Altamont Beads and Jewelry Findings

Smaller now than it used to be, but still a great selection and knowledgeable staff.

Great staff and local rocks! Very helpful and GREAT classes! John Rocks!

This wonderful shop has it all. If you are a novice, or advanced bead maker this is the place for you. The staff is very friendly and helpful, just ask away. They have classes too! It’s hidden away, but it’s a great secret.

OK — so I’m from the Bay Area, where we have lots of bead shops, and I have to tell you that Altamont is one of the few bead stores with such an amazing selection of seed beads! And the prices are great. I can’t say enough good things about this store, especially now that they have moved and are about 10 minutes from my parents house. I can guarantee that I’ll be stopping there every time I come up to visit. They also have a lot of items that I can’t find in my local shops, like 125-​yard Fireline, as well as tools, wire and just about anything else you would need. Oh, and did I mention the classes? They have classes that are a fraction of the cost compared to SF. I can totally see combining a visit with my family with a class.
This is really a great store!

These guys are great. I always look for them when I go to a bead or gem show. I live in Oregon so I haven’t been to their shop. They are friendly and knowledgeable. Their prices are great and I have always been completely satisfied with my silver purchases.

O.M.G. I went there yesterday based on the one other review here. What a GREAT place! They had a small wall of 50% off items that changes often (the gal told me). Tons of tools, wire, pendants and beads. Pretty much everything you can think of is in here!!! I plan to go back often. I was very happy with my purchases yesterday and already used up most of the beads purchased!!! Three cheers for Altamont!

I was told that there was a bead shop that I «must» visit in Auburn. Don’t know if this was the place, but I came here anyway.
Tucked away in the back of a strip mall and next to Taco Tree is Altamont. Don’t let the front area fool you. Behind the tiny shop and register is a back warehouse with tools, wire, lots of cut stone beads and crystal.
Altamont tends to have more of the rock-​ish varieties. Think Dalmatian stone, various quartzes (which I sadly learned that sandstone is actually man-​made!), and semi-​precious beads. Lots of seed beads here too — the more vials you buy, the more you save. I don’t have the patience to string up those, so I don’t bother looking.
The best part was the sale area. They had a good size variety of mixed beads on shanks that were originally $ 4, but then were 25% off. Wait folks, that makes it $ 3 a strand! I spent most of my time sorting through this section. Some seriously good finds here — rose quartz, various cut semi-​precious beads, glass beads, etc. I also bought a strand of cut pineapple quartz for only $ 4!
The staff here is very good and showed us how to wire wrap and what supplies we needed, what wire to buy, the best tools to use, etc.