For the past three years I have been making and selling earrings and necklaces, and one of my biggest frustrations was not being able to find affordable, well made gold jewelry findings and beads (such as necklace clasps, small beads, crimp beads, jump rings, etc.)
One day I discovered a product called Gold Elegance, sold at both my local Michael’s and JoAnn’s craft stores. The Elegance line makes both sterling silver and 14K gold plated jewelry making findings, and they state that Gold Elegance is the best quality 14K Gold Plate beads and components for your finer artistic designs.
Description
There are many different brands of beads using gold plating these days, but they are not all created equal. My Gold Elegance package tells me a little bit about the Gold Plate Rope Toggle Clasp that I recently purchased and used. It says that the clasp is made of a copper base with an average of 1.0 micron of gold plating.
The line is packaged in a very unique manner, and it’s a bit different from other companies I have purchased from. Each item is presented in a blister packaging, nestled in a small plastic cup. Sitting in a groove in the bottom of this cup are the “round” and “bar” portions of my rope toggle clasp. They are secure and won’t move around in the packaging, assuring me that I can see exactly what I am getting, and giving me a guarantee that the gold plate won’t be scratched off.
Around the plastic cup is a good deal of thin gold colored cardboard packaging, with a hang tag at the top. All Gold and Silver Elegance findings and beads come packaged in this same manner, and the cardboard packages all measure 2 3/4″ by 3 3/4″.
Variety
I love the quality and uniqueness of the Gold Elegance line! Their toggle clasps come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from a rope design to a heart shape. If you prefer the more traditional lobster clasp, these are available as well. I find their “S” Clasp very attractive and presentable for any designer jewelry items.
Also available are 2mm crimp beads, spring rings, open & closed jump rings, head pins, fishhook earring wires, Euro style lever back wires, gold plated posts, earring nuts, different sized round beads, spacer beads, chains, filigree tube beads, bead caps and ear hoops.
They sell a large variety of gold beads, and many are unlike any that I have seen from any other jewelry finding company! The round, gold plated beads come in different shapes and styles, such as a mirror bead and carved beads. I have fallen in love with their gold plated ball beads! Some are shiny with carved designs in the metal, while others have a matte grainy finish. The carved beads have a nice variety of carved designs to choose from, making it hard to decide what to buy, I love them all!
My Thoughts
I love the Gold Elegance line! They are made by the Cousin Corporation of America, in Largo Florida. Although they are more expensive, they make up beautifully and have a lasting shine and appeal that disappears quickly with the inexpensive beads and findings.
The prices are cheaper at Joanns.com than they are in the brick and mortar JoAnn stores, but then you have to pay the shipping costs when you buy online, so it evens out. I priced my toggle clasps yesterday at both Michael’s and JoAnn’s, and Michaels charged $4.99 while it was only $3.99 at Joann’s. Joanns.com sells it for $2.99.
The packages of beads do not contain a high quantity. The 6mm carved beads come five to a package for the same prices. I have found that all the packages of Gold Elegance products are all priced the same (at each store). At Michael’s they are all $4.99.
I redeem my Michael’s and Joann’s 40% coupons on these beautiful jewelry making findings, and that helps cut my overhead. I wish they would package the larger beads in an even quantity, when they put an odd number like 5 beads in one package, I always have a leftover bead when making earrings.
I receive a lot of compliments on my necklaces and earrings when they are made with the Gold Elegance line! I can’t afford the extremely high cost of real 14K gold, but the Gold Elegance line is the next best thing. It allows me to make elegant jewelry, with the look of real gold.
