The term garnet designates a family of gems that have identical crystalline structures. These stones are transparent and colorful. There are several garnets : pyrope (red to maroon), almandine (red to Gar violet), spessartine (orange to red-brown), grossular (green, yellow, brown, devoid of color), andradite (black, brown, brown-yellow), and uvarovite (emerald green). Informally, the term garnet is often used to designate pyrope and almandine garnets but also the red wine color. This stone is the birthstone of the month of January. A little bit of history: Garnets have been used in jewelry making for millennia, then known as carbuncles or red gems (pyrope, almandine).

The metallic wires are often classified according to their diameters, called wire gauges. Gauge is the unit of measurement used to measure the diameter of wires and it is also used to measure the thickness of the metal plates. The higher the gauge, the thinner the thread. For instance, a copper wire with 16 gauge will be much bigger than one with 30 gauge. This unit of measurement ranges between 1 and 36, but the most commonly used sizes are between 10 and 30 . The number assigned to each measure is determined by the number of times a wire can be drawn (passed through a consecutively smaller holes to reduce the diameter) to attain the appropriate size. For the creation of jewelry, the most widely used wire gauge is 20. This size of wire has a good malleability and durability even if it is shaped, while allowing beads support. Conversion table

Gauge	Inches	Millimeters
10	0.1019	2.588
12	0.0808	2.05
14	0.0641	1.63
16	0.0508	1.29
18	0.0403	1.02
20	0.032	0.813
22	0.0253	0.643
24	0.0201	0.511
26	0.0159	0.404
28	0.0125	0.32
30	0.01	0.254

Gems are minerals (like diamonds) or organic (like pearls, amber and coral) material used in jewelry, and silverware. Some crystalline aggregate like the lapis-lazuli or even some stones such as marble-onyx are also called gems. For matter to be considered a gem, it must be attractive and solid enough to withstand constant manipulations. Other matters such as ivory, jet carbon, glass and fossils are at times considered gems. Synthetic stones are not considered to be gems.

They used to be known as semi-precious stone, however, this appellation was revoked because it was considered pejorative. Gemstones (also fine gem or gem) are translucent or transparent (topaz, quartz, opal, etc.). The following stones are classified as gems: amber, aquamarine, amethyst, citrine, rock crystal, cordierite, garnet, peridot, tanzanite, topaz, tourmaline and zircon. There are also ornamental stones such as lapis lazuli and turquoise, which are often mistaken as gemstones. This term generally designates opaque colored stones or stones of a lesser value. The reconstituted stones are manufactured by a process that reduces useless stones to a powder, the powder is then mixed with glue. Thus making a complete stone. Dyes can be added to give a certain uniformity to the stone's appearance. The term stabilized means that a natural stone, such as turquoise, was too porous and has been dipped in a resin bath, or into another protective lacquer, to solidify. In France, the only stones said to be precious are diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies. Around the world, this term refers to any gem of great value.

A geode is a rocky cavity covered with crystals. Geodes can come from any type of rock or mineral. There are several of them spread throughout Earth. Many of the geodes are quartz geodes.

Born from the fusion of sand and mineral matters, glass is a fascinating material that plays with contrasts; familiar yet mysterious, it can be synonymous of fragility or strength, it keeps surprising and often gives us mind-blowing artistic creations. Mankind started using natural glass as obsidians, then later on learned to make it themselves. The techniques used to make glass evolved and mankind started making transparent glass, shaped using glass-blowing methods. Then with industrialization and progress in chemistry and physics, began the mass production of glass and its usages keep diversifying. Glass is one of the most used components in the making of beads. It can be found under various shapes; seed beads, cat-eye, fire polished, crackled glass, pressed glass, Murano glass and many more.

There are several types of glue that can be used for different purposes. It is important to choose the right glue according to the type of work that has to be done, the type of material used and the drying time.

Plastic tip used to facilitate applying glue. These tips are long and pointy which allows a precise application of the glue on the desired surface.

Pure gold is a precious (noble) metal. It is of a yellow color and its shine is what makes it so popular. It is one of the most ductile and malleable metal. It has a great electric conductivity and gold is use in several industries. It is the first metal that was discovered and used by man just a little bit ahead of cooper. Gold does not oxide when it comes into contact with air or water, an esthetic property which imparts it with its value. In the jewelry industry gold alloys are used because fine gold is too soft to resist deformation and shocks. Adding an alloy thus provides it with the necessary physical properties to be transformed. It also decreases it carats, the amount of fine gold.

American marking fineness	Parts	%	European marking fineness
24 k	24/24	100 %	1000 or 999
22 k	22/24	91.70 %	916 or 917
18 k	18/24	75.00 %	750
14 k	14/24	58.30 %	583 or 585
10 k	10/24	41.70 %	417

Depending on the alloy used, the color of the gold will vary. The metal is mainly used provides the color of the gold. Green gold = fine silver Yellow gold = fine silver+ cooper Pink gold = copper + fine silver Red gold = copper White (or grey) gold = nickel Blue gold = iron Violet gold = aluminum

Gold-filled (or gold overlay) is the result of layers of gold that are glued using heat and pressure on a non precious metal such as brass. The guidelines of this technique imply that the layer of gold used to plate must correspond to at least a twentieth of the total weigh of the item. The most common plating are made with 10k or 14k gold. Much like gold, gold-filled is hypoallergenic. However, after a while, the gold layer can be damaged and dislodge itself from the item. Its deterioration can vary according to its usage, its care and the acidity of the skin it comes into contact with. Gold-filled is more resistant and thicker than standard gold plate on a non precious metal. Do not confuse it with “gold-field”, a type of jewel (a broach) that was quite “in” during the XiXth century, during the gold rush. Gold diggers that discovered gold ore veins on their land would request a broach on which a tool symbolic to them, would be represented.

Working area used to design the layout of beads and the color schemes. This tool allows you to visualize the positioning of the beads while at the same time enabling you to know the jewelry piece’s measurements. The bead board also has compartments to put beads and finishing products.

Transparent plastic cups are used to measure and mix elements. They are washable and reusable. They are very practical to measure and mix casting resin. Some are graduated in ml and others in ounces, drams, teaspoons or tablespoons.

Guru beads are rounds beads that have three holes when they are looked at from the outside. If we could see through the bead, the bead’s hole would be shaped like a “T”. These beads are always paired with a second conically shaped bead. They are used to join string ends. Both string extremities are threaded in the holes above the “T” and are exited together in the hole bellow the “T”. Following which, the conic bead is strung and the strings are tied together. Their size vary, however they more often than not measure about 8mm. They are generally made with semiprecious stones such as agates, cornelian and onyx but can also be made of wood and glass. The guru beads are often used to finish bracelets or mala bead necklaces (Buddhist or Hindu rosaries). This part of the rosary would represent Buddha or the master, thus the name guru.