We have started a glossary of jewellery making terms. It is a work in progress, we will be adding to it as we come across words that we feel need a bit of explanation. We hope you find it useful.
- AB Coating
- AB is an iridescent coating on a bead. It refers to Aurora borealis, or northern lights, because it is a finish that resembles the Aurora Borealis with its dancing patterns of lights and colours.
- Bugle Beads
- Bugle beads are long skinny tubes. They can be either straight or twisted. and are usually about 2mm wide and between 3mm and 6mm long.
- Ceylon
- Ceylon refers to a lustrous pearly finish on a bead, it doesn't rub off.
- Charlottes
- Charlottes are seed beads with a single facet ground into them to give them sparkle. They may also be called one-cuts or true cuts
- Colour-lined
- Colour-lined beads consist of a transparent glass on top of an opaque glass.
- Czech Seed Beads
- Are less regular in shape and size than Japanese seed beads but are usually cheaper. They have a more squashed oval shape with the hole running through the narrow part of the oval. They usually come strung on hanks.
- Drop Beads
- Drop Beads are also called magatamas, teardrops or fringe drops. They are a round bead with the hole offset to one side giving a drop effect. They work well in fringes.
- Delicas
- Delicas are Japanese made, precision cut cylindrical seed beads with thin walls and large holes. Their regular shape makes them ideal for off-loom bead work such as peyote stitch.
- Galvanised beads
- Galvanised beads are coated with a zinc based finish. It may rub off easily and can be protected by spraying with an acrylic fixative.
- Hex-cut beads
- Hex cut beads are cut to have 6 sides so that they look like a hexagon when viewed from the top. This gives them a sparkle. They are also sometimes called two-cuts. Three-cuts are similar but they have additional facets on the ends giving them a more irregular appearance.
- Lustre Coating
- Lustre is a transparent glaze added to the surface of a bead to give extra sheen and sparkle to the bead.
- Magatamas
- Magatamas are also called teardrops or fringe drops or drop beads. They are a round bead with the hole offset to one side giving a drop effect. They work well in fringes.
- Matte Beads
- Matte Beads are beads with a shine free surface with a 'velvety' appearance. A matte finish is usually achieved by acid etching.
- Metal-lined
- Metal-lined beads are clear or transparent glass over a real metal or metallic coloured lining. They have a lovely sparkle.
- Metallic beads
- Metallic beads have a metal surface coating that is either electroplated or baked on. It can wear off in time, to protect it you can spray it with an acrylic fixative.
- Opaque
- Opaque beads are made out of coloured glass that you cannot see through
- One-Cuts
- One-Cuts are seed beads with a single facet ground into them to give sparkle. They may also be called Charlottes or true cuts.
- Rocaille Beads
- Rocaille is sometimes used as another word for seed beads. Although an exact definition of a Rocaille is hard to find, it is generally taken to mean a basic round seed bead..
- Seed Beads
- Seed beads are small beads that are said to resemble plant seeds, hence the name. They are often used for bead weaving and come in a variety of different colours shapes, sizes and finishes.
- Two-Cuts
- Two-cut beads are also called Hex-cuts. They are made to have 6 sides so that they look like a hexagon when viewed from the top. This gives them sparkle.
- Three-Cuts
- Three-cuts are similar to Two-cut beads but they have additional facets on the ends giving them a more irregular appearance.
- Transparent
- Transparent beads are made out of clear of coloured glass that light can pass through.
- Vitrial Coating
- Vitrial is an iridescent coating, that is similar to an AB coating, but which seems to have a slightly stronger, more opaque, rainbow effect.
