We appreciate that buying on-line can be tricky so we will make it as simple as possible for you. And we actually want you to love what you buy!
I guess you landed here because you would like to know more about Affinity, who we are and how we started. Established in 2002, we had our TENTH BIRTHDAY in December!
I started the business in partnership with a third generation Sri Lankan gem merchant who supplies direct source gemstones such as Sapphires, Rubies, Aquamarine, Alexandrite, Tourmaline and many more.
We chose our name: Affinity Gems because it sums up what we are about. It is most important to us to build Affinity with our customers, to source our gems from Fair Trade mines and factories and to honour the treasures the World provides us with by maximising their quality for you - many of our gem stones are indivually cut so you can really find one-off pieces for your designs!
We started out supplying natural cut gemstones to trade customers in Hatton Garden, throughout the UK and in Europe, which we still do.
Many new Designer/Makers will not be aware that we were one of the very first Gemstone Bead Companies in Great Britain. We started to source gemstone beads in a big way in 2004 after Italian customers asked us to supply them as they found our quality to be exceptional.
At that time, the new era of gemstone beaded jewellery was sweeping across the US and Europe and we saw it would also be big in the UK, which indeed it is!
We go the extra mile for our customers to provide what you need and always ready to offer tips and advice where needed.
We personally select our gemstones from special sources in gem hot-spots in India and quality freshwater pearls direct from the Pearl Farms in China, as well as our loose gem stones from Sri Lanka and around the world.
We are constantly on the look-out for unusual and inspirational pieces. When you see our gemstones for the first time, the quality and vivid natural colours will jump out at you! We are a Company with a concience and only deal with Fair Trade Souces.
From the outset, via our private showroom and at Exhibitions, we had such a high demand and following for our products that many more bead suppliers sprung up. Many supply mass-produced varieties from the Chinese continent, and those of us who have maintained our quality and market niche have stood the test of time.
Affinity's Niche is largely jewellery designers who want to make stunning one-off pieces and/or reproduce Vintage Designs and private clients who commission us to create bespoke pieces for them.
Whilst we do offer Special Clearances and it well worth you looking out for these, I will tell you frankly that if you are looking for very cheap beads, there are a number of other suppliers of these type of mass-produced materials.
We are well-regarded for stocking quality natural and more unusual Gemstone Beads, as well as popular varieties.
Many of our gemstone beads are individually cut which means you can make truly unique designs with them and we are constantly looking out for special Gemstone Beads, Freshwater Pearls, as well as interesting Stringing Materials, Sterling Silver and Gold-filled Findings.
We travel the Globe to find special gem stones for you and most are individually cut .... (ideal for vintage jewellery) and all at exceptional value for money.
Of course, we stock popular varieties too, e.g. round, rondelle as well as stunning natural pearls, silver beads, findings, stringing and Beading Tools ... all at great prices.
Thank you for visiting our Web Site - have a wander through our pages (use the Search Bar to streamline your searches).
We do hope you enjoy shopping with us - people who visit us at our showroom or shows say: "It's just like stepping into a Sweet Shop!"