I'm visiting from NY, tagging along on my husband's work trip, and just recently started welding permanent jewelry. I stopped into Lost Cities Beads looking for some gold-filled and sterling silver chain and I'm so glad I did! The chain selection was a little limited, but honestly I would come back just for the people. I had the sweetest conversation with one of the employees, and you can tell the owner genuinely loves what she does. There's something so nice about being around people who are truly passionate about their work, especially when you're brand new to that world yourself. Jenny was even so kind as to refer me to another place who would carry more chains, which was amazing! I spent about $150 for around 6 feet of chain total (2 sterling silver and 1 gold filled). Being new to the jewelry business, I have absolutely no idea yet if that's a great price or if I got taken to the cleaners but either way, I'll always remember Lost Cities as the first place I bought inventory for my new little business, which makes it pretty special to me. My only little gripe was parking. It was $5 for an hour, which felt a little steep, especially when I was just popping into the store. Such a sweet experience though, and definitely a place I'd stop into again if I'm back in the area. read more

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I've been a loyal customer of Lost Cities Beads for over 7 years now, and I can honestly say there's no other shop quite like it. Jenny (the owner) and Daniel are truly special--warm, knowledgeable, and always genuinely happy to help. Whether I'm picking out something meaningful for my girlfriend, my daughter, or even treating myself, they always make the experience personal and fun. Over the years, I've made bracelets and meaningful gifts with their beautiful beads, and I've trusted them to repair sentimental jewelry and even create stunning new custom pieces from scratch. Their craftsmanship is as exceptional as their kindness. Every time I walk through the door, I feel welcomed, inspired, and part of the shop's creative spirit. If you're into beads, jewelry making, or just love unique pieces made with care--this is the place. Can't recommend them enough. read more

Such nice people work there. Such a vast selection of bead and jewelry making products and tools. Great price. And you can make jewelry there! read more

Omg where do I start. First off owner Jen is a freaking rockstar! Knows all things gems and was so welcoming. Then there was my moon spirit Jazz(sp?). Felt like I'd known her forever. So creative and kind. Good vibes leaped out of both of these ladies. Shop is organized and so so so many options to choose from. Found way too many things that I love Had a wonderful time and will definitely be returning!! See ya sooner than later read more

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME! Place is dinky, free parking is hard to find, it's in Old Own. The young man was less than kind or helpful. I would never return nor recommend this place. read more

I can't speak highly enough about this store! Excellent customer service: The staff was extremely helpful, fun, and patient. They upsized and re-strung a beaded elastic bracelet for me. Great organization and cleanliness, and all around wonderful energy. Super reasonable prices as well. Can't wait to revisit! read more

I love old town and this store has a lot of good beats to choose for yourself or for gift items I recommend visiting thank you this cute store , enjoy the white selection at affordable or high-end prices. read more

Offer a wide variety of supplies.Great and friendly staff that is willing to help customers find specific needs.

I finally found one place to buy a variety of pieces to put together jewelry. Friendly and helpful staff and an adorable dog!

This place was so cute! The ladies who work there helped us find exactly what we needed. read more

Amazing selection, great prices and awesome customer service! The associates were very helpful and I found everything I was looking for.

Also a great place to go. Has a diff vibe and suuuper friendly staff. Very knowledgeable about their natural stone beads. And they always have cute pendants. THEY ALSO HAVE YARN NOW!! read more

Been looking for a store like this without much luck, then suddenly this popped up on Yelp. Found other crystal shops for larger decorative pieces, but this place is perfect for fixing & making jewelry. Nice selection of natural stones, glass beads, sterling silver parts, etc. Entered near closing today (current hrs 11am-4pm daily during Covid-19)....and Danni (sorry if spelled incorrectly) took the time & patience to explain tips and products to me and another patron. Learned enough to restring my broken bracelets and a couple of other projects. She wasn't pushy or up-selling, just explained products and let us decide what we needed. Really appreciate this kind of service. Highly recommend! I'll definitely be back and telling others!! ps, they're known for Ancient beads from hundreds of years ago. I haven't researched the significance of old stones yet since I just got home, but it looks cool. Note to owner/management: Danni's a keeper! read more

How does this place not have all 5 star reviews? I recently took up beading/jewelry making again and a lot of the old bead stores are gone so I started reading reviews to find somewhere new to go. I actually overheard someone at a different store saying "I would die if lost cities beads closed" and thought to myself oh that must be an amazing place. After reading all these reviews I ALMOST didn't go. Everyone is saying the prices are blazing in here but they're actually really well priced. I was almost confused when I came in here like huh what are all these reviews about? When I used to have a jewelry business I would go to those warehouse/wholesale bead stores up in clairemont with cheap pricing so that's what I was used to. I only went into smaller stores to pick up odds and ends on occasion. But this store is AMAZING! Everyone who works here is SUPER friendly, helpful and just good people all around. They have very high quality beads at great prices. They only carry the best of the best. As I was looking at the wall of gemstone beads I was saying to myself these prices are actually lower than these bigger "wholesale" bead stores... and better quality. They also had a beautiful selection of clasps and findings to finish off your heading project. Stuff you can't find anywhere else! I'm just sad I didn't find this place sooner! I am 100% recommending this place to anyone I know! I'll probably be back sooner than later unfortunately for my wallet :) read more

I was fully prepared to spend a few hundred bucks in this store but after 15-20 min of looking around and none of the 2 or 3 people working in what is a pretty small store attempted to even greet me, say hello, let alone ask if I needed any help. There were only 2 other customers in the store and the couple who walked in 10min after me were immediately greeted and asked if they were visiting small talk etc while still not even acknowledging me. Not sure if they thought I wasn't gonna spend money or what but no reason is justifiable for not greeting a potential customer or picking and choosing who you're greeting based on some superficial disposition about the person. Won't be coming back and don't recommend especially if you're a younger male that may not look like they typical jewelry maker/diyerl read more

Full disclosure, I got dragged here by a friend & don't care about beads. That being said this place was really cool, they had a lot of really ancient artifacts with crazy and interesting stories, and the owners were really nice. read more

Lost Cities Beads - Jewelry Near Me - San Diego, California

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Knowledgeable and incredibly customer service oriented, Jenny (the owner) and her staff are amazing! Specializing in ancient beads, walking into the store was like walking into incredible parts of history! Jenny and her staff (I'm looking at you, Daniel!) are really helpful with picking out beads (they have so many to choose from) and even help walk you through making your own pieces! The folks at Lost Cities are second to none and I can't wait to see them again! read more

Very sweet ladies that work here - very helpful and patient- feels like a cozy welcoming space! Easy to get lost in the inventory and before you know it 3 hours or more pass by read more

Wonderful shop! My son had 2 necklaces that had fallen apart and one of the things he w aged for Christmas was to get them fixed. I have no beading/jewelry experience so I called ahead to see if they could help/guide me and they were SUPER willing to help!!! I went in today and was helped by Jenny the owner who repaired the necklaces on the spot in under 15 minutes for under $5! Please go and support this small business, they deserve it! read more

This place is a total gem (see what I did there). I've always thought of myself as a bit of a creative person, but always had a hard time getting my projects started. I was struggling how to figure out how to make my own sunglasses chains. I decided to go to Lost Cities primarily to support a small local business (rather than a Michaels). In the past when I have gone to big box retailers the staffed were not as well versed in the world of crafts to help me out, or they were getting pulled in a million other directions by their regular duties or other customers. I was optimistically hoping that the individuals working there might be a bit more well versed in crafts and be more patient/willing to coach me through what I needed to do. Boy was I right. Although there were a couple of other people in the store, when it was my turn they were all so helpful in making suggestions, having me think through things, and even telling me what made sense to purchase there or purchase on Amazon since they were suggesting an item that they did not carry. I'm not sure how their prices compare, but they have earned my trust and my recurring business. It's like having a perfect thought partner. Added bonus - It's always fun to walk around Old Town before/after. read more

This shop is simple and beautiful with a huge selection of everything. Jenny the owner is super knowledgeable. Can't wait to support this business in the future. thank you! read more

Awesome store! Super friendly, helpful, too. I brought in a necklace that the owner was able to fix. And she helped me custom craft another necklace as well! What a joy! read more

So far the best bead store in San Diego. Great quantity of quality silver spacer beads, clasps, etc. This store also has some fantastic quality gems. I always enjoy my visit! read more

Small boutique, small selection of natural beads, high pricing. (The opposite of Gem Mall which is a huge warehouse of beads at low pricing.) My customer experience was not a positive one. read more

An amazing store with knowledgeable staff. They have such an assortment of beads, components, tools, chain and wire. During non-COVID times, they offered classes that were great. The best part of shopping there is the knowledgeable staff who can help you find whatever you need, can give advice on a project or repair a project. Don't have the skill level for your project? Hire them to get it done. My only problem is that I spend too much when I go there. My latest find was opal beads. read more

I'm a beginner and this is the second store I've been in San Diego. The first one was ok, but this one is beyond amazing. They have a great selection and a very knowledgeable staff. I even got a tutorial on the spot and I received help on making my bracelet. I walked out with a bag of beads, tools, knowledge and my very own bracelet on my wrist. I would definitely come back to this one. read more

You can spend a few dollars or a whole lot more at this bead store in Old Town. Their speciality is gemstone beads, in hundreds of shapes and lots of rare varieties. They also have Czech glass beads, cubic zirconia beads, pearls, shells, ancient stone beads, and a wide selection of Swarovski crystals (including some rare colors and shapes). One of the best things at this store is the shelf full of binders near the front window, full of design ideas for all sorts of projects. The people are really sweet, too, and will help you find the missing doo-dads and connector pieces that you'll need to finish your project. Wander through to see what inspiration strikes you, but it's best to go with a budget in mind, because one you're inside, you'll want everything! read more

I'm not really into bead stores but since I was at the rubber stamp store in the same building I stopped in here to check it out. It was a fun store to look around and I bought some little Angel Charms. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who does bead-work and jewelry making. read more

went here yesterday looking for some basic jewlery making supplies and there were 2 girls working , unfortunately both were clueless about their stock, I asked for some help, they would both say they did not carry what I was looking for, I would find it in their store 2 min. later, this happened 3 times. They give the store a bad feel, the owner is not guiding them teaching them. makes for bad business. I prefer not to go back there are so many OTHER bead, jewlery supply shops in San Diego ect. Plus they are dxtra expensive. read more

This place has good stuff, but it's hard to get past the weird service. Every time I go in, there are several staff having conversations in the back, a customer being helped, and me - waiting to get something behind the counter, or chain cut or something and I'm left feeling helpless - no one greets me, not even an "I'll be right with you", until the other customer is shown how do to whatever intricate thing she needs to do. I've come to the conclusion that I'll just shop elsewhere - even though I like the merchandise, I just can't handle feeling like I'm begging for service. read more

Custom made jewelry!!! I come here occasionally for bead supplies and am always happy with the selection they have, the organization of the shop, and the helpfulness of the staff. However, I am mainly writing this review because of the great experience I just had there creating jewelry for my wedding. I came in and showed the girl at the desk a picture of these pearl earrings I wanted on Etsy. (I'm embarrassed that I can't remember her name because she's always really nice) They were pearl and gold drops and cost $200. She spent a good deal of time helping me pick out freshwater pearls and all the gold findings and made a GREAT pair that were along the same line. Then she helped me design a matching necklace with a real saphire in it. All of this, including the small labor fee, came in under $50! I am suuuuuper happy! read more

Oh my goodness- this place and the owner Jeniffer was amazing. I came in on the last day of my trip with my boyfriend to San Diego and I'm so glad I did. She spent over an hour with us helping us with three different pieces. Her prices are amazing. I got beads and chains for a necklace and a bracelet and I'm literally obsessed. My boyfriend also got a chain and a charm for a necklace. And the quality is amazing. She had so much gold filled for such an amazing price. It's really an experience and she's such a great person. Support a small business! Go buy some beads! read more

Great selection of high end beads! Kind of overpriced but that's to be expected in old town. The staff is always super sweet and friendly!

While on vacation I was searching for bead stores and came across this place on Yelp. The last few reviews were great so I gave it a shot. There were three employees in the store on that particular day and they all greeted me warmly. I was allowed to browse around in peace checking everything out, touching anything I wanted, and it truly is a one-stop-shop for the jewelry designer. I browsed around the store for about 20 minutes finding a lot of common things that I've seen at other good shops at home when I found two beautiful strands of sodalite. In addition to be very knowledgeable about jewelry design, the woman (I would call the other two girls - one seemed to be brand new) helped locate a rubber stamp store for me as the rubber stamp store next to Lost Cities was no longer in business. Good time, great business. read more

it's pretty great when you leave a store feeling genuinely lifted and valued. i came in with two repairs and a funny little project. she was generous, skilled, and delightful. a must visit. read more

Love, love, love the beads and anklets. Jaw dropping variety, stellar customer service, and you really can't beat Jenny's positive vibes. Such great prices for some serious bead swag. I will be coming back and getting more, you should too. read more

Hands-down the best bead store in San Diego! Amazing beads, findings, jewelry supplies - all quality items here. In addition to all the awesome stuff they carry, every single person that works there is helpful, knowledgeable, and will be happy to answer any questions you have! read more

Lost Cities is one store where you feel like a VIP. The owner as well as all the employees make sure you have the best shopping experience possible. In addition, they are experts in jewelry making and can give you advise and even teach you something to make your project great. I stop by whenever I am in the neighborhood because, I enjoy the experience of being there. I highly recommend You visit the store if you like beautiful semiprecious stones and jewelry in general. I invite my friends whenever possible. read more

This place is fantastic...I've been going here for years. I've cheated on them from time to time, but it's come back to smack me. The quality of what you buy here is top notch...especially the turquoise. If I buy turquoise here, I know it's not going to be dyed or stabilized. Christine, the owner, is very knowledgeable and picky about the quality of what she buys. I bought "turquoise' from another place and a year later, I ran into the customer who happened to be wearing my earrings and the stones barely had any color left. They were horrible! I was mortified, of course...Ended up practically yanking them out of her ears so I could replace the stones with quality ones. From Lost Cities, of course! Everyone talks about Sun Beads in Kearny Mesa like they're the mecca. Yes, they're cheap...it's because their products are ridiculously cheap. Yes, those "turquoise" beads that faded were from there. I have had nothing but bad results with their beads. Never again...I've learned my lesson! Plus, most of their beads are very large. I tend to need small beads. Takes longer to work with them...I'm always drilling holes bigger and twisting much wire. Worth it when I am happy with my final creations! Lost Cities offers the small beads that fit my designs and my budget. Other jewelry artists ask me why I don't go to the bead shows because the beads are so much less expensive there. Well, I don't have the luxury to go and spend $1000 a pop on beads I am just guessing I'll use. In the past, when I've done that, I had big plans for some beads and just never got around to using them. I stare at them from time to time in my workshop. Other projects demand my time! I don't plan ahead that far. I kinda go where my customers (or muses) take me. I buy what I need, when I need it. Others have asked me why I don't buy on line where I can get things cheaper. It's because I like to touch and eyeball what I'm buying. It's such a pain to get some sub-par beads and have to send them back. I'm too busy! I have three jobs! It's worth it to me to pay a little more at Lost Cities, know I'm getting quality and know that I'm supporting a local business full of fab people and fellow artisans who are knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Always. They also offer the spacer beads from Thailand and Bali that I use in EVERYTHING! I have shopped these around and Lost Cities prices are in line with what you would find on the internet "wholesale." Plus, you don't have to pay to ship, which puts those vendors I priced out of the "wholesale" pricing realm. May as well support my local bead shop, right? Their pearl selection is great. They offer so many colors, sizes and unusual shapes. Love them. They have cheap "baroque" pearls to ultra-expensive, high-quality ones. Lots to choose from. They do reward loyalty. Once you spend $500, you get on "The List," which entitles you to 10% off your order forevermore. Swell! Plus, they don't charge tax if you have a business license. Small things that add up! Love Lost Cities. read more

This is one of the better bead stores in San Diego, although their prices are not wholesale. Customer service is always good. Every time I shop here, I'm always offered a cookie or some kind of treat that the staff offers to customers. It's a nice gesture, but how about some lower prices? (That Old Town rent must be sky high.) The selection is beyond decent, but prices are still higher compared to other stores. read more