What are SS Sizes?

Crystal rhinestones are mainly sold by sizes described with ‘SS’. Whilst it sounds technical ‘SS’ literally stands for ‘size of stone’ and loosely corresponds to the width of the crystal in millimeters. There is slight variation between suppliers, but the SS sizes translate like this:

SS10 2.7 – 2.9mm
SS12 3.0 – 3.2mm
SS16 3.8 – 4.0mm
SS20 4.6 – 4.8mm
SS30 6.3 – 6.5mm
SS40 8.4 – 8.6mm

 

Generally speaking sizes below SS10 are used mainly for nail art, with SS5 and SS7 being the most common. SS10 and SS12 are ideal for creating intricate or precise designs. SS16 and SS20 are the most common crystal sizes for embellishing clothing, dance and skating wear, with larger stones – SS30 and above, as well as sew-on crystals typically used as accents for exceptional sparkle.

How many crystals are in a pack?

The quantity in a full retail pack depends on the size you select. For sizes up to and including SS20, a full pack contains 1440 (10 gross) of crystals. A quarter pack in either SS16 or SS20 is therefore approx. 360 crystals.

For larger sizes the quantity per pack decreases. SS30 contains 288 crystals per pack, and SS40 contains 144.

Do you offer a sample colour chart?

Yes. We have colour charts available for customers to see the various crystal colours in real life. These are available to purchase via our website, or are free to members of our Professional scheme.