Rhinestone Buttons

Cheap rhinestone buttons are not difficult to come by, and in fact rhinestones are, in a way, a cheap version of diamonds. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t different versions of rhinestones available, and by knowing what you’re buying you can save a lot of money.

The first thing to understand is that some rhinestones are made of actual crystal, generally European from the area of the Rhine River, which is where Rhinestones got their names. Others are made of glass, while still more are made from plastic or acrylic substances. As you would expect, the most expensive ones are those made from crystals, which are genuine rhinestones. These are usually produced by well known brands in the rhinestone business such as Swarovski and can be bought in relatively small quantities.

Glass rhinestones are somewhat cheaper than crystal ones, because of the relative ease of making things from glass as opposed to crystals. Glass rhinestones are generally available in the full range of rhinestone colors, which covers over 60 different shades, and can also be bought in quantities ranging from singles through to hundreds.

Plastic and acrylic rhinestone buttons are the cheapest ones available, often by a significant amount, up to half or even less. However, bear in mind that they can often scratch or become dull or chafed quite easily, much more easily than glass or crystal, and so the chances of needing to replace them in the future are much higher. Still, the original savings are likely to make up for that if you are planning to use them on something that won’t be frequently worn.

Cheap rhinestone buttons are best used for something like a costume, which is a one-off design and won’t be needed again in the future, or at least if there is damage to the buttons it won’t be a big problem. They are also good for clothes that you don’t care for too much but would like to refresh a little bit, so that you probably won’t wear them too much. This reduces the chances of any damage to the stones. For any clothing that you like a lot and plan to wear regularly, it’s probably worth investing a little more in the more expensive rhinestone buttons.