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The Classification of the Seed Beads by Size
The following classification of the seed beads by size is known. Usually, the popular numbers of the seed beads vary from 6/0 to 15/0. The figures mean the number of the beads , which can be placed if they are situated in a chain in length equal to 1 inch as shown on the picture. ( I remind you that 1 inch = 2.54 cm). 
Pic.1. Defining the number of the seed bead basing on the amount of the beads in 1 inch.
Thus the size of the seed bead means that 6 beads are placed into 1 inch (2,54 cm). These are very large beads . The diameter of such beads is about 4mm.
And the beads of the 15/0 size will go by 15 pieces into 1 inch. These are the most tiny seed beads . Their diameter is about 1,5 mm. Thus, the higher is the bead's number the smaller is its diameter.
In the following table are given the approximate correspondence between the number of the beads and their diameter, the amount of the beads in 1 gram and the amount of the beads, which need to be put on the thread to get a row of about 1 inch or 1 cm.
Bead size |
Bead diameter |
Bead quantity in 1g. |
Bead quantity on 1cm string |
Bead quantity on 1 inch string |
6/0 |
4 μμ |
15 |
4 |
10 |
8/0 |
3, 1 μμ |
38 |
5 |
1 3 |
10/0 |
2,3 μμ |
60 |
6 |
16 |
11/0 |
2, 1 μμ |
110 |
7 |
1 8 |
12/0 |
1,9 μμ |
190 |
7 ,5 |
20 |
13/0 |
1,7 μμ |
225 |
8 |
21 |
14/0 |
1, 6 μμ |
260 |
9 |
23 |
15/0 |
1,5 μμ |
290 |
10 |
24 |
PAY ATTENTION: the sizes and weight of the seed beads of different producers differ a lot, so you have to take these figures as the leading, but not the absolute principles.
Pic.2. The beads' rows of different numbers in equivalent to 1 cm.
Pre-packing the Seed Beads
Usually the seed beads , which are pre-packed by the producing factory in certain amounts, are on sale. The largest packings I have ever met – are 400 grams bags. You will most likely meet Czech seed bead in original packings of 50 grams or in the hanks, where it is threaded. The hanks can be different, that's why it's ought to find out the true weight of the seed beads and their amount before buying. Usually such a hank has 10-14 skeins from 30 to 35 cm long each. At the table is given the amount of the beads ' hanks in 1 kg. 
The number of the beads |
The 1 kg weight have |
6/0 |
6 hanks |
8/0 |
10 hanks |
10/0 |
20 hanks |
11/0 |
24 hanks |
12/0 |
28 hanks |
13/0 |
36 hanks |
14/0 |
43 hanks |
15/0 |
44 hanks |
If the seed bead is sold not by weight , but pre-packed by the seller – then it's ought to buy it carefully. It's never clear how much there is in such packing. The Japanese seed beads are pre-packed by the factory into bags of 10 grams, and the most expensive – in bags of 5 grams. Seed beads from another countries are often sold in plastic round pots.
Pic.3. Original pre-packings of the seed beads
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