We realise our customers like to shop at different times and days of the week and it may not always be in our normal office hours, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions below and hope that if you do have a question we have answered it for you. If your question is not answered below please drop us an email and we will respond as soon as possible or please call us during our office hours…………. we are here to help.

General enquiries

Crystal Parade does not operate from a retail premises, all purchases can be made through our website or by contacting us here. If your order is urgent we would be happy to arrange a mutually convenient time for you to visit and collect your order.

To earn and redeem sparkle points you will need to create an account with us. You can earn points by making a purchase, referring a friend, sharing and following on social media. Your sparkle points can be redeemed at the checkout. Please see our Rewards page for more details.

To receive and claim discount codes you will need to create an account with us. We send out discount codes to customers in our mailing list so don’t forget to subscribe! Codes can be redeemed at the checkout when you place an order and are only valid if you are logged into your account at the time of purchase.

Yes. Please see our Embellishment Service page for details on how we can help with your sparkly project. Alternatively, please contact us to discuss with a team member.

Yes we have range of Swarovski flatbacks, pearls, nail art crystals and sew on stones still available to purchase, when they have gone they have gone, we are no longer able to buy directly from Swarovski. We also have a huge selection of Swarovski vintage crystals and fancy stones.

Yes we have many crystallizing and craft projects to try. See our Tips, Inspiration & News page for reative ideas and How To guides. We also have Crystal Parade TV where you can see step-by-step tutorials and latest products.

Questions about an order

If you have been informed that a product on your order is no longer available, please contact us to arrange an exchange for a similar item, we are happy to help you find the best alternative. Or, if you would prefer, we can offer a refund on that item.

Should you wish to amend or cancel your order, please contact the Crystal Parade Team as soon as possible. Amendments and cancellations can be made as long as your order has not been processed with our supplier.

Payment is taken as soon as your order is placed and will only be processed once the payment is successful.

Crystal Parade accepts payment by credit or debit card, PayPal, Klarna, or by BACS/CHAPS payments.

In the unlikely event of an item being missing from your order, we will ensure this is resolved immediately. There may be a number of reasons for this: Back order – If an item is out of stock and on its way to us from our supplier, it is placed on a back order while we send the rest of your items. We will then send the back order as soon as we receive it. Please contact the Crystal Parade Team to discuss the due date of your back ordered item. Delay of Transportation – This could be due to a number of reasons, whether it be a delay from our supplier to us, or from us to you. We endeavor to keep you up to date with any postage delays.

If you have received an incorrect item, please contact the Crystal Parade Team to arrange the return of the incorrect item and the delivery of correct one. We will refund the cost of your postage.

We use Royal Mail to deliver throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Deliveries out of mainland UK are sent with a courier. Please make sure someone is available to sign for your delivery. For more information, please see our Delivery & Returns policy.

Questions about returns & refunds

If you wish to return an item from your order, it must meet the conditions set out in our returns policy. If you need help with returning an item, please contact us and we will advise the easiest way to do this.

We do not refund the cost of postage unless an error was made my Crystal Parade.

Please contact the Crystal Parade Team with your order number and date of order to discuss.

Questions about a product

  • Hotfix Crystals - Hotfix crystals have a mirror foiled backing and a cold glue applied to the back of the crystal. When heat is applied to the crystal the glue is activated (melts) and is applied to your chosen garment or surface. The best way to apply heat to the back of the crystal is to use the Kandi Kane Hotfix Applicator Wand, however you can also use a household iron. Hotfix crystals are ideal to use when you are looking to apply crystals to fabric including silk, satin, lycra, velvet, cashmere, denim, cotton, organza ribbon, wedding veils and gowns, satin shoes and suede. You can also apply hotfix crystals to glass including champagne bottles, champagne flutes, mirrors, card and paper, wallpaper, wood and metal. The hotfix crystals are ideal for porous surfaces. We would not advise using hotfix crystals on plastic, ie phone covers, wellington boots and also leather including pet collars, shoes and jackets.
  • Non Hotfix Crystals - The Non Hotfix crystals are applied to your chosen surface using glue. We supply the best and most suitable glues for applying crystals to your projects including Gem Tac glue which dries crystal clear, E6000glue which has industrial strength and is flexible, and Crystal Fix nail glue which is suitable for nail art.
  • Crystal - This is a colourless, diamond effect stone, with a mirrored foil backing to reflect the light. It is one of our most popular colours as it adds a luxury feel to whatever you’re crystallizing. Clear rhinestones are often used for nail art, card making, bridal design, jewellery making, fashion and many other crafts. Because of its colourless nature, clear crystals can be used on almost anything and will work with every other colour.
  • Crystal AB - AB (Aurora Borealis) gets its name from the natural phenomenon that occurs in certain skies at night known as the Northern Lights. It is a coated crystal that has a rainbow effect, much like a soap bubble, or sometimes described as an ‘oil on water’ effect. This is the most popular colour by far, especially in the performing arts world, the stunning AB coated crystal reflects light superbly and looks gorgeous under spotlights. The coating reflects the colours that surround it so use against pale colours for pinks, purples, pale blue and golds to shine through. Or use on a darker background to see greens, yellows and darker shades of blue. It is most commonly used in nail art, bridalwear, dance dresses, costume design and fashion. Like the clear crystal, AB crystals work with any other colour so the possibilities are endless.

For more information on crystal colours, see our Ultimate Guide to Crystal Colours & Effects.

If you are applying your non hotfix crystals to a dance costume, gymnastics costume, swimming costume, satin/silk/canvas shoes, card and paper, glass, phone case, ipad cover, gadgets, wood, metal, plastic we would recommend that you use Gem Tac glue as it is easy to use and the preferred glue of many stylists, designers, artists, crafters and milliners,it dries crystal clear. 

Yes. We have a variety of colour charts available to purchase on the website including Preciosa Colour Charts and Zodiac Colour Charts. We also have a handy Crystal Size Chart.

No. All of our products are listed on our website, and we have a selection of best selling products available on Ebay and Etsy.

Although the majority of our products are available in small and large quantities, certain products are only available in wholesale packs. If you would like an item in a smaller amount than is available on our website, please contact us as we may be able to supply this.

You can search for an item using the search bar found at the top of the home page. If you have a specific item in mind and already know the item number or description, you can search directly using this method. If you only have a general idea of what you are looking for, you can use the search bar to look for a colour, size or brand and the search engine will give you a list of options to choose from. Alternatively, you can browse the website using the categories at the top of the page as a guide.

If you’re not sure you are ordering the correct colour, size or brand of crystal, we are happy to help. You can send us a photo of a crystal you already and we can identify it for you. Or, if you have a piece of clothing or other item you would like to add crystals to, we can advise the best products to use and suggest colours to compliment. Alternatively, you could purchase a crystal colour chart which contains a sample of every colour, shape and size. For more help on choosing the right crystal for your project, check out our Ultimate Guides.

Please use our FREE sample service to request a Preciosa or Zodiac sample. If you are unsure of which crystal you would like to see a sample of, please contact us to discuss your options. We can send up to 10 colours of a certain product and we would only charge you for postage costs.

Preciosa have two styles of flatback rhinestone: Viva12 and Maxima. To look at and work with, they are very similar, both are round stones with a foil backing. The difference is the number of facets (cuts) the stone has.

Viva12: Viva12 crystals have 12 facets (cuts) which offer a fantastic sparkle. The job of these facets is to reflect light at different angles which creates the dazzling starlight effect you see when the light hits them. The Viva12 crystals are available in every colour and coating from sizes SS5 (1.8mm) to SS48 (11mm). We stock these rhinestones in both small pack quantities, ideal for one off or smaller projects, and wholesale packs, ideal for larger scale projects and trade customers.

Maxima: Maxima crystals were launched by Preciosa just a few years ago, and are an updated version of Viva12. Maxima rhinestones from size SS5 (1.8mm) to SS20 (5mm) have 15 facets, the larger sizes from SS30 (6mm) upwards have 18 facets and these are often used by people looking for maximum sparkle, imitating that of Swarovski. For this reason, Maxima crystals come at a higher price than Viva12, although to look at, they are almost identical.

SS refers to 'Stone Size' and is followed by a number, as well as the size in millimeters. In general, SS2 - SS10 are the small sizes used for nail art, beauty, fine jewellery and tooth gems. SS12 - SS20 are often used in dance, costume, craft, cardmaking and textiles. SS30 - SS48 are more commonly used for Irish dance, theatrical costumes and costume jewellery. For more information on rhinestone sizes, see our Ultimate Guide here.