The Rosary Shop

Frequently Asked Questions

These are some of the questions that we receive most often. If you have a question, take a look for it here first. If you can't find an answer, please send us an e-mail.

I would like to make rosaries with a group of children. What do you suggest?

Cord rosaries are the simplest and least expensive for a children's project. They can be assembled by most children ages 5 and up in about a half an hour. Our cord rosary kit contains enough materials to make 10 rosaries and is quite suitable for children. If you have a large group of children, you might find missions rosaries a more economical way to go (see our area entitled Missions Rosaries). With a children's group, you will probably want to forego the fancy cord knots and just have the children tie finger knots between the beads.

I would like to make a chain rosary but what if it is too difficult?

Anyone who has a little bit of patience and the physical dexterity to use a screwdriver can make a chain rosary. Your first attempts will probably be throw-aways, so we always include extra eyepins. If you would like a free pack of practice beads just request them with your order. With a little practice, your loops will become even and you will see that it isn't so hard after all. If you make a good attempt and find that it is too difficult, we don't want you to be stuck with the parts. Send them back to us and we will assemble your rosary for a small fee.

What about directions?

Directions with pictures for cord and chain rosaries are available online and included with all of our rosary kits. If you need a seperate set of directions you may order them under Tools.

What are the different kinds of metal used for findings, centers and crucifixes?

We carry 14K gold, gold-filled, sterling silver, silver-plated, gold-plated, nickel silver and oxidized metal rosary components. The 14K gold, standard for fine jewelry in the USA, is 14/24 parts pure gold. The rest is alloy. It is hard, durable and beautiful. Gold-filled items are made by combining layers of gold alloy (12K or 14K) to a base metal (brass or other). It is not as bright as 14K, but long-lasting. Sterling silver is made of 92.5% pure silver and the rest copper or other alloy. Sterling will tarnish over time but is easily cleaned with jewelry cleaner. Silver rosaries will resist tarnish if they are handled regularly. Silver-plated items are sterling over brass. They look just like pure sterling. Gold-plated items are a lower karat gold over brass. Silver and gold plating will wear off over time. Nickel silver is an alloy of nickel, copper and zinc. It is strong, resists tarnishing, and yields surprisingly good (and inexpensive) results for detailed centers and crucifixes. Oxidized metal is also a strong, inexpensive alloy that has been antiqued (blackened).

Are the gemstones genuine?

All of our gemstones are genuine unless it says otherwise in their product descriptions. Some of them have been dyed or stabilized, which will also be referred to in their descriptions. They are generally of very good quality although some may have natural inclusions.

How large are the beads?

The most popular sizes that we carry for rosaries are 6mm (almost 1/4 inch in diameter) and 8mm (about 5/16 inch in diameter), and a few 10mm (about 3/8 inch in diameter). Sounds small, but with links between each bead, these sizes are just right for most rosaries. We can also special order 4mm (1/8 inch in diameter) or 12mm (almost 1/2 inch in diameter) sizes for most beads.

I am looking for an item that is not in your online catalog. Do you have it?

Probably. We can special order beads of almost any size or material. The exceptions are smooth, solid sterling silver beads. We haven't found a source for these yet. But we haven't given up the search! Another scarce item is Job's tears. Sometimes we have them and sometimes we don't. If you are looking specifically for Job's tears, we have occasionally found strands of them in various sizes and colors at thrift stores.

I need more knotting tools. Is there a way to make them myself?

Find an old umbrella (again, a thrift store might yield best results). The inside spokes of an umbrella are grooved to make perfect knotting tools. Cut them in sections and file the rough edges. You can make wood handles if you want to, but it isn't necessary.

I want to make my own beads out of real roses. Any ideas?

We have a recipe for rosepetal beads. See our section: Unique Rosaries.

I would like to make rosaries for missions. How should I get started?

We don't carry missions rosary supplies because two other U.S. companies do a fine job distributing these materials, and even subsidizing them. Please see our section: Missions Rosaries for contact information. These companies can also provide addresses of missionaries who have requested rosaries.

Where do you get your beads, centers and crucifixes?

Many many places. We do our best to bring together a wide assortment of rosary-making supplies for your convenience. We hope to be a ministry to you and to help support our growing family. It is a balancing act and we thank you for respecting our need to keep our sources private.

Can I purchased blessed items from The Rosary Shop?

In order to avoid scandal, and stay well within Canon Law, The Rosary Shop does not sell blessed objects. We encourage all customers to have their rosaries blessed by their local priest or bishop.

How quickly will my order ship?

If you order in-stock items, your order will usually leave The Rosary Shop in 1-3 business days. If you order out of stock items or custom handmade items, your order will obviously take longer to prepare for shipping -- usually 2-4 weeks.

How long will the order take to get to me?

When you check out, you can select the shipping method, and therefore the time it takes to get to you.

How much is your handling shipping charge?

We charge a flat rate of $6 for shipping and handling for any order. If you select expedited shipping, this cost will increase to cover the extra shipping costs.