How to Find Quality Rhinestones

What You Need To Know When Looking For Quality Rhinestones

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, or so the song goes. And what’s not to love about diamonds? Sparkly and prismatic, it’s hard to miss someone wearing these sparkling gems. But diamonds are expensive, and sometimes we want some sparkle without the extravagant price tag. That's where quality rhinestones excel. 

When you buy a quality diamond, you do your research to make sure your money is well spent. You consider the  4 Cs of diamond buying - cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.  These standards are the most important characteristics to consider when making a diamond purchase and help determine the diamond's value.

Rhinestones are diamonds' cousins, sparkly and prismatic at a much lower cost. Comparatively, there are characteristics to consider to finding quality rhinestones. The 4 C’s in considering the quality of rhinestones are similar to diamonds. They are: cut, clarity, color, and contour.
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Characteristics of Quality Rhinestones

​Let’s examine in depth these 4 C’s of rhinestones:
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Cut

In a rhinestone this refers to the faceting, specifically the number of facets. Because the more facets a rhinestone has, the more light it reflects. Consequently, the more light the rhinestone reflects, the more sparkle it has. Swarovski Xirius rhinestones have 16 facets, and Maxima by Preciosa have 15. Other manufacturers may have only 10 or fewer facets.

(Note: Swarovski has removed itself from the retail market and now only sells to luxury brands.)
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Color

​This refers to the fidelity and intensity of the color. Among the same color, are all the rhinestone the same hue? Any variations in color? Even in different lots, the color should be the same. A variation in color can ruin the effect you are trying to achieve with rhinestones.

Clarity

​Quality rhinestones should be free from cloudy spots, streaks or bubbles. Or in other words, the rhinestone should be clear and free from any defects.
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Contour

Are all the rhinestones perfectly shaped? If you are buying round rhinestones, you certainly don’t want some with flattened sides. Every rhinestone should be consistently the same shape.

Never forget to consider these 4 C’s of rhinestones when buying. Name brand rhinestones have built up their reputation over the years, so you can be assured of quality rhinestones when making a purchase. 

Rhinestones Etc. provides great prices on rhinestones without sacrificing excellent customer service. Visit our store at www.RhinestonesEtc.com
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