Bead Types
Choosing The Beads For Your Design
By offering a choice of beads and colours we are able to offer our clients maximum flexibility as well as the possibility of a unique design. Each Design Sheet gives a list of the suitable beads to choose from. Here we will give you a brief description of every bead available to you in the hope it will help you make your choice.
The Beads
Swarovski Crystal
Almost certainly the best choice you can make! Swarovski Crystal beads are considered the best and highest quality bead available. A minimum of 32% lead is used in the manufacturing process, which makes the beads very clear and pure. The crystal is then cut with fantastic precision and colours and/or coatings are added to create beads that shimmer and shine with dazzling brilliance. These beads are available in an amazing range of colours, sizes and shapes and you can make your choice from our lists of bead colours.
Swarovski Crystal Pearls
Each Swarovski Crystal Pearl is created around a crystal core, which gives the pearl a weight almost identical to a real pearl. The Swarovski Pearl coloured coating is resistant to fading and gives a beautiful glow to the pearl, which seems to come from within. These pearls are of the highest quality and are available in a lovely range of colours and a good range of sizes. Please make your choice from our lists of bead colours.
Czech Firepolished Cut Glass
A faceted glass bead made in the Czech Republic. Although not of the same quality as the Swarovski beads, they are a cost effective alternative while still being of excellent quality. They have good colour stability and are resistant to abrasion and chemicals. They come in a wide variety of colours and coatings and may offer a colour choice not available in the Swarovski palette. Please see our lists of bead colours for the options available.
Matt Glass Pearls
As with the Swarovski Crystal Pearls and the Glass Pearls, these are a glass core with a pearl coat. They are supplied in a wide range of colours that have a slightly matt finish, which gives a slightly softer effect than other glass pearls. Please see the full list of colours available.
Surface Dyed Pearls
A traditional artificial pearl, surface dyed to order. They are not quite as heavy as the glass pearls we use, which makes them perfect for designs such as the pearl collar in our collection. While there is no colour chart, we do have a comprehensive list of the choice of colours available.
Opal Opaque Oval Beads
A glass bead with one side finished in an AB coating. This AB (Aurora Borealis) coating gives a subtle blue/gold/green/red shine according to the angle light hits the bead. Alternatively, the plain side (as used in Tiara - T12) gives a softer colour with just a slight glow. This bead is only offered in white and black.
Precious and Semi-Precious Stones
Some of the design sheets will give the option of Semi-Precious stones or beads. These are naturally formed stones fashioned into beads, cabochons (a flat backed, polished bead that is set into a mount) or faceted stones. The most common stones used in the collection are Mother of Pearl and Freshwater Pearls, but we will always try to source any stone you require. Semi-Precious stones are always used in the Gentleman's Accessories. We recommend you either choose a colour that complements/co-ordinates with your colour scheme or a stone with a special meaning, the most common choice being a birthstone. Please contact us for our advice on what is available (and suitable.)
Cubic Zirconia Faceted Stones
Cubic Zirconia (which is, to be technical, the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide) is the most commonly used diamond simulant. It is optically flawless, hard and therefore highly durable. In the collection we use faceted Cubic Zirconia and the facets and the flawless nature of the stone give it great sparkle.