AB vs. Clear Rhinestones: Which Transfer Is Right for You? A Complete Buyer's Guide

Browsing rhinestone transfers and unsure what “AB” means, or whether you should choose clear, coloured, or glitter? You’re not alone — it’s one of the most common questions from first-time buyers. This guide breaks down every rhinestone and transfer type available at Glitzy Bling Transfers so you can pick with confidence.

🔮 The Rhinestone Glossary: What the Terms Mean

SS Size (SS6, SS10, SS16...)

SS stands for Stone Size. The number refers to the diameter of the rhinestone:

• SS6 — approximately 2mm diameter. The most common small stone. Used for fine detail, dense coverage, and overall sparkle texture.
• SS10 — approximately 3mm diameter. A medium stone. Used for bolder individual points of light and larger design elements.
• SS16 and larger — bigger statement stones. Less common in transfers but used for focal point accents.

Most transfers at Glitzy Bling Transfers use a combination of SS6 and SS10 stones, which is noted in every product description. The mix of sizes creates depth — fine sparkle from SS6 and bold catch-points from SS10.

Clear Rhinestones

Clear (Crystal) rhinestones are colourless and transparent. Under light, they reflect white/silver sparkle and refract the colours of their surroundings. They are versatile — they don’t add a specific colour, so they work with any garment colour and any team palette without clashing.

Best for: Team transfers where colour comes from the garment itself, and neutral/universal designs that work with any colour scheme.

AB (Aurora Borealis) Rhinestones

AB rhinestones are coated with a special iridescent finish that causes them to reflect multiple colours — blues, pinks, purples, golds — simultaneously and differently depending on the viewing angle and lighting conditions. The name comes from the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) effect they mimic.

AB stones are technically clear rhinestones with an iridescent coating applied to one or both surfaces. They do not have a fixed colour — they shift. This means they work with virtually any background colour without clashing, while adding far more visual complexity than plain clear stones.

Best for: Competition wear, apparel that will be seen under stage or gymnasium lighting, and any design where you want maximum visual impact from a single rhinestone colour.

Coloured Rhinestones

Coloured rhinestones have a fixed colour — Cobalt Blue, Sapphire, Red, Topaz (Gold), Jet (Black), Capri Blue, Orange, Emerald, etc. They are used to match specific team colours precisely or to add a specific hue to a design.

Best for: Team-specific transfers where rhinestone colour must match a programme’s palette, and multi-colour designs that require intentional colour contrast.

Glitter (Vinyl Glitter)

Glitter transfers use a glitter vinyl film rather than individual stones. The result is a flat, continuous coverage of glitter particles — it catches light and sparkles, but without the three-dimensional, individual-stone quality of rhinestones. Glitter transfers are often combined with rhinestones in the same design for a mixed-media effect.

Best for: Bold, opaque colour areas within a design (lettering, star bursts, backgrounds), where rhinestones alone would not provide full coverage.

Holographic Vinyl

Holographic (Spangle) vinyl transfers produce a shifting rainbow-sheen across the entire design surface. Similar to glitter in that it’s flat vinyl rather than individual stones, but the holographic coating creates a more dramatic, kaleidoscopic colour-shift effect.

Best for: Designs where you want maximum surface coverage with a shifting, metallic rainbow effect — particularly striking on practice and training wear.

✨ AB Rhinestones: The Iridescent Choice

AB rhinestones are the most popular choice in the Glitzy Bling Transfers catalog — and it’s easy to understand why. They offer the widest versatility and the most visually dynamic effect of any rhinestone type.

When to Choose AB

• Your team doesn’t have a specific rhinestone colour requirement — AB works with any colour scheme
• The garment will be worn under gymnasium, stage, or competition lighting — AB stones are exceptional under artificial light
• You want maximum visual complexity from a single stone type — AB shifts through blues, pinks, and golds as the wearer moves
• You’re shopping for a gift and don’t know the exact team colours — AB is always safe
• You want a premium, competition-quality look

AB Rhinestone Transfers at Glitzy Bling Transfers

GYMNAST AB RHINESTONE TRANSFER
From $9.00 | AB 2&3mm

CHEER MOM AB BURST TRANSFER
From $12.00 | SS6, SS10 AB

IN MY CHEER ERA AB TRANSFER
From $12.00 | AB Rhinestones

TUMBLER CURSIVE AB TRANSFER
From $8.50 | Clear AB 2&3mm

🔬 Clear Rhinestones: The Versatile Classic

Clear rhinestones are the original — used in rhinestone decoration for decades. They’re the workhorse of the range: reliable, versatile, and always appropriate.

When to Choose Clear

• You want rhinestone sparkle without any colour influence — clear stones let the garment colour do the work
• The design includes other coloured rhinestones or glitter and you want a neutral accent stone
• Budget is a consideration — clear rhinestone transfers are often priced at or below AB equivalents
• You’re applying to a patterned or multi-colour garment and want stones that won’t compete with the base fabric
• The transfer will be worn outdoors in natural light rather than under stage or gymnasium lighting

Clear Rhinestone Transfers at Glitzy Bling Transfers

LIONS FOOTBALL TRANSFER
From $10.00 | Clear, Sapphire, Lt Coffee

SOFTBALL MOM TRANSFER
From $10.00 | Clear, Black, Yellow, Red

KNIGHTS RHINESTONE TRANSFER
From $8.95 | Clear + Red Glitter

JAGUARS RHINESTONE TRANSFER
From $11.50 | Clear, Lt Aquamarine

🌈 Coloured Rhinestones: Team Colour Precision

Coloured rhinestones are the choice when your design must match a specific team palette. Cobalt Blue for navy programmes, Red for red/white teams, Topaz for gold, Jet for black accents.

When to Choose Coloured Rhinestones

• Your programme has specific colours that need to be represented in the rhinestone design itself
• You want a multi-colour rhinestone design (e.g., red + black + clear for a Warriors design)
• The design includes team name lettering in the programme’s colour
• You want a look that reads as team-branded rather than neutral/universal

Coloured & Multi-Colour Rhinestone Transfers

WARRIORS TRANSFER
From $13.00 | Red, Black, Clear

BOBCATS TRANSFER
From $12.50 | Cobalt, Grey, Clear

TITANS TRANSFER
From $11.00 | Red, Cobalt, Capri, Grey, Clear

✨ Glitter & Holographic Vinyl: Bold Flat Coverage

Glitter vinyl and holographic vinyl transfers add sparkle through a flat film rather than individual stones. They’re a distinct look — not better or worse than rhinestones, just different.

When to Choose Glitter or Holographic

• You want opaque, full-coverage colour areas (glitter fills a shape completely; rhinestones don’t)
• You want to combine bling with solid-colour elements (many transfers mix rhinestones with glitter lettering)
• You prefer a flat, sleek finish over three-dimensional raised stones
• You want a shifting, kaleidoscopic rainbow effect across the full design (holographic vinyl)
• Budget is a factor — glitter and holographic transfers are typically the most affordable in the range

CHEERLEADER STAR GLITTER
From $11.00 | Glitter + Rhinestones

CHEER MOM STAR GLITTER
From $12.00 | White Glitter + Rhinestones

TUMBLER HOLOGRAPHIC TRANSFER
From $8.25 | Holographic Vinyl

📊 Quick Comparison: At a Glance

💡 Still Not Sure? Use This Decision Tree

• ❓ Do you need to match specific team colours? → Choose Coloured or Clear rhinestones in the colourway that matches your programme.
• ❓ Will the garment be worn under stage or gymnasium lighting? → Choose AB rhinestones for maximum light-catching impact.
• ❓ Are you gifting and unsure of the team colours? → Choose AB rhinestones — they work with everything.
• ❓ Do you want opaque, fully-filled colour areas? → Choose a Glitter or mixed rhinestone + glitter transfer.
• ❓ Do you want the boldest possible surface sparkle at the lowest price? → Choose Holographic vinyl.
• ❓ Do you want a classic, neutral rhinestone look that works anywhere? → Choose Clear rhinestones.