mailed: Aug 28 2005
Opal, Tourmaline, & Chip Beads ...... Mailed: Sep 25 2005
How to Sell Beads Online, Citrine, Yellow Topaz, & Lampwork ...... Mailed: Oct 23 2005
Happy Christmas from MrBead! ...... Mailed: Nov 27 2005
Happy 2006! ...... Mailed: Jan 1 2006
Amethyst - February's Stone + Much More! ...... Mailed: Jan 29 2006
Aquamarine & How to Make $1,000s Selling Beads! ...... Mailed: Feb 26 2006
Diamonds, E-Jewelry Parties & Mother's Day ...... Mailed: Mar 26 2006
Emerald, Bead Shapes & Jade ...... Mailed: April 30 2006
Pearls, Moonstone & Wedding Beads! ...... Mailed: May 28 2006
Ruby, Carnelian, Findings, & Chips ...... Mailed: June 25 2006
Summer Peridot, Onyx, Flaked Stone, Donut Beads & More! Mailed: July 30 2006
Sapphire, Quartz, Coral, & Measuring Beads ...... Mailed: August 27 2006
Opal and How to Buy Beads Retail, Wholesale & Online Mailed: September 24 2006
A Spooky Halloween with Orange and Black Beads! ...... Mailed: October 15 2006
Cheeky Chips, Presentation, Citrine & Yellow Topaz ...... Mailed: October 29 2006
Christmas Beads & Great Present Ideas ...... Mailed: November 12 2006
Merry Christmas, Turquoise Beads, Selling Online, & Gem Properties Mailed: November 26 2006
Happy 2007 from MrBead! Garnet & a Bead Crossword Mailed: January 1 2007
Amethyst, Lampwork, Bead Boards & Bead Storage Mailed: January 28 2007
New Beads & Chinese Year of the Pig! Mailed: February 11 2007
Aquamarine - March's Stone + How are Beads Made, Mala Beads & More! Mailed: February 28 2007
Millefori: Spring Beads, Lava Beads, & Diamonds Mailed: April 1st 2007
Emerald, Moonstone, & Findings Mailed: April 29th 2007
Spring Pearls & Chalcedony ...... Mailed: May 27th 2007
Jewelry Parties, Frame Beads, Ruby & Carnelian Mailed: July 1st 2007
Summer Peridot, Natural Color, & What's New? Mailed: July 29th 2007
How to take Photos that Sell, Sapphire, & Man-made Gems Mailed: August 26th 2007
Glass, Coral, & Opal Beads Mailed: September 30th 2007
Buying Bead Tips, Citrine & Yellow Topaz Mailed: October 28th 2007
Merry Christmas, Xmas & Turquoise Beads Mailed: November 25th 2007

Any suggestions for future newsletters would be appreciated, just email suggestions@mrbead.com

Bead Crossword Puzzle
Readers are welcome to print this puzzle and its solution.

ACROSS
1. Grooved rim holding a stone in its setting.
4. Product of an irritated oyster.
9. Suspended item on jewelry.
10. Purple semi-precious stone.
12. Disc shaped spacer bead.
14. Flat backed oval stone.
16. Stringing material: _____tail.
18. Dark green semi-precious stone
used in Chinese carving.
20. A series of links.
21. Sacred item worn for protection.
23. Porcupine needle.
24. Moon or soap_____.
25. _____ Lazuli.
27. Bundle of bead strands.
28. A dozen dozen.
31. Bead larger than a seed, smaller than a crow.
34. Small rounded beads used in Native American beadwork.
36. Device used to weave beads on.
37. Highly decorative bead made of wire cells and colored enamel.
41. Delicate metal openwork.
43. One length of memory wire.
44. Blue-green stone popular in the Southwest.
45. A finding made of wire with a loop at one end, used to make dangles.
46. Lampworker's substance.
47. Older than vintage.
48. Thread is needed to use one.
49. Decorative pin for a woman's garment.
50. Low luster surface.

DOWN
2. Papa, moma, or baby fetish. (two words).
3. It can be precious or base.
4. Stitch used to make amulet bags.
5. Brown and gold striped semi-precious stone.
6. Deep red semi-precious stone.
7. Earwire shaped like a vital organ.
8. Small tile shaped bead made in Japan.
11. Light passes through it.
13. Precious gem in green.
15. Faceted substance from Austria.
17. Thin, tube shaped glass bead.
19. Little metallic cup used to embellish gowns.
20. Neclace fastener.
22. Wedding band.
24. Tendon fibre used to make dreamcatchers.
26. Abalone _____.
29. Snowflake ________.
30. 92.5% Silver.
32. Bead larger than Pony.
33. Metallic lined clear bead.
35. Famous manufacturer of Austrian Crystal.
38. Can't see through it.
39. Small carved stone or shell animal figure.
40. Technique used to bond gold to base metal:_______-plating.
42. Small circlet of drilled shell.
46. Adhesive.

For the bead crossword puzzle and its solution go to the the HTML version here

15% Offer!

To get 15% off (before shipping) on anything in our MrBead bead store, just key in "2008" (without the commas) at the checkout and click "Redeem Coupon". Cannot be used with any other coupon.

Offer valid until 12th January 2008 only - so act now. The more you order, the more you save! Only for use in our store at the checkout and not valid with any other offers.

To see all our garnet beads click here
To go to our MrBead store click http://www.MrBead.com
To go to our UK MrBead shop click http://www.MrBead.co.uk