Have you ever wondered exactly why some dichroic glass beads look one color against one background, and then seem to change their color if you just tilt your head a little and look at them from a different angle. Well, it is not really such a mystery, if you understand the procedures used when making dichroic beads and jewelry.
Although it is a little mind-boggling, the actual filter or coating placed on the glass has no color at all. The coating applied to the glass are actually thin layers of metal oxides that have been vaporized and attached to the glass, usually finished off with a final external layer of quartz. It is the passage of light through or bouncing off the bead that gives it color. For example if a dichroic coating is added to a clear glass bead it almost looks like metallic glitter has been spread out over the bead. If you hold the bead up to the light, however, all of a sudden the glass bead appears to be transparent.
Adding more layers of coating to the dichroic glass beads are like adding additional color coatings to the bead. If you add the coating over a black or dark colored glass bead the colors will be more pronounced and they will not fade away when the glass bead is held up to the light.
Dichroic glass beads are perfect to use when making your own jewelry, and they look great for example when added to a charm bracelet. There are many different styles, sizes and color of beads available, and ranging from small dangling beads to heart beads, round beads to rectangular beads.
If you are planning on making your own bracelet from dichroic glass beads make sure that you color coordinate the beads you will be buying as much as is possible to do. It is not always that easy to see exactly what color the dichroic glass beads are by viewing them online, as it is extremely hard to accurately photograph beads made from this material. If you have any questions you may want to get in touch with the person selling the beads directly, via their website or email, and ask them for their opinion. Most people you contact in this way would be only too happy to help advise you.
If you love making your own jewelry, you will probably really enjoy working with the selection of dichroic beads that are available.
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