We love what we do!

Rhinestonz & Beads is an internet based family business located in New Plymouth, New Zealand.  We love what we do and pride ourselves on our service and extensive product knowledge.  Although we're an online shopping site we do welcome your personal contact by phone or email, so please feel free to contact us directly with any enquiry you may have.

So, how did it all start?

Born out of a love of colours, costuming and beautiful embellishments, our business has taken a natural upward progression since 1986 when we mailed out our first price lists of fabrics, sequins and trimmings to a handful of dedicated 'dancing mums' all around New Zealand who were sewing costumes for their daughters.

As word of mouth spread (no websites or email in those days) our database of faithful clients grew along with our range of products and services.  Our first website created in 2001 allowed these to reach the global market and "Rhinestonz" in New Zealand quickly became recognised by clients, suppliers and competitors worldwide.

In 2004 we began selling beads on Trade Me, NZ ‘s most popular online trading site, developing our inventory and rapidly expanding our standard stock lines.  Our current 14,000+ positive feedbacks reflect our customer service philosophy; friendly, helpful service and quality products ‘on hand and ready to go'.

Then in 2009...

We hit the ground running again!

With our new website, we looked forward to further streamlining your shopping experience with us here at Rhinestonz & Beads.  We've come a long way in 24 years but our original 1986 commitment to quality, service and value for money still remains our first priority.

We look forward to being available to assist you in any way we can.

We belong to...

The NZ Retailers Association, the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and we're Affiliate members of the NZADT. 

Our chosen charity for 2010 is the NZ Foundation for the Blind’s Guide Dogs.

Our products have been used ...

On Costumes and Leotards for TV, Film, Stage and Cabaret, Ice and Roller Skating, Synchronized Swimming, Gymnastics, Ballroom, Latin, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Belly Dancing, Salsa, Ceroc, Marching and Baton Twirling, Circus, Competitive Aerobics, Cheerleading and Bodyscuplting ...

On clothing for Bridal Wear and Accessories, Beauty Pageants, Equestrian Competitions, Christmas Parades and the Guinness book of records ...

Our rhinestones and beads decorate 'Faberge' Eggs, Designer Clothing, Horse Tack, Animal Collars, Candles, Mirrors and Photo Frames, Phones and iPods, Quilts, Art Works and Home Decor ...

Our clients include Textile Artists, Scrapbookers, Nail Artists, Jewellery, Clothing and Costume Designers, Florists, Cake Decorators, Events Industry Organizers, Hairdressers and Make-up Artists ...

If you use our products in other ways not mentioned here we'd love to hear from you.

About Rhinestones

Beautifully coloured pebbles from stream beds and beaches were probably the very first gemstones to attract the human eye. As civilizations evolved, dynasties wielded power using their magnificent treasures of precious stones and for centuries, because of their rarity and the art of their presentation, genuine gemstones remained exclusively for the ornamentation and adornment of the royal and the rich.

Glass making can be traced back further than 2000 BC but although the earliest record of gem cutting seems to be in the mid 14th Century, it was not until the late 17th Century that a new type of crystal glass was developed in Bohemia, and glass cutting techniques were able to be refined.

By the mid 18th Century, Georges Frédéric Stras(s) had perfected the art of applying a metallic foil to the back of his handcrafted glass "diamonds" which greatly added to their sparkle, but even when he ceded the formula to George Michel Bapst in 1752, the stones were still being handmade and were still very expensive. It was to be yet another century before Daniel Swarovski patented a glass-cutting machine and imitation diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires at last became economically viable and so, commercially accepted.

Although cutting methods have essentially not changed over the centuries, modern technology continues to improve the cut, colour and clarity of the imitation gemstones we now universally call "rhinestones". As more and more new techniques contribute special finishes, coating and colours, the future of the modern rhinestone industry is assured, and today, as in centuries past, imitation gemstones continue to captivate our imagination and decorate our lives.