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 What to Expect when Buying Lampwork Beads for Jewelry 

copy right by Karen J. Leonardo 2008

This review will help you decide what lampwork beads are best used for jewelry. It will discuss artist made lampwork, what to look for when purchasing beads, the differences between imported beads and handmade lampwork, what to expect from the sellers and how to make your shopping experience pleasurable.

Artist lampwork beads are created by individual artists. Each bead is hand wound onto a mandrel (stainless wire) coated with bead release melted in a torch and slowed cooled (annealed) in a kiln. The glass rods come in 1 color, so when you see beads with variations of color, raised elements or special intricacies know that the artist created them by studying and practicing the lampwork techniques. You may find some of the “lampworkers” (what we are officially called) are known for certain styles of beads that they developed through years of studying and making beads. We are always learning and expanding our skills to make the best lampwork beads possible for the designer. Any artist lampwork bead is best for jewelry but determine what works best for your design. Some beads are more fragile than others and may work better in a necklace or a special piece only worn on special occasions or submited to art galleries. I do not suggest using a sculpted flower or beads with protrusions larger than dots in a bracelet or ring, as they can be bumped around and broken, a necklace may be a better jewelry design decision. Decide what are the best wearable beads for your jewelry piece.

The difference between the imported lampwork beads and the artist made beads is quality. You may find some of the imports to be okay, but there is a large percentage that will not make for lasting jewelry. The raised elements can break off due to a lack of annealing the beads properly, their shape can be substandard, the bead release is still left in the bead leaving dirty jewelry, etc. Yes, they are inexpensive, but artist made beads can increase the quality and sales of your jewelry, if you sell your work and will be a lifetime treasure. My grandmother always said to "Buy the best you can afford and work your way up to the best". Certain artists also command higher prices when used in your jewelry… so mention the artist who made the beads, you may have a customer that collects their beads and the jewelry made with them. Weigh out the pros and cons of imports and handmade beads to determine what is best for you. However you can find lovely, handmade beads by artists that can fit your budget.

When purchasing lampwork beads look through the web description or auction listing ad and determine if the beads are artist made. This can be distinguished by an artist saying they actually made the beads using such phrases as torched by, created by, lampworked by… or such acronyms as SRA (Self Representing Artist), 4WC (For Wet Canvas- an art forum, etc. Read through the listing…not all auction beads with a starting price of $.99 cents or so are the imports. Some lampworkers start their bids low to save on listing fees and to promote bidding. Learn as much as you can about lampwork beads and be informed before buying.

You should expect to have a pleasant experience when buying from a lampwork artist/seller.If you have any questions for the seller… just email them. It is your right to know what you are buying or bidding on. The description should describe the beads, shipping, and payment and return policies. The positive aspects of buying from an individual artist is getting to know and trust them and to carry on a wonderful buyer/seller relationship. It’s about the beads, the lampworker, the conversation piece…it is the whole picture…..let it be fun for you!

A special thank you to those of you who support the self representing bead artists!!!