The phrase “crystal beads” has several meanings, depending on the general topic of discussion. These include the beads on chandeliers, beads used to make jewelry, and beads made from glass or naturally occurring quartz crystals.
Chandelier crystal beads are usually made from lead glass. Lead is added to the glass to brighten the reflection of the glass and make it crystal clear. At some point in the past, no doubt, exceedingly expensive chandeliers were made with true quartz crystal beads, but they would not be cheap or as bright as the ones made from lead glass. Most of the chandeliers made since the rediscovery of the lead crystal formula in the mid-seventeenth century have lead glass crystal chandelier beads cut in prisms to evoke the rainbow effect.
Glass beads, crystals and beading thread make up this beaded braacelet.
The crystal beads used in jewelry may also be made from natural quartz, regular glass formulas or a lead glass formula. The crystal beads made from actual quartz crystals will vary from a transparent clear to an opaque white, or can be found naturally in pinks (rose quartz), purples (amethyst), yellows (citrine) and brown/gray (smoky quartz). It can also be treated to become almost any color. Quartz is the second most common mineral in the Earth’s crust, and thus found everywhere. Much of it is in crystalline form and has been made into jewelry and fine decorative objects since antiquity. In addition, quartz is relatively hard, so beads made from it survive generations, to be fashioned into new jewelry as styles or owners pass away. Beads made from quartz or other minerals should be identified by the name of the mineral, as they are rarer than glass beads, and can demand higher prices than any glass beads.
Crystal and glass are terms that have become interchangeable in the case of glass beads. Crystal should refer to beads made from lead glass formulas, while glass implies the more common non-lead formulas. If it truly matters which kind of glass the beads are made from, you must buy the beads from a reputable glass manufacturer. True lead crystal beads are manufactured by many companies worldwide, but especially in the glass making areas of Germany, Austria and Italy.
A simple bracelet of crystal and glass beads on memory wire.
The most famous maker of Austrian crystal beads is Swarovsky. This company has such tight quality controls on their manufacturing process that the over one hundred colors of crystal beads they make remain the same color over years and decades, if not longer. They make their crystal beads in over a dozen shapes, including round, bicone, square, butterflies, hearts, flowers, rondells, navettes, drops, stars, crosses, and more, all of which are faceted to show off the colors the best. They also make smooth round beads in some colors, and pearls. Between the many shapes and colors, the variety of Swarovsky beads is astonishing.
The Chinese make crystal and glass beads as a cheaper competitor to the Austrian crystal beads, and these are usually called fire-polished or Celestial Crystal(R) beads. These beads may vary in color from one die lot to the next, so care must be taken to purchase enough beads from any one lot to complete a beading project, as there is no guarantee that matching beads can be purchased later. There are generally fewer colors as well as fewer shapes available, but the price difference for standard shapes and colors may make these beads a good choice for large projects.
Irridescent finish applied to clear glass beads.
One other variation is available in crystal beads that needs to be mentioned. Many glass beads are treated after they are formed with various finishes. These include iridescence and other finishes applied to part or all of the bead. The durability of the finish is dependent on the technique used, and the finish may wear off of cheaper crystal and glass beads. If the project is important, check with your bead dealer about the permanence of the finishes on the beads you are considering.
Although the terminology is confusing, glass and quartz beads make beautiful chandeliers and jewelry. Until you can tell the difference between the many kinds of crystal and glass beads, make sure to ask questions, and buy from established manufacturers and businesses.
The images on this post are from Stock Xchnge.
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