Antique Glass Bugle Beads:
These great bugles were manufactured mostly in Italy or France and we found lots of them in their original packaging. Made for the garment trade & clothing adornment, you’ll find these lovelies on old lampshades, fringe for curtains & lots of various applications. Great for contemporary beadwork, these tiny to really long bugle beads will add some great cha-cha to your fringe-work or strung as necklace strands.

Vintage Lampwork Glass Beads:
Lampwound glass beads have a tactile quality that is only found in hand-made beads. A glass rod is heated to molten and the glass is then wrapped by hand around a mandrel. Many of the glass manufacturers for centuries have used this technique that is accredited to starting in Venice. However, you’ll find vintage lampwork beads here from Japan, India and Germany as well.

Aurora Borealis Crystals:
As classic as crystals themselves, Swarovski Crystal Aurora Borealis (or AB) refers to a specialized finish that adds an extra rainbow effect to already prism-throwing, cut leaded crystal beads. The coating is created by breaking down metals to a gaseous state within a vacuum-like machine, where the effect is applied to the already cut crystal. Swarovski worked on and perfected the effect in the mid-1950’s, developing it initially for designer Christian Dior. This is a key tid-bit when pricing and purchasing vintage jewelry – it is highly unlikely that a piece that includes Swarovski beads or rhinestones would date back before the early 1950’s.

Moonglow Lucite:
A classic finish found in Lucite, the term ‘moonglow' refers to a style that looks as if it glows from within in a subtle, pearlized style. Popularized in the early 1960's by Best Plastics of Providence, Rhode Island, you'll find this finish in beads as well as bangles, hoop earrings, cabs set into pins (commonly referred to as Jelly Bellys at times in the vintage jewelry trade), and other vintage jewelry styles. You'll find the most unique selection of moonglow lucite beads here at The Beadin' Path because we purchased the remaining contents of Best Plastics 4 years ago.