In Reply to: buying beads posted by jewels on Sunday, 1. June 2008 at 11:49 Bali Time:
BEADS - in June of '06 we were staggered by the number of bead outlets that had blossomed since our previous visit only 6 months before. Jl Werkudara is only a short, sort of backwater street in Legian but here alone I counted 17 shops offering beads in bulk, matched strings or made up into jewellery and 'bling'.
* A warehouse for beads and related items in Jl Werkudara is Mandans Mas. Ph (62 361) 633 633. www.mandanamas.com.
* Toko Central is on a prominent corner in Kuta and I bet you've seen it a dozen times and never realised what an amazing place it really is. Even if you're not into beads and other sewing things you'll be stunned by the sheer size, variety and colour of their shop stock and the warehouse at the other end of the row of shops. This is where the locals shop and you'll get the same prices - no bargaining! Huge variety. 4Kg A$40. 100 grams for as little as Rp2,000. Lucky Chinese brass coins and tokens as well as beads and threads and sewing equipment. From Jl Legian turn left at Bemo Corner and go on until you cross the river bridge. The road bends to the left and there is a group of shops right on the corner on the right with a sign, ‘Toko Central'. Its only about half a kilometre from Bemo Corner. Their English is not too good but point or self-select and they write the price down form you. Be patient. No silver beads but lots of glazed, seed and plastic ones. A variety of other stocks - woven cotton necklace threads, glues, sequins, buttons, ribbons, patches, cloth flowers, feathers etc. also. INCREDIBLE.
[The address, Jl Raya Kuta No 105 C-D, Kuta. Ph 764 323, is for either Toko Central or Bujangga Silver. I'd be pleased if someone could confirm which it is.]
* Olivias is in Jl Sahadewa (between Melasti and Padma) towards the Melasti end on the western side. Smaller than Toko Central but they have tubular beads which Central do not. This is also a great shopping street with a market on the corner and further down there are DVD's, leather, shoes and good restaurants.
* Bujangga Silver on Jl Raya Tuban between the airport and Kuta has silver beads and pendants that are rare. Rp3,000/gram.
* Toko Mawar might be an offshoot of Toko Central. Its on Jl Imam Bonjol in Denpasar.
* Behind Queen's Tandoor Indian Restaurant, across the road from Made's Warung in Legian, is a bead shop in a house. Ask the Security guy to show you. May be better than Toko Central.
* Silver beads are made and sold at a small shop in Bedroom Mukti, Singapadu, Sukawati. Ni Wayan Supartiwi, who does not have a good command of English, (so patience is needed,) owns the shop. A good local driver will get you there without worries. The phone number is 0361 294 232, but unless you have a good command of Bahasa Indonesia get your hotel clerk to phone for you. Prices are in the range of Rp2,500 / gram.
* You can also try the Bandem Community of Silversmiths, Bedroom Sengguan Singapuda in Sukawati (0361 298 688 (bandemsilver@dps.centrin.net.id) or Koming Ayu, I Nyoman Rupadana, Jl Raya Celuk Sukawati, Gianyar, 0361 298 302, rupanada@indo.net.id.
* Solomon Silver II is in Jl Werkudara, Legian, just around from Jl Padma Utara. If you buy enough you are given business prices.
There is (was) a stall on the second level of the old Denpasar markets. It has probably moved to the new ones.
* Buana Raya is also in Denpasar. A local cab driver could find it for you.
* Bali Silver Beads, http://bali-silver-beads.com/ , Jl Sidakarya, Perum. Calista Karya Indah A-10, Denpasar. Ph (62 812) 391 9977.
* Vista Shop Jl Legian Kelod 386, Legian. By Circle K store. Silver beads.
* A bead shop on Jl 66. It is on the right as you come from Jl Legian.
* Happy Art Shop Ocean Beads is owned by Benny B and can be found at Jl Legian-Kuta-Bali No.426-Z. Ph/Fax (0361) 761 508, Mob 0381 3387 31204. They have large size resin beads and others.
* Bintang Silver Collection in Jl Padma Utara, Legian. Near Puri Raja Hotel. Fixed price and cheap.
* Jl Pura Bagus Taruna (once known as Rum Jungle Road) has a shop named Dani Collection. Beads, shells, silver, accessories. Good English.
* There are outlets along Jl Padma Utara in Legian/Seminyak and two near the Bintang supermarket on Jl Legian. One of these stocks silver findings.
* Bali Silver Beads and Jewellery Shop, Jl Gunung Sari A8, Padang Sambian Kaja, Denpasar. Ph +62 361 744 2262. E-mail sales@bali-silver-beads.com.
* Sanzik Shop is at Jl Sahadewa No17C, Legian. sanzik_shop@yahoo.com. More beads than you can shake a stick at!
* Satria is across the road from the Supernova Department Store in the building with the green 'Shalom' sign on top. Closed Sundays. 250 grams for Rp7,500. Jl Raya Kuta No200X, Kuta. satria@satria-bali.com. http://www.satria-bali.com/. They also have a store at Jl Gajah Mada No134 in Denpasar. Seed beads and sequins, bugle and acrylic beads, stone chips also.
* Jl Double Six in Legian/Seminyak seems to be becoming the place to hunt for beads, accessories and craft supplies in many of the shops.
* Ramayana have Swarovski crystals and fresh water pearls in a stall on the ground floor near the front entrance.
Swarovski Crystals also at Almas Enterprises, Ruko Padma No6, Padma Utara in Legian, Ph (0361) 750 336. They are official agents. They also have pearls and will make up anything that you want.
* Irian Jaya Tarigan, Jaya Central Pancing, Jl By Pass I Gusti Ngurah Rai No354C, Kuta, near the Tuban end of the road. Ph(0361) 766 598.
* On the second floor of the Denpasar markets, on the handicraft side of the river towards the back of the building there is a range of beads available at 'local' prices.
* For silver beads try Solomon Silver II, Jl Werkudara No522 J, Legian.
* UC Beads is on the opposite side of the Bintang Supermarket in Seminyak. It has been said that you can get wholesale prices for total purchases over Rp2 million, that's about Aus$300.
* Use 'bead wholesalers Bali' as key words for a Google search.
* Bali Beads in Celuk, just north of Denpasar, also has other jewellery at wholesale rates as well as silver findings.
* long strings of glass beads are up to Rp15,000, decreasing for quantities.
* Yasa Beads and Silversmiths, Br Cemenggaon, Celuk, Sukawati, Gianyar is run by Kadek Sudarsa who communicates fairly well in English. The phone number is (62 361) 294 649. They specialise in silver beads and various findings such as catches. Their stock range is large and well made and they will also make to order. Prices are by the gram and thus depend on the current price of silver. Ask almost anywhere in Celuk and most shops will be able to direct you as he is probably their supplier. He also does mail orders.
* Purpa Silver on Monkey Forest Road in Ubud. Also reliable money changer.
* Ubud Beads has wonderful gemstone beads. Two shops in Monkey Forest Road and one also in Celuk. (They are closed on Sundays I am told.) Zillions of beads makes the hardest part choosing!
* Ruby Star is at the end of Hasanuddin street (the gold sellers street) in Denpasar. Crystals, pearls, Sterling silver findings, gemstones by the bucket load!
BUTTONS - Try H. Shata Shop at 404 Jl Raya Legion near Jl Padma. Ph 758 538. Also at 429 Jl Legian Tengah.
SEQUINS - Try Jl Sulawesi, Denpasar. The shops are off Jl Hasanuddin near the markets. Quite often you can buy them in bulk by weight.
CRAFT SUPPLIES: Toko have 3 outlets in Bali;
Toko Central, 105 Jl Raya Kuta. Stone chips Rp7,000/strand, Cloisonné Rp87,500 for 100 gm, findings Rp20,000/gross, wires Rp20,000 for 4mm D. Also stocks findings and other craft items, glues, buttons etc.
Toko Abadi, 65 Jl Raya Tuban
Toko Kita 445 Jl Imam Bonjol, Denpasar.
Shalom, opposite the Supernova in Tuban has craft supplies.