Why are rhinestones called paste

Almost always these stones were set in silver closed backs to shield the foil from deteriorating. A quick and easy way to find out whether your diamond is real or fake: try fogging it up with your breath. If it clears up after one or two seconds, then your diamond is real, but if it stays fogged for three to four seconds chances are that you're looking at a fake. Paste is clear or colored glass that is cut and faceted to look like real gemstones.

Rhinestones are highly reflective glass made to imitate gemstones. The original rhinestones were quartz stones rock crystal obtained from the Rhine river. These stones were cut to resemble gemstones. Paste is a special type of cut glass which emulates a variety of gemstones.

In antique jewellery, lead glass was most commonly used, since the denser the material, the higher the refractive index and the greater the dispersion. The term paste is used to refer to gemstones made of various kinds of cut glass. In , Daniel Swarovski invented a water-powered machine that, for the first time, allowed craftsman to cut facets faster and even more precisely than was previously possible by hand. Though the term "rhinestones" is a general term than can encompass stones made from crystal, glass, or acrylic plastic, we will only use the term "crystals" to describe rhinestones made of crystal material.

All four of our rhinestone qualities at Rhinestones Unlimited are made of crystal. Crystal rhinestones are the top tier of quality in rhinestone manufacturing. Breaking the centuries old methods of crystal making in , The Swarovski Group introduced Advanced Crystal, a groundbreaking lead-free crystal recipe. In addition to making the material easier to cut, lead was also the key ingredient separating the light within the crystal, which gives it- and the original Rhine pebbles- the fire within that draws so much attention.

Lead changes the molecular structure from glass, and rather than simply allowing light to pass through like a window, crystal will catch and break the light down into the spectrum: crystal becomes its own prism. By contrast, Cubic Zirconia, which has a different molecular structure, was created to replicate the blazing white sparkle of zircon, a mineral used to make semi-precious gems. When shopping for vintage jewelry, knowing your stones can really make a difference. Of the three, paste stones are by far the most expensive and rare due to age and scarcity.

As for more modern jewelry, crystals are a bit costlier than rhinestones due to the higher quality. Some of my earliest memories are of digging through my Grandma's buttons, hankies, and jewelry. She taught me to see the beauty in everyday items made to last. I found your post very helpful and fascinating! I have some vintage jewelry in my shop, and I like to wear older pieces too! I love your page! Your email address will not be published. Rhinestones Of the three, rhinestones are the most common.

Rhinestones can be found in every color and many types of finishes including Aurora Borealis. The best is yet to come! Pam, Vintage Renude.