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| Bead Definitions |
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Opaque Beads Do not transmit light and you cannot see through them. Transparent Beads Are clear, do transmit light, and you can see through them. "Greasy" Beads Are translucent glass; some light is transmitted but you cannot see through them. They have a luminosity lacking in regular opaque or transparent beads. Opaline Beads Contain feldspar that give the glass a cool fiery glow like an opal gemstone; the beads come in varying degrees of transparency / translucency. Satin Glass Is translucent with many tiny parallel lines running through it that give an oddly shifting surface reflection. "Lined" Beads Are transparent glass beads with either a metal lining or a contrasting colour lining inside the holes. The holes may be round or square; the square holes increase the reflectivity. Metals used may be silver, gold, or copper. Lined beads have beautifully complex colour arrangements within themselves but since the lining is applied rather than being an integral part of the glass, the applied metals / colours are not a fast finish. The metal linings generally have a long life and the colour linings may erode much more quickly. Some colours have more fastness than others. Sunlight, moisture, or friction from the threads in the beads may compromise these applied linings at times. Luster Finishes Make beads look like glowing little pearls. The effect varies with the transparency of the glass. Metallic Beads Have a permanent thin metal wash over the surface applied during fabrication that is most generally a permanent finish. Iridescent Finishes Are similar to metallic but have flashes of rainbow colour (think bubblebath) adding a sumptuous beauty to the bead. Sometimes iris beads define a variegated hank of beads where entire beads are differently coloured from others in the same hank for a more random look. Matte Beads Have a frosted surface finish as if they were taken out of the tumbler too soon. The effect is very soft and quietly rich. Cut Beads Have facets on one or more sides cut into the beads that add sparkle and a sense of motion. One-cuts are also called charlotte cuts and / or true cuts. Two - cuts look like tiny bugle beads and three-cuts are faceted all around the bead. These bead types and finishes may be combined - imagine a transparent, luster, iris, three-cut. Or imagine a metallic, iridescent, or a greasy gilt lined luster . . . think about it! |
