We began to distribute C-LON® beading thread in 36 colors in December of 2002. Originally it was offered in size D; we later added AA as a second size.

In March of 2005, Beadsmith/Helby announced a "new product", Super-Lon beading thread. The story, briefly, is that Beadsmith/Helby (apparently using the name M & Y Trading Corp), found and contacted the factory that was then producing C-LON® and persuaded them to sell them identical colors and sizes of thread. That factory was purchased last year by a larger company which now produces the thread.

Those of you familiar with both products will notice that the color names for Super-lon are the same as we have always used for C-LON.

Several customers have wondered if it is legal for one company to copy a product that is already being sold by another company. In the case of a product like thread, which can't be copyrighted or patented, it is completely legal. Whether it's necessary, beneficial to the bead industry, or ethical, I leave to your judgement.

Comments from users:

Hi Barry, In addition to running my business, I'm the president of the Long Island Bead Society. Therefore, I'm in contact with many avid beadworkers. I too was curious when I received information from Helby on Superlon, so I did order a few spools so I could try it. In addition to testing it myself, I gave spools to 3 other people who have used many types of thread in the past and we were all in agreement that C-Lon was by far the best thread on the market. We all concluded that Superlon is most definitely NOT like C-Lon. It has a silkier feel, more like Nymo, is a bit stronger than Nymo but not as strong as C-Lon and it shreds quite easily. I've personally tried Nymo, Silamide, So-No, Superlon, and both sizes of C-Lon. The only thread that I sell, use and recommend is C-Lon.

Caren Schwartz


June 8, 2005:

I've received a number of emails in the last couple of days regarding the above, so I'd like to add further clarification.

First, we've never tested, or even seen, Super-lon (except in pictures). I can't address the issue of its quality. In theory it is the same product as our C-Lon, produced in the same factory.

I don't know whether the currently shipping Super-lon was produced in the original factory (see the second paragraph at the top), the new factory, or some in both factories. I don't know whether it was tested by Beadsmith/Helby before they started to ship it. I don't know what quality control procedures they use, or whether they examine the thread before they sell it.

I trust experienced beaders to be able to judge thread, so it seems clear to me that at least some of the Super-lon out there is not of good quality based on these reports. Perhaps it is only a few bobbins, perhaps more. It's the distributor's job to deal with such issues and I imagine Beadsmith/Helby will look into it.


September, 2006:

For those of you who keep track of product knock-offs, Helby/Beadsmith has now released their version of our C-Lon® Bead Cord. Here's a cute quote about originality vs. copying from Bill Watterson of Calvin and Hobbes fame.