Now you can buy per bead!

We begin this month with a big change on Semi Precious Beads. We now supply all beads by the one. We recognise that as a jewellery designer you often only want one or two of a bead and the last thing you need is to buy a whole strand of them. Especially when you make one off pieces and the rest of the strand will be gathering dust in your bead box!

How about a multicolour rondelle necklace or bracelet in a rainbow of colours? Combine our Garnet, Carnelian, Red Aventurine, Green Aventurine, Turquoise and Amethyst rondelles for a striking piece and now you can buy a few of each to achieve it. The rondelle price per bead works out very reasonably at between 10-30p per bead!

The Romantic Trend

This season the romantic look is big news. Lace, bows and florals are everywhere. And it's a refreshing change to see a feminine look on the catwalk and in the high street shops. The rule with jewellery in this trend is to compliment the look (with pale pinks, greens and creams) or to provide a modern edge to a frilly outfit to bring it bang up to date.

You will find a host of beads to compliment either style at Semi Precious. Use silk and ribbon tied into bows, delicate Crystal briolettes, Freshwater Pearls and faceted Rose Quartz to compliment the look. To contrast and provide a modern edge use oxidised and brushed metals with unique beads such as the Lava Rock or Pyrite, very futuristic looking.

Enjoy experimenting and Happy Beading!

Mark & Kate

Sparklers Aplenty!

This week we have added more gems for you - Stripy Agates, faceted nuggets, massive Amethysts, hollow slabs and special Carnelian carved flowers to name but a few.

In keeping with the "Semi Precious Beads" philosophy these new lines are unique, chunky, colourful and reasonable!

NEW! - Individual Bead buying

Soon we will be offering the option of buying single beads. Only want two amethyst faceted rondelles rather than a whole strand? No problem.

We'll still have available our half- and whole-strands at great prices but want to give you the opportunity to buy smaller quantities - we're jewellery designers also and understand that even a half-strand can be more than you need. Any feedback, suggestions or comments you have about this will be most welcome.

Striking Chrysocolla!

We're pleased to introduce a new stone - Chrysocolla! These evoke feelings of the sea and are a perfect complement to the greens and blues in our Kyanite, Labradorite and African Turquoise!

Enjoy browsing our collection of beads and as always we are happy to help should you need any assistance.

Mark & Kate

We're back!

We have returned to England yesterday and are now up to date with orders! We had a superb time in Malta and will definitely be returning there in the future - a beautiful and interesting country that is well worth the visit.

Thanks to everyone who was patient whilst we were away, and to those who still made orders with us they have all gone out today. A good time to remind you that we always attempt to ship items either on the day they are received or the day following - so you should usually get your beads within 48 hours!

Hidden Gem Edition

We love to see what you buy - especially the interesting combination of beads! But some beads seem to get missed and, we're sure you'll agree, these beautiful beads below have nothing to hide away for!

These Ametrine slabs would make an excellent pendant either teamed with amethyst and citrine faceted nuggets for a striking evening number or on a simple suede cord for a casual daytime look. Ametrine is formed through hydrothermal formations (when water circulates and travels deep within the Earth's crust from hot rocks to cool rocks). It is said that Ametrine helps the wearer to be optimistic at all times and encourages positive life changing decisions.

These Pink Botswana Agate Nuggets are very unique because they combine pale grey and pink with peaches and cream. A unique yet wonderful combination that really looks feminine with their high polish. Rose Quartz and Freshwater pearls would be a perfect match for these along with sterling silver findings.

These Labradorite faceted ovals are very high quality with a gorgeous amount of flashes, the thing we all love about Labradorite. Labradorite has an extremely intricate structure which bends the light that hits it thus creating the amazing iridescent flashes of colour. Labradorite is said to reignite old memories and stir our imagination.

These polished Botswana agate nuggets are naturally bright with a whole host of colours including oranges, reds, brown and whites and are wonderfully chunky. You can see the trade mark stripes in them also. In the far ancient East Agates were considered a good luck and protection stone.

These Botswana Agate Coins have a beautiful array of colours, so nice to look at and flattering to any wearer. The mix of colours also provides the opportunity to match complimentary colours, for example smoky and rose quartz would be perfect. Agates are formed when acid volcanic solutions collect in hollow spaces formed by gases in volcanic rock. As the acid cools and collects in the spaces it forms layers of agate which is why agates are often stripy. It is said that agates help the wearer to be calm, have inner stability and a sense of reality.

Incoming!

We've got over 20 new lines due shortly and we're looking forward to some beautiful new beads to offer you all.

In the meantime - happy beading!

Mark & Kate

Calling Last Orders!

We are off on holiday to the sunny reaches of Malta - so we will be closed from Tuesday the 10th of June until the 19th of June.
So all orders received by 1 PM this Monday (the 9th) will be posted same day - otherwise we regret that other orders will be shipped on the 19th. In a rush to get your bead fix? Order sooner rather than later!
- Remember we offer a flat £1.50 shipping for orders up to £30, free shipping otherwise
- International shipping is a flat £4, and Royal Mail (UK) signed for delivery is a flat £4!

Latest Stock

Our holiday plans haven't stopped us getting new stock, however! We have an exciting new selection of beads perfect for this summer - and plenty of classics in case our summer never truly arrives...

Watch this space ...

We've got plenty of new bead lines coming in after we return so keep an eye on our latest products! We look forward to providing you with beautiful and unusual gemstone beads after we return!

Mark & Kate