Print this page

Glass Bead Finishes

Assortment of glass beads with different finishes. Assortment of glass beads with different finishes.

The various types of glass beads currently available are made with one or more of the following finishes in order to give a wider variety of visual effects. Some of the most widely used forms are listed below:

  • AB or Aurora Borealis: a rainbow effect that is applied to the surface of a bead
  • Bronze lining: a bronze coating that reflects a brown light applied to the inside of the bead
  • Ceylon: a pearl lustrous finish
  • Colour lining (inside colour): a colour coating applied to the inside of the beads
  • Coating (dyed beads): a bead that is placed in a pigment bath to create one or more colours on its surface
  • Copper lining: a coppery coating reflecting a reddish light applied to the inside of the bead
  • Iris (iridescent): an iridescent coating with multiple hues, which is often applied to the surface of a dark, opaque bead
  • Lustre: a transparent ‘pearl’ effect applied to the surface of a bead
  • Matt (USA: mat[te]): the bead is etched on a microscopic level to produce a matt (dull, frosty) finish
  • Metallic (galvanised): a shiny, reflective coating on the outside of a bead that gives it the appearance of being made of metal
  • Opaque: the bead is made from a solid colour that prevents light from passing through it
  • Pearls: an alabaster white bead coated with a nitro-cellulose lacquer with pearl pigment to give an iridescent ‘pearl’ effect
  • Rainbow: an iridescent coating on the outside of either an opaque or transparent bead
  • Silver lining: a silvery coating that reflects light is applied to the inside of a bead
  • Translucent: diffused light shines through the bead
  • Transparent: the glass is see-through

Digital source of illustration (retrieved 8 July 2016).

GVE

Last modified on Monday, 20 March 2017 14:19