What is a Rhinestone? How different from a diamond? What is a Rhinestone Cowboy?

 

See below dress 214. This top has tiny rhinestones. Even from a distance, when you cannot see the individual stuck-on beads, their sparkle adds an air of glamour to this cotton tee-shirt.

But what exactly is a rhinestone?

 You might recall the American song, Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell.

Rhinestone Cowboy cover picture from Wikipedia article on Rhinestone Cowboy.

The song says the singer is 'like a rhinestone cowboy', in a 'star-spangled rodeo'. 

Rhinestone?

Rhinestones, would you believe it, originally came from the Rhine. Let's list the qualities:

1 They were originally found on the Rhine River.

2 They were quartz stone.

3 Nowadays rhinestones can be glass, crystal or plastic.

4 They are cheaper than diamonds.

5 Glass rhinestones are cut by machine. Other types are moulded.

6 They have many flat sides to reflect light and glitter or twinkle.

7 Rhinestones with pointed backs, like cheaper, imitation, clear, fake diamonds, have pointed backs. They can be used for jewellery.

8 The flat backed ones can be stuck, glued, onto card such as birthday cards, and onto shoes or clothes. (Or hats, or belts or bags or hair clips.)

9 They might have silver colour backs to reflect light.

10 As the song Rhinestone cowboy implies, lots of cowboy and cowgirl clothes are decorated with rhinestones for events, especially such as performances, such as rodeos, singing cowboys on stage or in contests. Or just sitting around in a bar hoping to attract a date or look good for friends and photos.

Dress 314

When you look carefully, the ones on my top are not merely reflecting the colours on the top. The little glassy beads are in groups or green or red and white. That is probably why the garment's washing label says hand wash only.

Where are rhinestones used?

1 Jewellery

2 Clothes, like my tee-shirt above

3 Boots, shoes and shoe heels


Pink rhinestone cowboy boots, worn by Dale Evans, from the collections of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mary Mark Ockerbloom - Own work

4 Accessories such as buckles, watch faces, hair bands and hair clips and scrunchies

5 Mobile phone covers

6 Picture frame edges

7 Buttons


Wiki picture of rhinestones in Wikipedia.

You can see from this close-up that the top has a diamond cut with a small flat top, reflective sides and a large flat base.

You don't have to sew on every rhinestone separately. You can buy strings of rhinestone trim to brighten up dull clothes, elevate day wear tee shirts to evening wear, cover stains, or splits, or holes and torn parts, and frayed edges.



From Amazon.


Useful Websites

Information

https://www.sunmeibutton.com/rhinestone-vs-diamond/

https://www.sunmeibutton.com/product/acrylic-button/

https://www.sunmeibutton.com/rhinestones-faq/

Products to buy

https://www.amazon.sg/Rhinestone-Diamond-Crystal-Birthday-Decorations/


About the Author Angela Lansbury

BIOGRAPHY

Angela Lansbury B A Hons ACG ALB PM5 EH5 DL5 VC5 
The Author of several books, including:  Etiquette For Every Occasion. Wedding Speeches & Toasts. How to be the Best Man. Quick Quotations. Who Said What When.

Blogs travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Club Vice President Public Relations (VPPR), Previous President

Join BHA 1st Wednesday 7pm and 3rd Saturday 2 pm Singapore time 

Vice President Public Relations (VP PR) of Tampines Changkat Advanced;

Secretary of weekly online Singapore International Dynamic Toastmasters Speakers’ Club;

Member and past president of Harrovians toastmasters club, UK; Past member of HOD Toastmasters, London. Past member in Singapore of: Toastmasters Club of Singapore (TCS); Tiarel; and Senja Cashew.

More details from Toastmasters International find a club.

Regular attendee at annual Swanwick Writers’ School, England.

Regular attendee at annual Writers’ Holiday, Wales.

Contributor to poetry readings, and after tea courses on: Speaking On Radio To Promote Books; and Plots And Character.

Winner of many club and area speaking contests in the UK and Singapore.

Language advisor to Empire Toastmasters club in Indonesia.

Language and speech workshops in Singapore.

Speaker on radio and TV in England, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.

Compiler of a school course on public speaking for teachers to prepare pupils for school open days with attending ceremonies before government ministers, Singapore.

Former member of Harrow Writers’ Circle, London, and two writing groups in Singapore.

Angela is on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter. She would be delighted to link up with new friends.

 Please share links to your favourite posts.


Books by Angela Lansbury
How to be the best man. (Ward Lock / Cassell.)
Wedding Speeches and Toasts.(Ward Lock / Cassell.)
Unforgettable British Weekends.
Poetry Workshop Workbook.
The Tailor and the Spy. (Lulu.)
Larry The Talking Labrador. (Lulu.)
Writing Poetry for fun.

Quick Quotations

Who Said What When



 


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