Terms
- AB
AB stands for "aurora borealis". When used in the context of crystal or glass beads, it refers to a multi-colored, iridescent shine.
- Acrylic
A synthetic polymer. A man-made substance used in everything from clothing to Plexiglas to beads.
- Antiqued
Gold, silver, copper or brass beads may be “antiqued” to enhance their patterns or designs. A dark stain or oxidizing agent is applied to the surface and then buffed away from the highest points of the designs to add definition to the pattern. Beads with an embossed or etched pattern, in particular, benefit from this process.
- Bone
Natural bone (food industry by-product, not specifically harvested for these items) that has been carved, stained, painted or polished. Bone has been used as a decorative element since as far back as the cave man.
- Brass
Is an alloy of copper and zinc. Stronger and more stable than copper, it holds its shape and is relatively resistant to tarnishing. - Cane glass
Molten glass is tinted and drawn out into long, thin canes of glass which can be fused, wound or ground for use in embellishing or creating unique glass beads. - Copper
Copper is a basic element and one of the first to be worked by man. It is both malleable and strong. Unless treated or coated, copper will age to a warm, mellow greenish color. - Coral
Coral is made up of the exoskeleton of a small, sea anemone-type creature that live in massed communities along the world’s reefs and shorelines. A favorite material of jewelry makers for hundreds of years, the impact of coral harvesting has led to bans in many countries around the world. The coral used in these designs is from salvaged sources or is simulated coral. - Jade
Glass beads which, through a heating and cooling process, form a maze of decorative cracks under the surface of the glass. - Cultured Pearls
Farmed, cultured, or seeded freshwater pearls are created by grafting a bead or piece of shell into a mussel and then allowing time for the nacre form around it. These beads may be larger and nearly round but will have the signature "rippled" effect. Also see "Freshwater Pearl".
- Dichroic Glass
Dichroic glass (also known as dichromatic or dichromic) literally translates as "two color", referring to a surface that reflects light with a variety of colors. This term is often used for glass beads and pendants fused with a thin layer of metal to produce a wide range of vivid, reflective colors.
- Filigree
Filigree originally was a jewelry process where thin threads of gold or silver were meticulously soldered into delicate and intricate designs, it now stands for any metal piece with a lacy pattern that includes open spaces.
- Fire polished
Fire polishing is a process by which glass beads are tumbled in super heated (but not molten) sand to smooth and polish any sharp or jagged edges.
- Foiled glass
Foiled glass refers to a process where glass beads are formed over or around a thin layer of reflective metal which shines through the glass.
- Freshwater pearl
A freshwater pearl is a kind of pearl that comes from freshwater mussels. A completely natural freshwater pearl will be small and oval and have an uneven or "rippled" coat. Freshwater pearls may be found in colors like white, silvery white, peach, gold and lavender. More rare are shades of pink, rose and purple. Pearls are often dyed to achieve other colors. Also see "Cultured Pearls".
- Glass beads
Glass beads are one of the oldest of the human decorative arts. Glass beads have been traced back to the earliest Roman and Egyptian civilizations.
- Gold filled
Gold filled (gold overlay) is composed of a solid layer of gold boned to a base metal (such as copper) using heat and pressure.
- Gold plated
Gold plating is a method of depositing a thin layer of gold onto a base metal (most often copper or silver) by a chemical or electrochemical process.
- Gunmetal
Gunmetal is an alloy, similar to bronze, that is comprised of copper, tin and zinc.
- Heishi
Heishi (pronounced hee-shee) literally means "shell" and refers to pieces of shell that have been shaped, drilled and polished by hand to form beads. In recent years, this term has been expanded to include tiny, hand-made beads of any natural substance such as shell, wood, bone or coral.
- Lampwork
Lampwork is an ancient method of creating beads from glass. Each bead is meticulously handcrafted using a torch to heat the glass until it is molten. Then, using additional colors of glass, the piece is embellished to create unique works of art.
- Lumina
Lumina Inspirations is a designer and maker of unique porcelain, fine china and decorative items. They employ a team of designers of diverse cultural backgrounds, which results in a wide and fascinating variety of beautiful accents.
- Millifiori
Millefiori literally translates to “thousand flowers” and refers to a glasswork technique which produces a distinctive, repetitive pattern throughout a glass bead.
- Mother of pearl
Mother of pearl refers to the iridescent inner shell of any number of mollusks (shell fish). Shells of mussels, oysters, clams, etc. can be cut, shaped and polished to form a wide variety of embellishments.
- Murano
Murano is a city in Italy known the world over for its glasswork. When used in a jewelry description, it indicates glass beads that were created in this renowned location.
- Pewter
Pewter is an alloy consisting of primarily tin with copper added in order to harden it. Silvery in color, it can be polished, stamped, etched or brushed for different effects. Like silver, it will tarnish with time, unless treated or coated.
- Porcelian
Porcelain is molded from a fine-grained clay, which is glazed and fired in a kiln to produce a hard bead. Most of the porcelain beads used in the designs here are all individually hand painted for a beautifully unique look.
- Silver plate
Silver plating is a method of depositing a thin layer of silver onto a base metal (most often copper) by a chemical or electrochemical process.
- Stanless steel
Stainless steel is an iron-carbon alloy with chromium content. It does not stain, rust or corrode like ordinary steel.
- Sterling silver
Sterling silver is defined as silver that is 92.5 percent pure.
- Surgical steel
Surgical steel is an alloy of iron, carbon, molybdenum and sometimes nickel, it is strong, stable and considered, hypo-allergenic.
- Swarovski
Swarovski is the brand name of a wide range of luxury, cut lead-crystal products. The company, located in Wattens, Austria, has been producing some of the best lead-crystal glass since 1895 and is one of the most recognized names in the field. Beads from Swarovski are rightly renowned for their clarity and sparkle.
- Raku
Raku is a form of Japanese pottery characterized by a rough or porous texture that is the result of a low firing temperature. Beads made by this method offer a wonderful richness of visual and tactile textures.
- Venetian glass
"Venetian Glass" referes to glass beads that were made in Venice, Italy most likely on the island of Murano. This region has been a center for glasswork of all kinds since the 13th century.
- Vermeil
Vermeil (pronounced ver-may) is a process where gold is plated over sterling silver. The resulting item has the look of solid gold with the stability of silver.