WHAT ARE FLATBACK RHINESTONES AND HOW CAN You Use Them?

Since ancient times, people have sought out gemstones. While early gems weren’t sparkling, people liked them for their color. Later on, jewelers developed techniques for cutting facets into gems creating sparkle. Glassmakers imitated these methods to produce chatons and later on flatback rhinestones.

What Are Rhinestones?

Originally, gem hunters gathered sparkling quartz found along the banks of the Rhine River. Over time, stone collectors depleted this natural resource. During the 17th century, the glassmakers of Bohemia began experimenting with making crystal glass beads. In 1715, glassmakers earned a patent for the world’s first crystal cut stone, the chaton. This cut crystal had a pointed back to mimic the appearance and sparkle of a diamond.

Typically, most historians credit Georg Friedrich Strass with creating the first rhinestone in 1760. Instead of a pointed back, this rhinestone had a flat back. Strass coated this flat side with a metal powder that acted as a mirror to reflect light. Now the fashion industry could also use these sparkling crystals for clothing.

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The Many Uses of Flatback Rhinestone

Flatback rhinestones are extremely versatile giving you an almost endless number of ways to use them. First of all, you can glue rhinestones to clothing. Frequently, you’ll see wedding dresses and other formal wear embellished with rhinestones. Sports competition attire such as figure skating and gymnastics use rhinestones as well as dance and cheerleading costumes.

Interior design is another place flat back where you can use rhinestones. You can bling out candlesticks, coffee mugs, glass items, and many other home decor items. Rhinestone wallpaper is also a new fashion statement that is trending. Any area in your home that you want to draw attention to or brighten can benefit from sparkling crystals.
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Some other popular items include water tumblers, key fobs, sunglasses, shoes, and cell phone cases. As you can see, the possibilities of using rhinestones are nearly endless. Of course, rhinestone jewelry still remains popular. Cheaper than the cost of diamonds, yet with just as much sparkle, rhinestones never fail to dazzle. 

Is There a Certain Glue to Use?

When gluing rhinestones, it’s important to think about the surface of your bling project. For example, fabric is porous while plastic is smooth. Not all rhinestone glues work well with smooth surfaces so it’s important to check the manufacturer’s recommendations.
 
In addition, there is a 2-step process to gluing flatback rhinestones: choosing the right glue and gluing correctly. Many people only focus on picking a glue to use. This is unfortunate because gluing incorrectly can lead to rhinestones falling off.

For fabrics, my favorite glue is Gem-Tac. It is clear drying, washable, and easy to apply. To adhere rhinestones to materials such as metal, glass, and vinyl, I like to use E6000. This glue also dries clear and is washable, but it can be a bit harder to apply.

​When gluing rhinestones, use an amount of glue slightly smaller than the rhinestone. Some of the glue should seep out from the sides when you press the rhinestone into the glue. This creates a seal which helps prevent the rhinestones from falling off. Use too little glue, and you are likely to lose some rhinestones the next time you wash your garment.

So, what are you waiting for? Do you want to begin on a rhinestone project? Rhinestones Etc. sells flatback rhinestones online with competitive pricing and great customer service! We’ve been in business for over 10 years helping customers create dazzling blinged-out creations.
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Browse ourstore for all your crystalline needs and find the perfect hue and size for your project! ​