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-   -   Czech machine-cut crystals (http://www.craftbanter.com/showthread.php?t=7843)

Kalera Stratton August 26th 04 08:37 AM

Czech machine-cut crystals
 
I got my Czech crystals today! OK, so I have to say... if the Swarovski
people aren't wetting themselves yet, they should be. Although the
cutting isn't *quite* as fine or precise, (there is ever so slightly
more room around the holes, and there are a few more rejects than I
normally see in a Swarovski order (which I suspect is partly because of
careful culling on Letrinka's part... thank you, Letrinka!) THESE ARE
DAMN GOOD. They have the sparkle and the prettiness, at half the price.
I realize that I am basically repeating what Kathy N-V said, but it
bears repeating... Swarovski needs to watch their behind! These are
nothing like the rather flat, dull Chinese crystals I ghave seen.

My thoughts on these: they don't come in as many colors as the S. does.
I didn't order any ABs, so I can't address the quality there. I have
spotted a few in my order that are included or pitted, and will need to
be discarded. However, overall, not only am I sure that the unwary might
be taken in if these were subsituted for Swarovskis, I am now *positive*
that I have myself been taken in! My lesson learned: only order from
known, reputable dealers in Austrian crystal.

In summary, I think I like 'em. I'm only using them to space my bead
sets, though, so I may not be the pickiest customer in town! I have a
LOT of Swarovskis left, so it may be a couple of weeks before I am using
the Czech consistently, but I will make note in my listings whether I
use Czech or Austrian crystals, just as an FYI, so that buyers know what
they're getting and can re-label them accordingly if they use them in a
finished piece.

Delivery from Czechbeads was, BTW, insanely fast.

--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay

lgreene August 26th 04 12:06 PM

My nephew's gf sent me pics of the ones she has picked up for me right in
Czechoslovakia. Can't wait to get them!! I asked her to pick some up after
I got the email that she was bead shopping for me, based on Kathy's review.

Lisa
"Kalera Stratton" wrote in message
...
I got my Czech crystals today! OK, so I have to say... if the Swarovski
people aren't wetting themselves yet, they should be. Although the
cutting isn't *quite* as fine or precise, (there is ever so slightly
more room around the holes, and there are a few more rejects than I
normally see in a Swarovski order (which I suspect is partly because of
careful culling on Letrinka's part... thank you, Letrinka!) THESE ARE
DAMN GOOD. They have the sparkle and the prettiness, at half the price.
I realize that I am basically repeating what Kathy N-V said, but it
bears repeating... Swarovski needs to watch their behind! These are
nothing like the rather flat, dull Chinese crystals I ghave seen.

My thoughts on these: they don't come in as many colors as the S. does.
I didn't order any ABs, so I can't address the quality there. I have
spotted a few in my order that are included or pitted, and will need to
be discarded. However, overall, not only am I sure that the unwary might
be taken in if these were subsituted for Swarovskis, I am now *positive*
that I have myself been taken in! My lesson learned: only order from
known, reputable dealers in Austrian crystal.

In summary, I think I like 'em. I'm only using them to space my bead
sets, though, so I may not be the pickiest customer in town! I have a
LOT of Swarovskis left, so it may be a couple of weeks before I am using
the Czech consistently, but I will make note in my listings whether I
use Czech or Austrian crystals, just as an FYI, so that buyers know what
they're getting and can re-label them accordingly if they use them in a
finished piece.

Delivery from Czechbeads was, BTW, insanely fast.

--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay




Stephanie August 26th 04 03:22 PM

(there is ever so slightly
more room around the holes, and there are a few more rejects than I
normally see in a Swarovski order


You know I didn't realize that people culled crystal like Swarovski, even. Do
you think when I buy small lots of beads especially mixed up lots on ebay that
I am getting what someone culled? I bet you I have never seen a first class
crystal bead Czech or Swarovski!! Dang.

Stephanie

Christina Peterson August 26th 04 07:14 PM

I'll check out the Czechs. Hopefully I'll find some of the muted colors
like Erinite and the satins. (Especially for winter).

And speaking of Czech beads, I got some Czech artist lampwork a while ago.
Made by Patrik Bubik. http://www.bubik.com/shop/customer/home.php Tiny,
I think the biggest was 8 mm. The colors were noticeably Eastern European;
they are for my Ukrainian DIL.

Tina


"Kalera Stratton" wrote in message
...
I got my Czech crystals today! OK, so I have to say... if the Swarovski
people aren't wetting themselves yet, they should be. Although the
cutting isn't *quite* as fine or precise, (there is ever so slightly
more room around the holes, and there are a few more rejects than I
normally see in a Swarovski order (which I suspect is partly because of
careful culling on Letrinka's part... thank you, Letrinka!) THESE ARE
DAMN GOOD. They have the sparkle and the prettiness, at half the price.
I realize that I am basically repeating what Kathy N-V said, but it
bears repeating... Swarovski needs to watch their behind! These are
nothing like the rather flat, dull Chinese crystals I ghave seen.

My thoughts on these: they don't come in as many colors as the S. does.
I didn't order any ABs, so I can't address the quality there. I have
spotted a few in my order that are included or pitted, and will need to
be discarded. However, overall, not only am I sure that the unwary might
be taken in if these were subsituted for Swarovskis, I am now *positive*
that I have myself been taken in! My lesson learned: only order from
known, reputable dealers in Austrian crystal.

In summary, I think I like 'em. I'm only using them to space my bead
sets, though, so I may not be the pickiest customer in town! I have a
LOT of Swarovskis left, so it may be a couple of weeks before I am using
the Czech consistently, but I will make note in my listings whether I
use Czech or Austrian crystals, just as an FYI, so that buyers know what
they're getting and can re-label them accordingly if they use them in a
finished piece.

Delivery from Czechbeads was, BTW, insanely fast.

--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay




Kalera Stratton August 27th 04 01:42 AM

Nope, the mixed lots are not culls... I've ordered plenty of those
before and they were all first-rate beads. There's a lady who does
"themed" mixes, and I used to buy from her when I wasn't sure what
colors I liked/needed, or I wanted a lot of colors but at the large lot
price. I really like her mixes; she does "birthstone mix" "summer mix",
etc. You can spot a bad bead a mile away, because it will be something
like missing a facet or pitted or only half a bead. I am not sure how
they get in there in the first place, but I guess when you're dealing
with millions of teeny beads it's just inevitable.

-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay


Stephanie wrote:
(there is ever so slightly
more room around the holes, and there are a few more rejects than I
normally see in a Swarovski order



You know I didn't realize that people culled crystal like Swarovski, even. Do
you think when I buy small lots of beads especially mixed up lots on ebay that
I am getting what someone culled? I bet you I have never seen a first class
crystal bead Czech or Swarovski!! Dang.

Stephanie


Kalera Stratton August 27th 04 01:46 AM

I just looked at his site and those are absolutely wonderful! Thanks for
sharing it.

I think you'll like the Czech crystal pallette. I ordered 11 colors to
start and everything I got it gentle and muted. They have bright colors
as well, but they're more versatile as spacers if they're lighter and
more muted than the beads I'll be matching them with.

Here's the URL I got mine from:

http://www.czechbeads.com

-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay


Christina Peterson wrote:
I'll check out the Czechs. Hopefully I'll find some of the muted colors
like Erinite and the satins. (Especially for winter).

And speaking of Czech beads, I got some Czech artist lampwork a while ago.
Made by Patrik Bubik. http://www.bubik.com/shop/customer/home.php Tiny,
I think the biggest was 8 mm. The colors were noticeably Eastern European;
they are for my Ukrainian DIL.

Tina


"Kalera Stratton" wrote in message
...

I got my Czech crystals today! OK, so I have to say... if the Swarovski
people aren't wetting themselves yet, they should be. Although the
cutting isn't *quite* as fine or precise, (there is ever so slightly
more room around the holes, and there are a few more rejects than I
normally see in a Swarovski order (which I suspect is partly because of
careful culling on Letrinka's part... thank you, Letrinka!) THESE ARE
DAMN GOOD. They have the sparkle and the prettiness, at half the price.
I realize that I am basically repeating what Kathy N-V said, but it
bears repeating... Swarovski needs to watch their behind! These are
nothing like the rather flat, dull Chinese crystals I ghave seen.

My thoughts on these: they don't come in as many colors as the S. does.
I didn't order any ABs, so I can't address the quality there. I have
spotted a few in my order that are included or pitted, and will need to
be discarded. However, overall, not only am I sure that the unwary might
be taken in if these were subsituted for Swarovskis, I am now *positive*
that I have myself been taken in! My lesson learned: only order from
known, reputable dealers in Austrian crystal.

In summary, I think I like 'em. I'm only using them to space my bead
sets, though, so I may not be the pickiest customer in town! I have a
LOT of Swarovskis left, so it may be a couple of weeks before I am using
the Czech consistently, but I will make note in my listings whether I
use Czech or Austrian crystals, just as an FYI, so that buyers know what
they're getting and can re-label them accordingly if they use them in a
finished piece.

Delivery from Czechbeads was, BTW, insanely fast.

--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay





Stephanie August 27th 04 03:10 AM

You can spot a bad bead a mile away, because it will be something
like missing a facet or pitted or only half a bead.


That's a relief! The only Swarovski I've bought is 4 mm in little lots with
Japanese seeds and other odds and ends. I kinda like these mixed bags of beads.
Usually I get czech, it's just so much closer to my price range. I'm glad to
know that czech isn't too bad compared to Swarovski.

Stephanie
Stephanie



Stephanie August 27th 04 04:03 AM

How come I keep getting my name printed twice?

Stephanie

Dr. Sooz August 27th 04 06:41 AM

I really like her mixes; she does "birthstone mix" "summer mix",
etc.


Oh, I've seen those. I forget who she is though.
~~
Sooz

Kalera Stratton August 27th 04 05:06 PM

I can't remember the seller but when I first started buying Swarovski
(not that long ago) I bought from her because she had good feedback and
I liked her prices. Her crystal mixes are delightful and shipping was
always fast.

OK... I looked it up, the seller is jeankay. :)

-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay


Dr. Sooz wrote:
I really like her mixes; she does "birthstone mix" "summer mix",
etc.



Oh, I've seen those. I forget who she is though.
~~
Sooz



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