Rhinestone Dumbbells

These glamorous rhinestone dumbbells were made for a bikini competitor's 50th birthday. (25 pounds + 25 pounds = 50... get it? 😄)

Crystals used: 15,000 premium crystals in ss3-ss20
Adhesive used: Industrial strength 2 part epoxy
Pattern: Honeycomb, Grid, and Contour
Timeline: 2 weeks

Design Ideation

To be honest, this was an idea I had brewing for ages. I loved the idea on a personal level because I knew it would be challenging, but I also knew that the birthday girl would LOVE this gift.

Once I knew I wanted to crystallize a pair of dumbbells, I knew that for her 50th birthday, we HAD to do something that resembled 50. So, we decided to go big - a pair of two 25 pound dumbbells to be blinged.

Creating a pair of rhinestone dumbbells with over 15,000 crystals is a laborious process that requires a great deal of skill, patience, and attention to detail.

Process

Once the design is decided, the process follows that direction. The process begins by selecting the appropriate dumbbell weight and determining the design and placement of the crystals.

Prep

Once the design has been finalized, the next step is to carefully prep the material. These were cast iron dumbbells, which was a very deliberate decision (my other option was silicone, which is notoriously much less receptive to adhesive). Prepping the dumbbells meant sanding them down, wiping them with rubbing alcohol to clean them as much as possible, and painting them white. They originally were delivered black, and I knew I didn't want any space between crystals to show a ton - so, the painting was a critical step in prep.

Bedazzling

Once the prep was finished, it's time for the fun stuff! Crystallizing the dumbbells required a significant amount of navigation. The surfaces were uneven and not perfectly aligned or sized the same. So, navigating each small area of the dumbbell harmoniously was key to bringing this project to life.

While the crystals are of course important, sometimes people underestimate how important the adhesive is when bedazzling a project. The truth is, the glue is probably the most important thing to consider. For this project, I used a two part epoxy which is industrial strength. The challenge with that glue is it has a long working time, so I'd have to do a small section, wait for it to cure, then move onto the next. 

People ask me ALL the time, "did you really glue EACH of these rhinestones, one by one?" Yup, that's my process. No shortcuts here. Crystallizing is a time-consuming and precise process that requires a steady hand and a great deal of focus. The rhinestones must also be carefully aligned to create a cohesive and visually appealing design.

After all of the rhinestones have been attached, the dumbbell must be left to cure. Once the adhesive has fully cured, the dumbbell is carefully inspected to ensure that all of the rhinestones are securely in place and that the design looks as intended. 

In conclusion, creating a pair of rhinestone dumbbells with over 15,000 crystals is a time-consuming and precise process that requires a great deal of skill and attention to detail. From navigating an uneven surface to gluing each individual rhinestone, every step must be carefully executed to ensure a flawless end result. The finished product is a stunning piece of fitness equipment that is sure to turn heads and inspire confidence during every workout.

Want to give a gift like this?