The Beadsmith 11/0 Metal Seed Beads, Silver Plated, 2.3mm Diameter, 16g Tube for Bead Weaving Review (2026)

Material and construction

The Beadsmith's tube contains 11/0 seed beads made of metal with a silver-plated finish, roughly 2.3mm in diameter, rather than glass or plastic. Metal seed beads sit in a different category from typical glass rocaille beads, since they are heavier per piece and deliver a bright, reflective shine that glass or acrylic beads cannot fully replicate. The Beadsmith is an established supplier in the bead-weaving and loom community, and this line of genuine metal seed beads is a recognized product within that niche rather than an unfamiliar import. That brand recognition matters to buyers who have been burned by inconsistent unbranded metal beads in the past.

Hole size and stringing

These beads have roughly a 1mm hole opening, which accommodates common beading threads like Fireline, Wildfire, or PowerPro used in loom and off-loom weaving, as well as finer wire. Because the beads are metal, the manufacturer notes that hole edges can be sharp from the stamping process, so a stronger thread rather than a delicate one is recommended to avoid fraying during repeated passes through the same bead, which is typical in bead-weaving techniques that pass thread through each bead multiple times. Running the thread through slowly on the first pass and checking for snags before continuing helps catch a rough hole edge before it damages the thread mid-project.

Quantity per tube

The tube holds about 16 grams of beads, and because metal is denser than glass, that weight translates to fewer individual beads than the same weight in glass seed beads would provide. This makes the tube better suited to accenting a design, outlining a pattern, or adding metallic highlights within a larger glass bead-weaving project than to serving as the bulk material for an entire piece, where the piece count would run out faster and cost more per bead than glass. Buyers planning a design with a heavy metal-bead presence should factor in buying more than one tube up front rather than assuming a single tube will stretch as far as a comparable glass bead purchase.

Wear over time

As with any plated metal finding or bead, the silver plating on these beads can wear thinner with heavy handling, repeated thread passes, or friction against other beads over months of use, gradually revealing the base metal underneath in high-contact spots. This is a normal characteristic of plated goods rather than a manufacturing flaw specific to this product, and it is most noticeable in pieces worn daily or handled frequently during the weaving process itself. Storing finished pieces away from constant skin contact when not worn can help slow this wear.

Who it suits

This tube suits bead weavers and loom workers who want a genuine metallic accent bead to highlight a pattern or outline a design within a larger glass seed bead project, and who value a known, established supplier over an unbranded alternative. It is also a reasonable pick for anyone specifically chasing a bright, reflective metal look that glass simply cannot reproduce. It is a weaker fit for anyone wanting to fill a large piece entirely with metal beads on a budget, since the piece count per gram is lower than glass and the cost per bead is correspondingly higher for bulk use.

Frequently asked questions