Metal
Metal beads are beads made from metals.
Many metals and metal alloys are used to make metal beads, popular metals include: copper, brass, silver, gold.
Metal is relatively easy to mould once heated, this allows metal beads to have a vast range of different shapes and finishes. In terms of different shapes, metal beads are only surpassed by acrylic beads.
Copper is special, it is one of only four metals with a natural colour that is not grey or silver.
Gold is the only other metal that is used in jewellery making, that is not grey or silver.
Copper is similar in property to silver in that it does not react with water but it does tarnish by slowly reacting with oxygen to form a layer of brown-black copper oxide. It is possible to remove this layer of tarnish using various techniques.
Due to copper being relatively abundant, it is less expensive than silver and far less expensive than gold. Affordability, attractive colouring and chemical stability makes copper a popular material for making beads.
Cloisonne is an ancient technique for decorating metalwork objects using enamel.
Cloisonne Beads are metal beads made from the cloisonne decorative techniques. Cloisonne beads tends to be vibrantly coloured and has a look that is instantly recognisable.
These metallic beads are in the shape of flowers.
Small bells for your jewellery designs, they make a ringing sound when shaken. All decorative bells have a small hole for threading wires, cords or chains.
Great for anklets and bracelets.
Andy
