Bali Beads VS Bali-Style Beads
Bali beads are lovely and well crafted. Bali-style beads can be comparable, but are not necessarily so. What is the difference between them?
Bali beads have recently become quite popular among jewelry artisans. They are Sterling Silver beads, made in Bali, Indonesia. The Balinese tradition of handcrafting beads has been handed down to contemporary artisans. Bali beads have a distinctive appearance, are (usually), high quality beads of .925 sterling silver.
“Bali-style” beads are beads made in the style of authentic Bali beads, but are not created by artisans in Indonesia. These often come from Turkey or India. Sometimes the quality rivals authentic Bali beads; but often, they are an inferior product. Many Bali-style beads sold in the US are .925 sterling silver, but count on that only if they are specifically sold/marked as such.
Things to keep an eye out for when buying Bali or Bali-style beads:
If they’re called “Bali beads” but are marked as the product of a country other than Indonesia, they are (at best), Bali-style beads.
If you use Bali-style beads, and you want to sell your handmade items stating they’re sterling silver, make sure the beads are .925 Sterling Silver (or better), If in doubt, ask your supplier. Turkish and East Indian Bali-style beads are often less expensive than authentic Bali Beads. This may be due to a lower silver count in the alloy, lower gram weight over-all, and/or a lower standard of craftsmanship in production. If the quality is comparable, there’s no reason not to use them, but be sure to advertise your jewelry as made with Bali-style beads, not Bali beads. Also, you can’t claim they’re sterling if they are not.
Here is an example of genuine Bali beads from my collection :
