What are Rhinestones and Their Various Types

Rhinestones are small glittery pieces that are the simplest and most phenomenal way of adding bling to any design. They are extremely gorgeous and can be used in many ways.

Earlier natural rhinestones which were available at the river Rhine in Austria and other places were prominently used. However, those became rare so artificial rhinestones were made with crystal, glass, acrylic, and resin. Nowadays they come in so many varieties and shapes that it is a win-win situation for designers who are looking for a perfect match for their designs.

In this article, I will share with you all the types of rhinestones that are available and how to use them in your designs.

• Glue on Rhinestone

These rhinestones always have a flat back which makes it easy to glue them on any surface. They have a foil at their back as to reflect a large amount of light to be extremely shiny. They do not have any glue on their back and for using them any external adhesive is required. They are ideal for decorating craft projects like phone case, diaries, scrapbooks, etc. They are also used for the embellishment of tops, shirts, dresses, footwear, bags, purses and more.

• Hotfix Rhinestones

These are flatback rhinestones that have glue fixed at their back. They are either made of crystal or glass. The glue melts when the heat is applied with iron or hotfix gun. The process of applying them becomes really simple when done with hotfix applicator.

For that, all you have to do it, pick the stone with applicator tip, let the glue melt for 20 to 30 seconds (when the glue melts it changes its colour and starts to form bubbles). Now, place it in the desired place. The glue will form a strong bond with the surface. They are extremely handy and quick to use.

• Sew on Rhinestones

As the name suggests, sew on rhinestones are the stones that can be sewn on the fabric. They come in two varieties; one is with holes and the other with holders/ catcher. Both can be sewn on any fabric. They are ideal for embroidery on couture wears and traditional dresses. For making jewelry the stones can be easily attached with jump rings or jewelry wire.

These stones are easy to remove as compared to the glue-on or hotfix stones.