Crackle Finish
Glass Bead Finishes And Coatings
By: Reuel Crook
Glass beads come in an assortment of finishes, which embellish and enhance their appearance. A finish is a surface treatment, such as an additive, color or coating applied to the end product.
Common finishes include matte, frosted, AB (aurora borealis) or rainbow, metallic, pearl and satin.AB finish is a permanent rainbow finish that can be applied to any color or type of glass bead. The finish is only applied to one side of the bead.
Metallic coatings are usually applied by heating the glass beads and then spraying them with oxidized tin.
A matte treatment results in a non-reflective, frosted, velvet-like appearance. Semi-matte is matte but with a light polish. The beads do not look as shiny as regular opaque.
Luster coatings may be metallic, white or colored. They have a uniform, shiny finish on the surface of an opaque, translucent or transparent bead. The beads end up having a pearlized look.
Pearl finish is often used to describe beads with an opaque luster.
Iris is an iridescent permanent coating applied to glass beads, which gives them a rainbow metallic shine.
Vitreal (vitrail) is when one half of the glass bead is painted silver, with a rainbow finish over the silver half. There are a variety of rainbow coatings available. Raku is a matte vitreal finish.
Gold or Silver Luster is when transparent glass beads have been coated with a luster gold or silver finish, which creates subtle gold highlights.
A galvanised bead has been plated with zinc with either a shiny or matte finish.
Plated glass beads are plain beads which have been electroplated or coated with a metallic finish. Silver-plated beads are plated with silver, and gold-plated beads are plated with gold.
Glass Pearl jewelry beads are another perfect example of coating - they start out as regular white, opaque pressed glass beads. The beads are strung, spaced and are fixed horizontally onto a painting rack. Then these beautiful crafting beads are then spray painted in an oven similar to that in which cars are painted.
Available in both smooth and textured finishes. Textured beads are sometimes called "Moon Surface". These jewelry making beads are available in a large palette of colors with the most popular being Natural pearl and Gold colored.
Glass Pearl beads were popularized by the Swarovski company. Today Czech and Chinese glass pearl beads are of good quality and offer an affordable alternative to Swarovski.
About the Author
Reuel Crook Talks about Spacer Beads.For more information on wholesale Beads please visit http://dollarbead.com/
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Nice Oval MOP Shell Ring | US $6.99 | 18m |
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VINTAGE IBANEZ 1988 GB10 NT | US $2,000.00 | 19m |
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World War 2 Black Crackle Three Barrel Zippo Lighter 14 Hole Matching Insert | US $59.88 | 22m |
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Antique Japanese Herb medicine Apothecary Jar Sy Cornus Sang M O C Japan | US $60.00 | 43m |
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yunomi tea bowl pottery or stoneware | US $15.00 | 56m |
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RARE 1988 JACKSON CHARVEL MODEL 4 FIRE CRACKLE FINISH ALL ORIGINAL EXCELLENT | US $645.00 | 1h 3m |
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Set of 6 Glasses to Match Jim Beam Decanter 1969 The Guitarist 575 x 275 | US $5.99 | 1h 7m |
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Set of 6 Glasses to Match Jim Beam Decanter 1969 Sunflowers 575 x 275 | US $5.99 | 1h 7m |
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Set of 6 Glasses to Match Jim Beam Decanter 1969 Fruit Basket 575 x 275 | US $5.99 | 1h 7m |
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SAMMY MASTERS Rockin Red Wing Lonely Weekend Rockabilly 45 LODE 108 | US $9.99 | 1h 37m |
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Retired 6 pc HOME INTERIORS Grouping BOY ANGEL | US $29.99 | 1h 40m |
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Mitford Snowman Mug Great for Candy Great Gift | US $5.00 | 1h 47m |
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Enesco Blue Crackle Snowman Cookie Jar 900151 EC w Box | US $39.95 | 2h 2m |
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New 40 pcs Round Crackle Two Tone Green Beads size 8mm | US $3.98 | 2h 11m |
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Sun Rise on Sand Dollar Beach ceramic tile set ocean art wall hanging starfish | US $75.00 | 2h 19m |
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AXL AS 820 CKBL Relic Blue Badwater Bolt on Neck SRO Electric Guitar | US $169.00 | 2h 23m |
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VINTAGE LISK Flintstone Enamelware Diaper Pail Chamber Pot w Lid SUPER CLEAN | US $29.90 | 2h 28m |
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Vintage Bomber Fishing Lure Chrome | US $6.50 | 2h 59m |
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Vintage MELE WOODEN JEWELRY BOX with Glass Floral Lid | US $8.65 | 3h 7m |
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Blenko Bent Neck Crackle Glass Decanter Rose or Amethyst With Clear Stopper | US $89.99 | 3h 19m |
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Chinese Japanese Oriental Relief Teapot Cherry Tree Grasshopper Crackle Large | US $19.50 | 3h 20m |
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Blenko Orange Crackle Finish Decanter | US $49.99 | 3h 20m |
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SET PRIMITIVE COUNTRY SHAKER STACK BOXES RED ROOSTER FARMHOUSE LARGE | US $21.00 | 3h 20m |
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Royal Copley Vintage Creamer Pitcher Crackle Glaze with Rose Patterns | US $1.99 | 3h 56m |
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Porcelain Serving Plate HSH 105 | US $.99 | 4h 4m |
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WMF Ikora 24 karat Goldplated Bowl 6 | US $29.00 | 4h 4m |
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Small Yellow Shinny Gold Vase with small opening 3 1 2 TallVintageNice | US $11.25 | 4h 7m |
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ART DECO CRACKLE GLAZE TALL POTTERY MUG YELLOW AND BLACK SPLATTER PAINT | US $12.99 | 4h 14m |
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angel soles FLUEVOG used mens DISTRESSED CRACKLE dress SHOES top stitching 11 | US $74.99 | 4h 16m |
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Large Vintage ANTIQUES Wood Sign W Crackle FinishNice Antique Sign | US $15.95 | 4h 28m |
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Aztec Sun Stone in Tan Museum Replica Ceramic Calendar | US $72.95 | 4h 29m |
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Contemporary Distressed Gold Cylindrical Glass Table Lamp Bedside Light Accent | US $144.95 | 4h 35m |
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Chunky Vintage Instired Blue and White Graduated Pearl Necklace Earrings | US $9.99 | 4h 36m |
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Salt Water Crustacean with sea shells sand dollars and star fish wall hanging | US $35.00 | 4h 51m |
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600 Classic Cartoons 12 DVD set Over 60 Hours of Toons | US $23.49 | 4h 53m |
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UNIQUE SEPIA 3 LIGHT CHANDELIER WITH GLASSNIB | US $69.99 | 4h 58m |
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39 Large Mirror Bathroom Vanity Wall Hanging Wood Frame | US $318.00 | 5h 5m |
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Sascha Brastoff Abstract Originals MidCentury Mod Design c1954 Large AshTray | US $29.50 | 5h 23m |
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MidCentury DANISH MICHAEL ANDERSEN ART POTTERY FISHERMAN Crackle FIGURINE | US $9.99 | 5h 29m |
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Vintage retro dangling earrings large hoops grey crackled finish | US $6.50 | 5h 41m |
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Vintage Ed Knowles Pitcher | US $15.99 | 5h 43m |
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Vintage Dahl Jensen Copenhagen Green Miniature Crackle Glaze Vase Gold Rim | US $12.99 | 5h 58m |
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Gorgeous Drexel Wall Sconce Pair Crackled Paint $558 | US $174.99 | 6h 29m |
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SILBERDISTEL FAYENCEN GERMAN PORCELAIN HANDMADE MODERNIST VASEFAT LAVA KERAMIK | US $55.00 | 6h 31m |
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Patriotic Wood Sign Lest We Forget with American Flag | US $9.95 | 6h 36m |
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Your Fathers Mustache Mug | US $9.99 | 6h 39m |
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Custom Castaway 7 Medium Light Spinning Rod | US $89.99 | 6h 40m |
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Rare Irredescent Favrile looking BOWL Vintage Elegant GLASS IMPERIAL | US $19.95 | 6h 42m |
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ANGEL Blue Crackle Finish Wooden Trinket Box 4 | US $1.99 | 6h 55m |
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Vector Jetz Torch Lighter with Bottle Opener Black Crackle | US $29.99 | 6h 55m |
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ANTIQUE MINT 1937 ROYAL SPEED KING MANUAL TYPEWRITER GLOSSY BLACK GLASS KEYS | US $249.99 | 7h 2m |
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Hand Painted country farmhouse rustic star wood tissue holder | US $5.95 | 7h 6m |
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Antique New Orleans N Frey Grocers Liquor Decatur St Advertising Plate Old | US $150.00 | 7h 10m |
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Dragonfly Plant Stake Garden Art Yard Sculpture Glass Metal Bell Handmade Red | US $11.00 | 7h 13m |
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Antique New Orleans N Frey Advertising Plate Floral Roses Rare Louisiana Item | US $150.00 | 7h 13m |
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Lovely Blenko Green Crackle Art Glass Vase | US $34.99 | 7h 14m |
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Dragonfly Suncatcher Copper Garden Art Window Jewelry Metal Bell Handmade Red | US $9.99 | 7h 19m |
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Vintage Style Inset Grand Clock Hand Crafted Metal Legs Rustic Cocktail Table | US $349.00 | 7h 20m |
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Vintage Blown Art Glass Vase with Crackle Finish | US $12.99 | 7h 21m |
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Dragonfly Suncatcher Copper Garden Art Window Jewelry Metal Bell Handmade Pink | US $9.99 | 7h 24m |
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Dragonfly Plant Stake Garden Art Yard Sculpture Glass Metal Bell Handmade Pink | US $9.99 | 7h 26m |
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Vintage Earrings Some Signed W Germany Monet Givenchy Clip Screw Pierced Lot 12 | US $12.00 | 7h 27m |
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Rare Rosenthal Studio Linie 1953 Modernist Hans Stangl Art Figurine Crackle | US $159.95 | 7h 27m |
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Dragonfly Suncatcher Handmade Sculpture Copper Garden Art Glass Window Decor Vt | US $12.50 | 7h 31m |
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Dragonfly Plant Stake Garden Art Yard Sculpture Glass Metal Bell Handmade Violet | US $9.99 | 7h 36m |
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Custom 7 St Croix 4S70ML Spinning Rod | US $250.00 | 7h 38m |
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Antique Nautical Maritime Sail ClipperShip French Vase Urn SIGNED ANDRE METTHEY | US $295.00 | 7h 44m |
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GORGEOUS MADE IN USA CAROUSEL HORSE MASK WALL PLAQUE CLAY ART APPROX 12 X 11 | US $60.00 | 7h 52m |