Glass Pearl Beads
If you are interested in jewelry making and want to stay up to date on the latest trends, you should be aware of the different types of glass beads. For example, Czech and Austrian glass is very popular for its beauty and quality. There are so many different colors of glass, from clear to every color of the rainbow and beyond. Glass pearl beads are popular and can give any piece of handmade jewelry something special. They look just like real pearls but are far less expensive and come in so many gorgeous shades. They are opaque and pearlescent, but rather than being solid pearls they are glass.
There are many applications for glass pearl beads, they can be used on rosaries, necklaces, bracelets, anklets and more. As mentioned earlier they have benefits because they are cheaper than real pearls and come in more colors and sizes. And, you don’t have to be a jewelry maker to appreciate the price and versatility of these beads. Jewelry shoppers can also take good advantage of the wide range of glass bead jewelry available. Most often, you will find beads of this type incorporated into silver jewelry pieces. Sterling silver is a perfect accompaniment to art glass because silver is beautiful and durable, yet not too extravagant.
In order for a piece of jewelry to be called sterling, it must contain a minimum of 92.5 percent pure silver. The reason pure silver is not used on its own is because it is too soft and would be easily damaged. Also, pure silver is nearly impossible to shape and mold. Other metals are added for durability and malleability. This is also the case with gold, however gold is more expensive than silver and comes in different karats, which refers to how much gold is in a piece of jewelry.
Glass pearl beads are also often seen strung together like strands of pearls, on flexible elastic string or wire. These strands can be long or short, depending on your preferred style. The choker style necklace is popular if you want a gothic, Victorian look. Chokers are best work with open necklines to highlight the cleavage. Long necklaces are trendy and fashion forward, you will see celebrities in magazines wearing strands that almost reach their waist. You may prefer something in the middle of these two extremes, or even a sophisticated multi–length look that features several strands worn together.
Because glass pearl beads do come in every color imaginable, you can have a strand for every outfit and other accessories to match. Whether or not to mix different colored strands is up to you, of course it matters what you are wearing. You don’t want your necklace to clash with your outfit, however if you are wearing something neutral or something that features a few key shades you can pull off wearing more than one color of pearl beads. One thing you’ll love about these beads is that without close inspection, no one will realize they are not actually pearls.
With the popularity of artisan glass and crystal being made into jewelry, you should have no problem finding jewelry made with glass pearl beads. If your local jewelry store doesn’t have the item you want, consider getting creative and making it yourself. Or, check the Internet as there are many independent jewelry makers who use glass beads in their one of a kind creations.