Magnetic beads

I made a necklace with them. It's still magnetic, 5 years later. I found it fascinating, but I noticed that with the polarization of magnets, there is a north-south to the beads, and there's a couple that are either north-north or south-south and repel each other.

I've seen it advertised in a 36" chain to wear as either a necklace or bracelet for quilters/sewers (my first passion) to hold scissors and other notions. It seemed more useful than the health claims about magnetic forces and health.

I did it because it was fun.

Another note: The place where I bought my beads also has some magnetic hematite that has been seeded in oysters, to create magnetic pearls. It was fun to look at, I'm just wondering about the usefulness.

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from " Anna W." :

]We asked at one booth and ]the guy said they wouldn't hold their magnetic strength very long and would ]eventually be useless to us. Is that true?

from what i've managed to find, yes, he was telling you the truth.

now, whether you could 'remagnetize' them or not, i have no idea.

a friend of mine loves telling me that 'that hematite stuff you love so much -- your yard is full of it. it's just another form of iron, which is why your dirt is red!"

Thunderbird has them.

Thanks for the heads up about the polarization. I've not handled the single beads so that never crossed my mind.

Anna W. in Tx

Thanks for the info, vj. :)

Anna W. in Tx

Thanks, Debbie. I'm off to check it out right now. :)

Anna W. in Tx