Vintage Lucite Bead Showcase

Washer Beads. We stumbled up on these fabulous washer beads.  If you love Lucite flowers and working with stacking them and layering them, these components are a must-have.  They can be that tiny little Lucite touch for the flowers' centers.  They also just make great spacer beads when working with round & geometric Lucite beads.  Ca. 1960's, these Lucite beads were manufactured right here in the USA.

Side Drilled Buttons. They might be called buttons, but they're a fabulous bead.  These little baubles love to lay or be strung side by side because they just seem to fit or lock into place next to each other.  They also make great clasps or closures on the ends of necklaces as they match the Lucite beads perfect.  Simply string a loop of seed beads or other small beads on the other end and 'lasso' the side drilled button as a toggle.

Moonglow Lucite. A classic finish found in Lucite as well as nylon and casein vintage plastics, 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 beads here at The Beadin’ Path because we purchased the remaining contents of Best Plastics 4 years ago. 

Mosaic Lucite Beads. Made in the USA ca. 1960's, these great old beads are unlike much of our vintage lucite geotric beads that were lathe-turned, in that these are press molded.  Each is a slight variation from the other with mosaic patterns or a mottled, speckled finish.  Some even include a slight sparkle of aventurine as well.  These are very limited in availability and have been extremely popular this season.