Q: To which countries do you ship?
A: We ship worldwide with the exception of Nigeria and Indonesia. Orders to Mexico will only leave via FEDEX or UPS.

Q: Do you have a printed catalog?
A: No. To keep our overall cost as low as possible we no longer have a printed catalog. We pass on the savings to our customers in lower prices.

Q: Can you please send me access information for your wholesale prices or send your wholesale price list?
A: You need no access information. Our wholesale price is the middle price in the pricing table under each item. You can place an order directly.

Q: Do you have additional wholesale discounts for large orders?
A: Yes, they are as follows: orders over:
$500.00 receive 5%,
$1,000.00 receive 7.5%
$2,000 receive 10%
$5,000 receive 12.5%
$7,500 receive 15% discount. Our shopping cart will automatically subtract the discounts.
If you need larger discounts you may be better off ordering at www.schmuckperlen.com, where most of our large wholesale customers place their orders.

Q: We are planning a very large order. Can you mail us some free samples?
A: No we can't. As you can see our merchandise is high quality and expensive. We can't send free samples. You may place a sample order and return any beads that don't meet your expectations.

Q: How much does shipping cost?
A: Shipping starts at US $11.50 for 100 grams for shipments. 500 grams via FEDEX to the US costs US$16.95. 500 grams, depending on the merchandise you buy is on average US$ 500 in merchandise.

Q: Why is shipping so high?
A: We are located in Germany. We try our best to keep shipping as low as possible. Shipping is a one time cost and you can save in the overall cost of your order through lower cost for the bead. It will more than offset the shipping cost. In addition, you pay neither sales tax nor customs on our beads.

Q: How quickly do you ship?
A: We usually ship within two days of receiving the order, many times quicker. Please expect delays in the second half of July and in December.

Q: How soon will I get my order?
A: That depends on the shipping method you have chosen. Allow about 2 weeks for Recorded (Certified) packages, 3-6 business days for Expedited and 48 hours for FEDEX. Saturday delivery on FEDEX is available for certain areas of the US.

Most frequent delays are for customers who don't respond to questions about their orders in a timely fashion.

Many of our customers in the US are very pleased how quickly they receive their orders. Via Expedited Shipping, an order place late Thursday frequently reaches the customers in the US by Monday/Tuesday.

Q: I live in Europe/United Kingdom. Why do I still have to pay as much for shipping. I don't need worldwide shipping.
A: Please order at www.schmuckperlen.com. It's priced in Euros, is bi-lingual in English and German and European shipping via 2 days UPS is only 10.90 Euros, independent of the weight. Per our business conditions an European order placed on www.gems2behold.com will be transferred to www.schmuckperlen.com.

Q: How many beads do I get for 750 grams?
A: You should get about US$ 500 worth in beads for 750 grams. Of couse, this is also dependent on the size of the bead ordered.

Q: How big is the bead hole?
A: The bead hole of our Venetian beads from Murano glasss is just under 1mm. To attach to a leather cord you would need to splice the cord with 1.5mm End Caps or 2mm End Caps. You can thread a silk cord through the beads or use silk ribbon. The bead hole of our Ceramic beads is at least 2mm, in many cases larger. You can use leather cords and rubber necklaces without splicing.

Q: Is the price per bead or per package?
A: The price is per bead.

Q: Why are the beads so expensive?
A: Our beads are hand made in Venice or Murano and we specialize in beads with fine gold (yellow and white gold) core or fine silver core. Fine gold or fine silver is defined as 99.9% pure or 24kt. Our Millefiori (Mosaic, Daisy or Flower) beads and our Sommerso (Aventurine or Aventurina or Goldstone) beads are inexpensive and beautiful in their own right. 50 beads start at US$19.00. The gold sparkle inside the Sommerso beads is created by using Goldstone, or Aventurine (Aventurina).

Q: I'd like to order beads with a lesser quality gold or silver for lower cost.
A: The temparature of molten glass is too high to work with lesser alloys than pure gold or pure silver.

Q: Will I have to pay customs for your beads?
A: That depends where you live. Glass beads unstrung, unpolished are exempted from customs under TARIC-Code 70181051 of the International Customs Database, which applies in most countries. However, some countries have general import duties (these are usually VAT taxes), which apply to all imported goods. In that case, the duties is frequently offset by not having to pay sales tax. Gems2Behold does not prepay or pay those type of import duties.

USA: There are neither customs nor sales tax duties for glass beads shipped to the USA.

European Union: no customs duties apply within the European Union. However, please refer to VAT or sales tax below.

Q: Do I have to pay VAT (Sales Tax)?
A: That depends where you live. Below are some examples.

For customers residing:

European Union: Gems2Behold Beads and Jewelry Findings is required to charge all customers in the European Union (EU) 16% VAT unless you have a VAT number. If you have a VAT number, please select this in the shopping cart from the drop-down list and indicate your VAT number in the comment section.

Outside the European Union: Customers outside the European Union are not charged sales tax by Gems2Behold Beads and Jewelry Findings.

US customers need to pay neither sales tax nor customs for our beads.

Japan charges 8% import duties on most imported goods, however this is offset by not having to pay 5% sales tax in Japan, therefor the cost to our Japanese customers is about 3%.

Please refer to your country's specific customs and excise regulations. Most countries custom's information can be found on the web by searching for "import duties". Again, glass beads, unstrung fall under Taric Code 70181011 this code is standardized for all countries. Gems2Behold does not prepay or pay those type of import duties for any order.

The above information is provided for information only. Gems2Behold Beads and Jewelry Findings does not assume responsibility for the information to be correct.

Q: On the options drop down boxes I can choose between "Puffy Hearts" and "Flat Prem Hearts", which cost extra. What does this mean? Should I pay extra and which picture do you show?
A: Our goal is to get you beautiful beads from Venice at an affordable price. We have a total of about 20 Venetian suppliers, which charge different prices for different beads. While we personally think that the "Puffy Hearts" and the "Flat Premium Hearts" are the same quality, the price and look is different. My husband, Ken, likes the Puffy Hearts best, some of our customers prefer the Flat Prem Hearts. The prices have diverged to such a point we can't absorb the difference any longer. Here are the differences we see:

Puffy Heart: more rounded, slightly more petite, not completely full in the "wings", however excellent crystal clear glass, a very well made beautiful bead. Limited availability in White Gold. Great price.

Flat Prem Heart: lies flat (more or less), full in the wings, also a very well made bead. Usually only available in Yellow or White Gold!! Expensive. This heart is very popular in Japan.

Our picture shows both, puffy and flat premium hearts. With the description above you can tell in most cases. Normally customers know their preferences. If you don't, our recommendation would be the Puffy Heart, since it is excellent value.

Q: How easy is it to return beads?
A: It is very easy. All you need to do is include a copy of the original invoice, and have the beads in their original bags with the correct sticker still attached. Regular AirMail shipping is fine and costs on average about US$4.00 - US$6.00 from the United States. On the outside of the package please affix a small green customs sticker CN22 (click here to print a copy), which states "Return of German Merchandise, Unstrung glass beads TARIC-Code 70181051". Please don't forget the copy of the original invoice. That's all there is to it.

Q: What is your return address?
A:
Gems2Behold Beads and Jewelry Findings
Im Grund 18
D-36304 Alsfeld
Germany
AIR MAIL

Q: How do I return beads?
A: Within 10 days of receipt of your order include a copy of the original invoice, and have the beads in their original bags with the correct sticker still attached. Regular AirMail shipping is fine and costs on average about US$4.00 - US$6.00 from the United States. On the outside of the package please affix a small green customs sticker CN22 (click here to print a copy), which states "Return of German Merchandise, Unstrung glass beads TARIC-Code 70181051". Please don't forget the copy of the original invoice.

Q: How sturdy are your glass beads? Will they easily break? Can I make a bracelet with them?
A: Our round glass beads are they sturdiest. Butterflies, candies and long narrow shapes are the most fragile. We ship them in special plastic cases to protect them. Round glass beads are quite strong and will even bounce on tile floors without breaking. When making bracelets, please select sturdy, compact beads. As with all jewelry please treat with care.

Q: What is that little bur I find near to the hole on some beads?
A: It is created while "lampworking" the bead, which is what you call wrapping molten glass around a copper wire, the traditional way or creating hand-made glass beads. A diamond bead reamer (click here to view bead reamer) will remove the bur. A little sandpaper wetted with water will do the same.

Q: Some beads have a red lining in the hole. How do I remove it?
A: These are remnants of copper wire on which the bead was created. Again a bead reamer will remove the remainder, also good are old-fashioned pipe cleanders. Some colors have minerals that adhere more to the copper wire than others.

Q: I'm interested in the gemstone beads. How many beads are on a strand?
A: The beads per strand should be noted in the description. If it is not, for a round bead the calculation goes 400mm divided by the diameter of the bead, ie for a 10mm bead there are 40 on a strand. All strands are roughly 400mm. For the 14mm gemstone beads there are 28 beads on a strand.

Q: Can the gemstone beads be purchased individually?
A: Many gemstone beads (the larger or more expensive ones) can be purchased by the bead. This is then noted in the description.

Q: What is the Coefficient of Expansion (COE) of the glass your beads are made off. What type of glass is it?
A: Our beads are made from Effetre glass. It has a COE of 104.

Q: What is COE and how does it affect compatibility?
A: COE stands for Coefficient of Expansion, is usually expressed as a whole number.

To better understand compatibility, let’s consider what happens when glass gets heated in a kiln. Like many other substances, glass expands when it gets hot and contracts when it cools. This change in density, which occurs at the molecular level, can be measured in a laboratory.

Effetre (Moretti) glass, which is commonly used for lampworking, has a 104 COE (Coefficient of Expansion). Most Bullseye glass has a COE of 90. Spectrum, another common glass, has a COE of around 96, while Corning’s Pyrex glassware has a 32 COE. Standard window glass, has a COE that is usually around 84-87. Glass needs to have the same COE to be compatible or it will crack when heated in a kiln or lampworked, mainly after it has cooled.

Q: Can I combine your glass beads from Effretre glass with Precious Metal Clay (PMC)?
A: Yes, you can. Please view Margaret Ball's article on combining Glass Beads and PMC issue.

Q: I love your beads, but am new to this. How can I make jewelry from your beads?
A: You may wish to start with a jewelry book, order a magazine from us and look at our instructions.

Q: Do you have horizontal heart beads?
A: Yes, we do. All horizontal heart beads have a SKU which contains -HH- they can be found here. We can special order horizontal heart beads in every line we carry. Please contact us for details.