The Cincinnati Jewelry Designer
If you live in Cincinnati, finding beads and jewelry making supplies that reflect your personal style can be difficult unless you know where to look. With so many catalogs and online options, it’s far simpler than in years past; but when you’ve got an upcoming show or need the perfect clasp for your mom’s birthday bracelet, you may not want to wait for a delivery truck.
Whether you are a jewelry designer creating pieces to sell at art shows or in gift shops, or an occasional beader who creates for the fun of it, you’ll find exactly what you need at World of Beads, The Bead Shop of Madeira, Casker Company or Saki Silver. Besides, you’ll be supporting the local economy and building a relationship each time you walk in the door.
World of Beads
Tri County – 4765 Devitt Drive – 513-874-1833
Hyde Park Square – 2725 Erie Ave. – 513-871-5600
www.aworldofbeads.com
How it Began
Paula knows what can happen when a bead passion takes hold. She had so many beads, they needed a space of their own; so she opened World of Beads. For over 20 years she’s traveled the country, seeking fabulous beads and jewelry making supplies to share with Cincinnati jewelry designers. Her bead passion laid the foundation for two large jewelry supply stores, one in Hyde Park, Cincinnati’s trendiest area, the other in Tri County, one of the busiest. Both stock a wide array of jewelry making supplies with prices ranging from pennies for a single bead to 1700 dollars for an exquisite strand of Tourmaline.
Shopping at World of Beads
With trays full of single beads, walls covered with strands and glass cases packed with rare stones, cabachons and precious metal findings, World of Bead’s selection will make a true bead lover weak at the knees. But don’t worry, if you need help making up your mind, friendly well-trained employees will provide tips, techniques and demos.
Products and Services
-Amazing bead selection
-Beading supplies
-Precious metal, copper, surgical steel and base metal Findings
-Precious metal, copper and brass wire
-Holiday themed beads
-Huge Swarovski Crystal selection
-Imported wood, bone and ceramic beads
-Jewelry making tools
-Classes – Wirework, Beading projects and more
-Private Parties
-Loyalty card
-Wholesale Quantity Discounts
-Private Wine, Cheese and Bead Social.
World of Beads Store hours
Mon-Thurs 11am-7pm (Hyde Park 10am – 6pm)
Friday & Saturday – 10am-6pm
Sunday- Noon-6pm
Bead Shop Of Madeira
7754 Camargo Road – Madeira in Kroger Plaza
513-271-5222
Unique Beads in an Intimate Space
Years ago, it was virtually impossible to locate pure copper findings in Cincinnati; but jewelry makers eventually found their way to the Bead Shop of Madeira, a jewelry supply store just beyond Cincinnati’s eastern boundary. It’s an intimate space in a suburban setting, perfect if you prefer a quiet place to contemplate your bead choices.
The owner has fit a beautiful selective offering into her small store, including beads so unique you’ll want to hold them in the palm of your hand to ogle and caress. Prices range from a few pennies for a single glass bead to hundreds of dollars for better bead strands. And, yes, they still have solid copper findings.
Products and Services
-Uniquely shaped stones
-Pearls
-Czech and India glass
-Ceramic beads
-African batik bone beads
-Precious metal findings
-Plated and base metal findings,
-Economical glass strands
-Demos and Classes – Beaded necklaces, bracelets and more
-Instructional books
Bead Shop of Madeira Store Hours
Sundays and Mondays – Closed
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday – 10am to 5pm
Thursday – 10am to 7pm
Saturday – 12 to 4 pm.
Casker Co
2550 Civic Center Dr. Colerain Township
513-674-7700
www.casker.com
The Blue Sign
You may have driven along 1-275 near Hamilton Ave. and wondered what was in the building with the blue Casker sign.. They are a jewelry supply company, but not in the traditional sense. Casker is best known for watch parts and crystals; but they are also the only Cincinnati jewelry supply store that sells all the metal work tools, supplies and materials you need for metal casting or fabrication. They also sell sheets of silver, copper and brass for fabricated jewelry designs.
Pricing
Casker’s silver is priced based on market rates, which fluctuate. Equipment pieces are comparable to standard jewelry equipment catalog prices; but you can pick your items up, so you don’t have to pay shipping charges. You can sometimes find needed equipment or supplies in Casker’s sale room where they offer overstock and returned products at a discount.
Casker Hours
The showroom is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. They accept walk in customers, but prefer you call ahead. You may also order all of their items from their catalog; and a limited selection is available at www.casker.com
Products and Services
-Sterling Sheet
-Sterling and gold filled wire
-Casting alloys
-Beading supplies
-Small line of sterling and gold filled findings and chains.
-Jeweler’s saws and blades
-Tumblers for polishing
-Torches
-Polishing compounds
-Solder, flux & pickle
-Buffers and Tumblers
-Ionic cleaners
-Rolling mills and many more tools
-Jewelry gift boxes by the case
Saki Silver
Clifton
513-221-5480
www.sakisilver.com
Not really a Store Anymore
Cincinnati based Saki Silver produces jewelry findings so high in demand, they closed their store and recently closed their showroom to concentrate on a wider marketing base. They are no longer an actual jewelry supply store; but for Cincinnati designers who desire jewelry components that make a bold and artistic statement, it’s worth visiting www.sakisilver.com , calling in your order and waiting for it to come.
The Sak in Saki
Silversmith, Sak Chumtong, designs and produces the Saki Silver line with a studio of Bangkok artisans. Sak’s wife, Liz, juggles sales, marketing and day to day business operations. Together they produce what began a few years ago as a beautiful, high quality line that exploded into a series of designs phenomenal enough to make you wish you could do what they do.
The good news is that a few local stores listed on their website now stock some of their jewelry making supplies, including NARU gift shop in the old Saki retail space. Saki Silver also sells at the Cincinnati stops of the Intergallactic Bead Show and Bead Street USA.
Pricing
Saki has a 100 minimum purchase policy. Their bulk priced beaded earwires are 50 pairs for 40 dollars. More exotic earwires start at 8 dollars per pair. Necklace and bracelet components range in price from 5 to 46 dollars wholesale.
Products
-Sterling Silver and Vermeil (gold plated silver) earwires
-Shibuichi – Necklace and bracelet components created with a traditional Japanese silver/copper alloy
-Bold Sterling and Vermeil toggles
-Sterling silver toggle clasps,
-Thai Silver beads
-Mixed metal silver and bronze toggles and pendants.
2010 Saki Silver Local Show Schedule. See www.sakisilver.com for details.
May 1- Intergalactic Bead Show
August 7-8 Intergalactic Bead Show
September 25 -26 Beadstreet USA, Sharonville Convention Center
November 6- 7 Intergalactic Bead Show
Sources:
Personal experiences with all four stores
www.sakisilver.com
www.casker.com
www.aworldofbeads.com
