Happy 4th of July everyone!

I'm hoping someone knows where to buy the missing pieces in the two pairs of earrings below. The first pair is missing the center crystal and I'm sure it's not a flatback. I'm not sure where they were bought. The second pair is missing 2 of the small orange pieces and I'm thinking they could be plastic. The center piece is plastic or lucite or some similar material. This pair was bought in France.

I don't even know what to call them. I was asked to repair them for family members. I tried looking on Fire Mountain and INM, but since I don't even know what to call them, it's hard to figure out where to find them.

So, I am trying to find out first WHAT they are and then where to buy them. I am hopeful you brilliant jewelry peeps can share your knowledge with me. Thanks!!!

Hello and happy happy to you too!

 I live in Italy, and I can't help you out with the second pair of earrings but maybe with the first. I buy most of my supplies from France - I don't know what "tiny" is to you, but Swarovski has a line of tiny crystals called "Xillion Chatons", for which they sell premade bracelets, earrings etc. with empty bezel settings for the crystals.

 Here's a link to them - the smallest size is 4.5mm. They are pointed back crystals:

http://www.bricolart.be/Site/VenteCatalogue_EN.php?detailid=14619&cid=3&searchterm=chaton&startindex=0

Here's a link to the English page on which you'll find the crystals, you have to scroll DOWN: 

http://www.bricolart.be/Site/VenteCatalogue_EN.php?detailid=14619&cid=3&searchterm=chaton&startindex=0

Best of luck with those!

Thanks so much!  Now I know what the green pieces are called - Xilion chatons.  I think these are the right ones. 

 Hopefully I can find the orange ones next. 

You're welcome!  

I had another idea for you - I firmly believe that necessity is the mother of invention so here's an alternative if the chatons are a problem to get a hold of for you, or are too big, or whatever.

I see that the bezel which held the missing crystal is cupped. Not knowing how big a crystal you need, and if wanting to go tinier than 4.5mm, the idea is this -

Swarovski flatbacks are even tiner - I think they start at 2.5mm. You can use them if needed. All you'll have to do is use two-part epoxy, mix it up and with a toothpick pick up a small gob and deposit it in the center of the empty bezel (which you'll have cleaned with alcohol and a Q-tip first). MAKE SURE you have the earring sitting completely flat/horizontal so the glue won't accumulate more on one side or another of the bezel. Add gobs of glue if necessary until your bezel is filled to almost the top, leave yourself maybe half a millimeter of metal without glue. Let the glue set until dry, then glue your flatback in. The two-part inside the bezel will form a cushion on which your flatback can sit without sinking!

 For the orange earrings, it would be interesting to know how big around the center cab is. Those look like fiber-optic (cat's eye) cabs and they can be found, but you need to look for that specific size. I have several round cat's-eye cabs but where I buy them they are quite large, 14mm.

Ciao ciao!

Thanks so much for the step-by-step instruction.  I really appreciate it.  This will help a LOT!

On the orange earrings, I only need to replace the missing tiny tiny pieces (not the middle cabs).  They're so little you probably missed that they're even missing at all.  They might be 1.5 to 2 mm wide.

You might have to replace all of those with new ones - those itty bitty crystals are extremely difficult to find and new crystals will be much shinier than those.

Having said that, the only place I've ver seen blingies that tiny is at my local bead closet (because that's how big it is), which is more of a millinery shop than a bead store. They have an assortment of those which they sell by the piece, VERY tiny, just the size you're looking for.

You might want to repurpose a piece of costume jewelry for those crystals, or you could do a search for "costume jewelry repair" and see if you come up with shops selling supplies also. Those are the best suggestions I have, but maybe somebody else can be of more help!

I'm sure my SIL wouldn't mind all new crystals, just as long as they're orange like the ones that are there now.  When I looked on Fire Mountain and saw their tiny flatbacks, I didn't see any orange ones. 

 Does your bead closet have a website?  I'd like to see if they have something I can use and if I can order from them.

Orange is going to be very VERY hard to find, you might have to settle for a light siam which from my monitor looks to be the closest color to those crystals without being orange.

 I'd be surprised if the owner of my local bead closet even knows how to use a computer, let alone have a website! . I have to go by there tomorrow to check out a few things and will take a look at the itty bitty crystals - if they do have orange I'll let you know. I can buy them for you and send them on, no problem. Check back in here tomorrow - I'm 6 hours ahead so you'll find my post already when you turn on the computer :)

I am sure light siam is too red.  In fact, my SIL and I bought a bunch of orangey stones specifically to go with these earrings.  I'm going to be making her a necklace and bracelt to go along, so it has to be orange.  I'd hate for you to buy something and have to return it.  I am overwhelmed by your generosity of your time....and I don't even know your first name. 

Hi Emily,

 I'm so sorry, how rude of me - my name is Andrea! I went by my bead closet this morning - it's been a while since I've stopped in since they really carry so little in terms of beady stuff and every time I go, they've stopped carrying something or another which I used to buy regularly. I'm awfully bummed out to have to tell you that they don't have any more teeny tiny crystals and won't be getting any more in - their supplier stopped producing them

If I were you, I'd buy some of those Swarovski rondelles (the metal ones with the tiny crystals set in the center) in Fire Opal, Orange or Hyacinth (the three oranges I've seen produced by Swarovski), and sabotage them to remove the crystals. Probably the cheapest and quickest way to get a hold of them!!

Sorry I couldn't be of more help Emily - my local bead closet is becoming such a bummer!

Andrea