In the world of crafting, there are many types of materials used for making jewelry pieces but glass is a very common and versatile option. Many crafters prefer that over other materials which explains why glass beads are very prevalent in the market today. They have been in the market for as long as the Roman times and used some of the earliest types of glass. The industry has evolved over the years and there are different types of glass material in the market today.
That will be the basis of your selection for the ideal glass beads to use with your jewelry project. You will come across all types and each has its pros and cons. They should be weighed equally to help you make an informed choice without any bias. The following are some of the types in the market that you can give consideration to choose the best:
• Crackle beads- Venetian glass makers invented the technique used for creating these beads back in the 16th century. They are usually immersed into cold water after the glass has been heated to molten hot and it ends up cracking. The glass is re-heated after that and can be shaped as you may wish.
• Dichroic beads- these glass beads are being used in the modern world to create wonderful jewelry pieces. Dichroic glass comes with a thin film of metal that is fused to the glass surface. It assures of durability which is a standout feature for these beads. When you view these beads from two different angles, you will see a reflection of different colors which adds to make them more attractive.
• Drawn beads- these are equally ancient glass beads still in the market today. The beads are created using multiple methods and that makes your selection diverse. You can choose the method that you feel is best suited for your needs satisfaction. Regardless of the method used for creating these beads, you are assured of settling for those that you are okay with and well suited to satisfy your needs.
• Furnace beads- these beads are made using Italian techniques like zanfirico and latticinio where large cranes with decorations are built out of much smaller cranes. There are twisting stripe and liner patterns that make these glass beads complete and ideal for a jewelry project. During manufacture, there is no necessity to blow air into glass.
• Lead crystal beads- they are well polished and cut using a machine. These beads have high descriptions of lead and it’s an advantage because they are more sparkling than other types in the market. However, these beads are highly fragile so you must handle them with great care.
• Wound beads- winding method is the primary one used for creating these glass beads. Glass is heated to high temperatures to make it easy working with and then its stretched around a core that is solid in nature. You can shape the glass material to any type of outline you want when it’s still hot.
With a long career in the crafting industry, the writer wields good understanding of glass beads and many others used in jewelry making. His writing usually offer the best guide to help in making informed purchases thus will be a good read any time. He holds a degree in journalism and communication from Oxford University.
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