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Basic Jewelry Terms, Weights, Gauges & Sizes
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Findings
Q: What are "findings"?
A: "Findings" is the generic industry term for metal jewelry components: charms, bar pins, ear wires, jump rings, etc.
Measurements
Q: Are the beads measured any special way?
A: Beads are measured HxWxT, as strung (unless otherwise noted). In other words, the given measurement is taken with the bead threaded along a horizontal string, then listed as height by width by thickness. This means top-drilled beads (hearts, crosses, etc.) that you likely would hang vertically, will be measured on their "side."
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Size Conversions
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1 millimeter (mm)
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0.04" (a bit less than 1/16")
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1 inch (")
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2.54 centimeter (cm), or 25.4mm
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Quick References for Round Beads
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Typical Number of Round Beads per Strand
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Size
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16" strand
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20" strand
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24" strand
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36" strand
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3mm
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136
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169
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203
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305
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4mm
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102
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127
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153
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229
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5mm
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81
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102
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122
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183
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6mm
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67
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85
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102
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152
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8mm
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50
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64
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76
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114
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10mm
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40
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51
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61
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92
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12mm
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33
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42
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51
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76
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Wire Gauge
Q: How do you read wire gauge sizes?
A: The main thing to remember with wire gauge is that the larger the gauge, the smaller the size.
Wire Gauge Conversion Chart
Sizes listed are AWG (American Wire Gauge)
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Wire Gauge
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Inches
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Millimeters
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14
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0.064
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1.63
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15
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0.057
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1.45
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16
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0.051
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1.30
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17
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0.045
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1.14
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18
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0.040
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1.02
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19
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0.036
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0.914
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20
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0.032
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0.813
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21
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0.029
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0.737
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22
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0.025
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0.635
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24
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0.020
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0.508
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25
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0.018
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0.455
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26
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0.016
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0.406
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28
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0.013
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0.320
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30
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0.010
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0.254
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32
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0.008
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0.203
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Weight
How do you count all those little bits & pieces?
Most findings are packaged by weight. Although we use very accurate counting scales and trays, small variations in each item mean the actual count might vary slightly over or under the marked quantity. We strive to put the exact amount in each bag, although +/- 5% is the standard in the jewelry supply industry.
At 5%, a 1-gross bag could vary over or under by seven pieces. Smaller quantities will be exact; you can expect a bag marked "1 dozen" to contain exactly 1 dozen pieces.
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Weight Conversions
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1 ounce (oz)
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29.35 grams (gm)
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1 troy ounce (ozt)
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31.1gm (ozt are used for precious metals)
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1 kilo
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1,000gm (twenty 50gm bags)
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Quantities
Q: What is a gross?
A: A gross (GR) is 144 pieces
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Quantity
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Pieces
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Pairs
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Dozen
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1 gross (GR)
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144
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72
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12
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½ gross (½GR)
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72
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36
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6
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Q: What is a mass?
A: A mass is 1,200 beads of a single style and color. It is the standard unit of measure for many glass bead manufacturers. Since little or no repackaging is needed, we can offer a substantial discount for masses of many Czech beads. Partial masses are not available at the mass price. When full masses are backordered, they are generally shipped in 3 to 6 weeks. Mass discounts are available for 1,200 of one color of one bead (not for assortments). Some Czech firepolish beads are available in regular (strung) masses and less-expensive loose masses.
Other Units of Measure
For a complete list and description of all units of measure used in our catalog and online store, see
http://www.rings-things.com/resources/units.html
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