Tips for Identifying High-Quality Cloisonne Beads

Tips for Identifying High-Quality Cloisonne Beads

The detailed, colorful enamel of Cloisonne beads can capture your attention. However, with so much movement in the design of the beads, it is easy to overlook imperfections in lesser quality supplies. How can you tell superior beads from those that aren’t as well constructed? Examining Cloisonne beads closely will give you keen insight into the quality of their design.

How Cloisonne Beads Are Made

Understanding how Cloisonne beads are made is crucial to uncovering design inconsistencies masked in low quality beading supplies. Cloisonne beads begin with a copper base, inlaid with twists of silver or gold wires, creating individual compartments. Colorful enamel is deposited between the strips and later fired in a kiln, allowing craftsmen to create beautiful, distinctive designs that resemble miniature stained-glass art. This art form dates back thousands of years, crisscrossing the globe through Egypt, China, Rome, France, Europe, and later to America. While the enameling process has improved over the years, the classic design of Cloisonne beads remains.

Tips for Identifying High-Quality Cloisonne Beads

Our beads and jewelry making supplies are some of the best available. You can tell our superior quality Cloisonne bead from competitors. The best Cloisonne beads showcase these qualities:

  • Smooth surface
    The surface of premium Cloisonne beads will be smooth, with no rough edges or protruding wires.
  • Uniform shape
    Properly made Cloisonne beads should not have any pits or high spots. Each section should be completely filled with enamel.

Find a Wide Variety of High-Quality Cloisonne Beads at Crystal Findings

Create beautiful, new jewelry styles with our extensive selection of Cloisonne beads. We offer an array of sizes, styles, colors, and prints, including flattened style, tube, and geometric shaped, twist-on, clasp style, fancy and novelty style Cloisonne beads. Purchase just a few of each bead type, expanding your selection, or buy Cloisonne beads in bulk for added savings. We deliver fast, directly to your door via your choice of UPS or USPS shipping services.

Wearable Works of Art

Cloisonne beads should be cared for like the art they are. When they’re not being worn, they should be stored in small bags to guard the enamel against scratches. They must also be cleaned carefully with a soft, lint-free cloth and minimal water to prevent liquids from being absorbed into small holes that may be in the body of the beads. Never use harsh cleaners or ultrasonic jewelry cleaners, which can damage the surface of the beads.

Shop the best selection of wholesale beading supplies in the USA. Shop our extensive online catalog or contact us at 215 568 4200  to place an order for high-quality Cloisonne beads from Crystal Findings today.

Cloisonne Beads: Ever Wonder What They Are Made Of?

Cloisonne Beads: Ever Wonder What They Are Made Of?

If you’re a jewelry making enthusiast or entrepreneur, chances are you’ve added Cloisonne beads in your jewelry making supplies kit. These beads have been popular for centuries across the globe and continue to be a favorite today. What are these time-tested beads made of?

Cloisonne Beads Have a Unique Composition

Cloisonne beads are made of a base metal of copper, featuring twists of wires that allow crafters to create distinctive designs. Enamel is deposited into the thin strips between the wires. Craftsmen add to the beauty of the beads by enameling colorful surface design to the various bead shapes they’ve created like tiny stained-glass art. Each section of the structure holds colorful enamel. The finished product is fired in a kiln, bringing the art to life. Every piece is unique.

The Long History of Cloisonne Beads

The process of making Cloisonne beads stretches back to the Egyptians, crisscrossing the globe through Rome, China, France, Europe, and America. Chinese craftsman furthered the art, improving the enameling process with their casting, glass production, and glazing skills. These beads, which double as art, continue to be coveted in jewelry designs for their unique beauty.

These beads should be cared for like art. Storing them in bags protects the enamel against scratches. When cleaning is necessary, they should not be soaked, as small holes in the body of the beads could absorb fluids. Use only water and a soft, lint-free cloth. Avoid abrasive and harsh cleaners, as well as ultrasonic jewelry cleaners, which can damage the surface of the beads.

Popular Cloisonne Bead Applications

The detailing of Cloisonne beads pairs wonderfully with gold-filled beads and findings. They work well in many jewelry designs, from beaded necklaces and bracelets to rosaries and pendants, rings, earrings, and pins.

Tips for Identifying High-Quality Cloisonne Beads

When shopping for Cloisonne beads, look for carefully constructed beads with a smooth surface, free of protruding wires. Beads should be uniformly shaped, each section filled with enamel. No divots or bulges should be present. Beads crafted with precious metals, such as our copper constructed Cloisonne beads, offer superior quality. These top-quality beads often advertise their precious metal content.

Crystal Findings Offers Cloisonne Bead in a Wide Variety of Styles

Crystal Findings carries Cloisonne beads in an array of sizes, styles, colors, and prints. With most of our designs, you can buy as many or as few as you need. Our premium Cloisonne beads come in popular geometric shapes, flattened styles, tube-shaped, fancy Cloisonne beads, twist-on and clasp-style beads, and novelty options. We ship our beads fast, directly to your doorstep via your choice of UPS and USPS services.

Incorporate the vibrancy and beauty of Cloisonne beads into your jewelry designs. Add Cloisonne beads to your collection. Shop one of the largest selections of wholesale beading supplies in the USA at Crystal Findings today.