BYUS4U bead~gemstone~craft

20 Gauge = Used for heavier beads and nuggets. Thick and Strong, but still pretty easy to work with. Dead Soft wire works well in this weight for making clasps and other specialty type components.

1 ounce - 20 gauge = approx. 19 feet

(18 gauge is really thick and there is not usually average
beading projects which require such a thickness and strength)

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SHAPES:   SIZE = number of beads per 16" strand

Round	2mm = 200
	3mm = 134
	4mm = 100
	6mm = 67
	8mm = 50
	10mm = 40
	12 mm = 34
Hearts	6mm = 90
Thick Hearts	12 mm = 36
	20mm = 20
Stars	6mm = 70
Twists	8 x 20mm = 20
Lentils	12mm = 40
	20mm = 22
Leaves	14 x 18mm = 20
Shells	18 x 20mm = 20
Triangles	16mm = 24
Rice	5 x 12mm = 36
Melons	4 x 6mm = 64
Rondelles	3 x 5mm = 175
Cubes	4 x 4mm = 102
Tubes	3 x 5 = 80
	4 x 13 = 30
Rectangles	4 x 13mm = 30
Teardrops	6 x 16mm = 25
	9 x 22mm = 19 (strung lengthwise)
Donuts	20mm = 20
	25mm = 15
	30mm = 13
	40mm = 10
	45mm = 8
Discs	3 x 5mm = 25
Cylinders	13 x 4mm = 16
Pears	16 x 7mm = 24

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~ BEAD TYPES and FINISHES~

CHEVRON
Glass beads which are special in nature for their intricate chevron pattern. Originally made for the slave trade in Africa by glass makers in Italy. The initial core is formed in a star-shaped mold and can have anywhere from five to fifteen points. After several layers are applied, the glass is drawn out to the desired thickness, and when cooled, cut into short segments showing the resulting star pattern at their ends Traditionally composed of red, blue, and white...modern chevrons can be found in any color combination.

CLOISONNÉ
Pronounced Klo-si-nay. An art form originating in China in the 1200's. Filigree metal is used to outline (individual cells, "cloisons") patterns, often floral designs, which is then filled in with enamel color glazes and fired. Each bead is polished revealing their intricate and beautiful designs. Miniature masterpieces created by skilled artisans, each bead can take up to four hours to produce. The name of this bead comes from the French verb cloisonner, "to partition".

GREASY-SOL GEL-VASELINE
Transmits light...but is not "see-through". They have depth and richness. Colors recede visually in comparison to opaque colors, but do come forward when used with transparents.  Sol Gel is a "process" using Silica Rods and other ingredients.

HEISHE
Tiny disc or tube shaped beads cut from natural shell and stone materials.

LAMPWORK
Made by using a torch to heat a rod of glass and spinning the resulting thread around a metal rod covered in bead release. When the base bead has been formed, other colors of glass can be added to the surface to create many designs. Best type of Lampwork bead is when the process is completed by placing the finished bead into a kiln and reheated to make it stronger. This processs makes the beads become "annealed". WEDDING CAKE - A "style" of lampwork in which the beads are decorated with intricate, colorful glass overlays. Often with Roses and decorative swirls and dots. This type of bead was originally made in Murano, Italy...hence the common term for them to be called "Murano Beads".

MATTE
Glass beads with a "velvety" or "frosty" appearance. Matte beads will visually recede when placed next to transluscent and/or crystal beads. Matte finishes generally provide a richer color saturation. *** You can make your own Matte beads by using an Etching Cream, available in most craft stores*** By taking the same beads, but only etching a few, it creates a great look!

MILLEFIORI
Italian for "1000 flowers". Decoration consisting of slices of multicolored glass rods (canes), usually pressed smooth (marvered), while hot into the surface of a core piece of glass. Another name for this bead is a mosaic bead (also see Lampwork for murano bead description).

OPAL
Glass beads which do transmit light, but the bead appears murky, milky or transluscent. Good Opal glass has a glow to it, similar to a genuine opal gemstone. Greasy-Vaseline beads are actually made from a dense opal glass. Opal beads do have a subtle sparkle, though not as much as a transparent bead.

OPAQUE
Glass beads which do not transmit light. Nothing can be seen inside or through the bead. A "solid" coloring. Opaque beads tend to come forward visually in jewelry pieces.

PRESSED GLASS
In this type of glass bead they are formed by "pressing" the hot glass into a mold to give the bead it's shape. Often pressed glass beads are made using machines that stamp the shape from the molten glass. The shapes can have holes punched in virtually any direction.

SATIN
Glass beads which have a striated, layered or "satin-like" appearance. The color shade of Satin glass varies with your viewing angle. They tend to come forward in a design because of their variable reflectivity.

TRANSPARENT
Glass beads which transmit light and enables a view into and through the bead. Transparent beads tend to emit much more sparkle than other types of finishes due to it's reflectory properties.

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~ SPECIAL COATINGS and EFFECTS ~

AMESIT
A purple, green and blue scarabee effect. Usually done over jet (black) glass.

AURORA BOREALIS (AB)
Glass beads with a rainbow effect coating on transparent glass. Very eye catching effect which gives off many colors of the rainbow based on the density and type of lighting.

AVENTURINE
Glittery gold inclusions or surface details.

COLOR CHANGING
A bead which when seen in a variety of different light sources does literally change color. The color change is quite dramatic. Two such "color changing" beads are CANTALOUPE-Turns a Peach-like color under normal indoor (incandescent) lighting, Melon Green under fluorescent lights and a subtle Gray in sunlight. The other being AMETHYST-Turns a soft Lilac-Lavender color in sunlight and incandescent lighting and a Cornsilk or Baby Blue coloring in fluorescent lighting. NOTE: The further away you get from either types of lighting, color changes to a subtle light purple. TIP: Add all the colors which the bead changes into any piece you make with these beads if you have a concern with different lighting creating and "unmatched" appearance.

COMET ARGENT or COMET ARGENT LIGHT (CAL)
This is a bright silvery finish. It has no other color characteristics. Can also be see in 2x on plain crystal or glass bead, making it look like a silver bead (which will not tarnish) When applied to half of a bead, one side would appear silver the other half being clear as the bead itself is.

COMET OR
Typically, a 24K gold coating used with a crystal faceted body. 

DORADO or DORADO x2
This finish has a bronze appearance. It is not transparent, but rather, takes on a more solid or opaque "metallic" look. "x2" is the term used to describe a "double" coating of the bead.

FURNACE (or CANE)
Special type of art bead. Made using traditional glassworking techniques from Italy, (used most often for art glass objects). Also called "Cane" glass beads, are sliced from long glass rods, (also known as "canes" which are often decorated with stripes and other colors.

HELIOTROPE
This finish has a deep purple and deep green appearance when seen through a crystal or glass bead. On it's outer surface, it takes on a dull gray and brown look.

IRIDESCENT
This category includes bead terms such as; Iris, Oil Slick, Aurora Borealis, Scarabee and Rainbow. Each refers to the same type of appearance. It is a permanent finish and is applied while the bead is still hot. An iridescent finish can totally change the original color of a bead. Iridescent beads blend subtly.

IRIS
Rainbow effect coatings on opaque glass. The Iris term is also used along with a color. Example: Blue Iris, Green Iris, etc. Many people see this coating and associate it similarly with the Metallic finish beads.

LINED
Glass beads with a different material "lined" within the inner core of the hole. This can include: SILVER*GOLD*BRASS LINED - Reflective lining which adds brilliance to the bead. Square shaped beads can be more reflective than other shapes. Some Vintage beads actually contain Silver, Gold and Brass metals. COLOR LINED - Usually an opaque color inside the hole of a transparent bead. Reds, purples and pinks should not be exposed to sunlight as they might fade. WHITEHEARTS - Have an inner core of white glass. Among the most sought after beads today because of their quiet intensity of color. They were originally a cheap way to make colored beads! Rare original colors included true lavenders and purples. Visually they appear similar to "greasy" beads.

LININGS
Metallic or other colored coatings on the interior (hole) surface of a transparent bead. (This effect is also sometimes achieved through a colored inclusion closely surrounding the hole.)

LUSTER
Glass beads with a uniform, shiny finish on the surface of a transparent, translucent or opaque bead. Luster may be white, colored or even gold. Pearl is often used to describe opaque lustered beads, Ceylon to describe a translucent lustered bead. Luster beads also blend smoothly with other beads. When used with "plain" beads, luster beads will stand out more.

LUSTRE
A colorless transparent coating which gives a very high gloss to the underlying surface of the glass bead.

MAREA
Glass beads with sparkling glints of gold, silver, pink and green metallic tones. Can be seen on many types of glass beads. Commonly done over jet (black) glass beads.

METALLIC
Glass beads with a shiny "metal-like" surface coating. The finish may be applied as a baked-on paint or electroplated onto a nickel iridized bead. Opaque coatings that can include hematite, bronze, gold, silver and copper. ***To protect this type of beads, handle with clean hands and/or powdered hands and handle as little as possible. Not recommended for a Rosary Bead project. Also, any other design piece that will be exposed to extended sunlight. Three to four coats of an artists' fixative will prolong their life*** Metallic beads are prominent in any design because they are not only opaque, but very shiny.

MIRRORED (mirror-backed or foil-backed)
Reflective coating on part of the surface of transparent materials. Can be used either to act directly as a "mirror", or to multiply internal reflections created by facetting.

PEARL - CEYLON
Glass beads which can be an Opaque to a Translucent pearlescent coating. ***Simulated Pearl glass beads are usually coated with ground up iridescent nacre from fish scales***

PICASSO
Glass beads are dyed with an opaque swirled multicolored pattern or patterns over opaque or transparent glass.

SCARABEE
Rich, brilliant iris coating, which is usually applied over jet (black) glass.

VALENTINITE or VALENTINIT
Valentinite is a valuable mineral. Rich deposits are only found in one locality, Algeria. Now used in describing a bead effect called Valentinit.  It is a dark silvery metallic effect. Lending itself to appear "vintage".

VITRAIL
Iridescent finish on one side OR can be inside a glass bead. Vitrail finish colors range from gold through pink and purple. This coating may shine in different colors depending on how the light hits the surface of the finish. When the coating is seen through clear crystal, it takes on strong red and green tones. These finishes are not normally used on colored crystal and are not transparent.

ZARIT
This special effect has a purple and blue coloring, with coppery bronze tones. Can be seen on many types of glass beads. Commonly done over jet (black) glass beads.

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