What is a stopper bead?

The stopper beads are small metal beads with a rubber washer inside the hole. This washer is extensible and will slightly block on the wire(s) used without being a definitive fixation. They can therefore be removed. Mainly, we use these beads in three different ways:

• As anadjustable clasp.
• To block beads in the center of a necklace, a pair of earrings or a bracelet.
• To prevent pearls from falling out of a pair of hoop earrings.

They come in different types of metal: gold filled, 925 silver, gold plated brass, silver plated brass, stainless steel, rose gold, bronze, etc. They can also have different shapes. Some are simple round beads or fancy shapes, others have a ring to add a charm and some are double. The double ones in particular, are used as a clasp or to create a multi-row piece of jewelry.

How to choose a stopper bead for your jewelry?

Normally the hole size is indicated on each bead product sheet. If this information is missing, do not hesitate to ask our customer service. Since the rubber washer is stretchy, you should take a bead with a hole the same size as your wire if you want it to slide easily, or take a bead with a hole 1 mm smaller than your wire. If you need to run your wire twice through the bead, especially when using it as a clasp, then make sure the hole is a little smaller than twice the diameter of your wire. When we use the word wire here, it also applies to the wire of a creole for example. If the wire is soft and flattens easily, you can take a hole 2 mm smaller.

How to pass a soft wire through a stopper bead

As the hole is small, it becomes very complicated to pass the thread in the bead without a needle. But sometimes the needles compatible with your thread are too big to pass through the bead and when you have to pass the thread twice through the bead, it becomes even more complicated. The trick is to wrap a slightly stiff wire around the thread to create a sort of homemade needle. This technique also works with chain. Then attach the wire to the last link of the chain.

There are also soft threads with a fine needle pre-attached to them. These woven nylon or silk threads are very practical. Remember to unwind the entire thread from the plate in order to use the end of the thread first. This way, you can keep the needle until you finish the amount of thread.