Rhinestones are imitations of diamonds used to decorate clothes and as cheap jewelry. Rhinestones were made using crystal before the 19th century but are available in acrylic or crystal types today. The recent technological developments have also made it possible to buy wholesale rhinestones in the comfort of your house.
Rhinestones are available in different types in the market, and you should know certain things to ensure you buy the real ones. These items are significant investments, and their characteristics will help you to know whether they are genuine or not.
Below we discuss how to buy rhinestones
1. Brightness
Most rhinestones are flickering and bright due to the high acrylic material transmittance. Additionally, the light beneath the product occurs due to the various cut surface’s radiance. Rhinestones are used because they flicker like diamonds, and you are advised to observe their reflection ability.
Generally, good-quality rhinestones have a higher reflection degree and translucency. Below we discuss the three descriptions used when determining their brightness.
Raw material
Buyers should ask the seller whether the rhinestone is made using 100% acrylic material or whether they have mixed it with other materials. The rhinestone will have higher transparency when suitable acrylic materials are used.
Mold
The mold’s quality significantly affects the rhinestone’s quality. Good-quality molds produce smooth and flat acrylic that has a high reflection. Buyers can know about the rhinestone’s mold by determining the process used.
Injection technology
Besides the mold, the injection technology is also a significant determinant of the rhinestone’s quality. A product’s quality made using these injections depends on several factors like time and temperature, and experienced buyers can come up with the best production factor to produce quality products.
2. Its Cutting Surface
Another question you should ask yourself is whether the rhinestone has a flat cutting surface, and you can determine this by looking at its appearance. Remember, the rhinestone’s shine occurs after light refraction, and the light is relatively shiny if it has a flat surface.
You are advised to confirm the cut surface’s sharpness to determine the rhinestone’s authenticity.
3. Check the Injection Gate
The acrylic rhinestone’s edge is produced during the molding process. Remember, burrs might happen; suppose the injection gate is not treated correctly, which might scratch or injure the skin.
Therefore, buyers are advised to touch the rhinestone’s edge to know if it has a flat and smooth gate. Smooth and flat gates show the rhinestone has a high quality.
4. Coating Longevity
To confirm the stone’s authenticity, buyers should also ask if the silver coating peels easily before buying. The molded acrylic is transparent and does not show a shimmering luster. This means the semi-finished products will be electroplated after the injection, and silver is put beneath the product to make it shine.
There are also differences in the methods and techniques used to electroplate silver at the back.
Final Thoughts
Rhinestones are precious items, and buyers must perform specific tests to ensure they are legitimate. The above article has discussed how to buy these items, and more information is available online.