Abalone
Acid-Washed (A/W)	Glass etched in acid to remove shine; similar to matte finish.
Alloy	Metals fused together.
Antique Beads	Japanese seed beads made of precisely cut glass, making them uniform in shape and size and color. They have large holes compared to their diameter. These beads are not old. "Antique" is a trade mark of Toho Corp. Miyuki Shoji Corp. manufactures similar beads named "Delicas" (see below.)
Aurora Borealis (AB)	Rainbow or irridecent effect coating on transparent glass, usually on one side of the bead. See "iris"
Aventurine effect	Golden glitter due to copper crystals suspended in or pressed into the surface of other materials.
Barrel Clasp	A clasp made of two parts that screw together, usually used in necklaces.
Base metal	Any non-precious metal e.g. copper, zinc, nickel, brass.
Bead Tip	Metal finding used to hide string knots.
Beggar Beads	Large, semi-precious stone beads (usually agate, quartz, etc.)
Bicone	Two cones connected at bases.
Brass	Unplated, unlacquered raw metal. Formulas with varying proportions of copper and zinc are alloyed together to achieve different brass colors and different ductility (workability) of metal.
Bugle	Thin tubular shaped glass beads manufactured in lengths from 2 millimeters to 35 millimeters.
Bullion	Wire worked over thread or other core material, or tightly coiled into " springs ".
Cast	Substance (glass, metal, plastic, or other) injected into mold to reproduce form.
Ceylon	(Pearl) Opaque to translucent pearlescent coatings, usually over pastel colors.
Cinnnabar	Handcarved lacqured wood, usually in red, made in China.
Charlottes	Regular, smooth seed beads, usually in size 13, with one facet. Typically made in Czechoslovakia. Also known as "one-cut."
Chevrons	Multiple layers of different colored glass laid down in corrugated layers so as to form a starburst pattern when viewed on end.
Cloisonee
Clutch	Finding used to fasten post earrings. See picture.
Christmas Beads	Multi-color striped beads, in 3 to 5mm, in reds, blues, yellows, greens, etc. These beads are typically 100-300 old, originally made in Venice and Spain for African trade.
Coco Beads	Beads made out of coconut shells.
Crimp Bead	Small metal bead use to end pieces stranded in tiger tail.
Cross hole	Hanging hole through the end of a pendant or drop.
Crow	Beads made of segments of drawn tubes of glass of various thicknesses, typically slightly oval in shape due to tumbling and polishing, the shorter dimension being through the hole. Larger than Pony beads. Size 33/0 (8mm, with a 2mm hole).
Crystal	Glass with at least 30% lead, in order to produce a highly refractive quality.
Cut	Plane surfaces and sharp edges; cutting marks may be visible; facetting pattern may be somewhat irregular and variable.
2-Cut (2X), 3-Cut (3X)	These terms are used only with seed beads, usually sizes 9/0 or 12/0, having cut or molded facetting. 2-Cuts have only the sides facetted. 3-Cuts have both sides and ends facetted. These beads are very sparkly. Typically made in the Czech republic.
Delica	Japanese seed beads made of precisely cut glass, making them uniform in shape and size and color. They have large holes compared to their diameter. "Delica" is a trade mark of Miyuki Shoji Corp. Toho Corp. manufactures similar beads named "Antiques" (see above.)
Die-struck	Items made of brass sheet which is thicker than that used for stampings and always have either impressed or slightly raised surface detail and a plain back which may be flat or slightly concave.
Drawn beads	Glass beads sliced from a long tube drawn while hot from a blob of glass with an air bubble to make the bead hole. The beads are then usually tumbled and/or reheated to soften the edges and give the beads a rounded appearance. Specifically designates seed, pony, crow and bugle beads.
Druk	Round, smooth, glass beads.
End Cap	Finding used to hide the knot that ties multiple strands in a necklace or bracelet. Also known as "bell caps."
English cut	English cuts are not cut at all, but are rather crudely molded round beads with large irregular facets and mold marks.
Facet	A surface of a cut gem, glass or crystal.
Filigree	Delicate metal openwork.
Fire polish	High quality molded or cut pieces, that have been heat at an extremely high temperature treated to give very clean, glossy surfaces. The treatment softens the facet edges.
Fish Hook Clasp	Type of necklace clasp. See picture.
Foiled	Transparent or translucent bead in which silver or gold foil has been trapped within the body or on the surface of the bead.
French Hook	Metal finding used in earrings.
Galvanized	A non-permanent metalic finish which wears off with abrasion.
Ghost	A matte finish with a soft irridescent effect
Gold-filled	Brass wire alloyed with a small quantity of 12k gold. Less likely to cause allergic reactions than gold or silver plate.
Gold plate	(18k plate) Heavy electroplatings of 18 karat gold. The base metal is usually brass.
Greasy glass	Glass with shallow translucence that gives it a greasy appearance, as if coated with petroleum jelly. Usually a seed or pony bead.
Hamilton gold	Brass toned with a tiny amount of real gold
Hank	Bundle of strands of beads, usually 10 -12 strands, about 18" inches per strand. (see Measures)
Heishe	Tiny disc or tube shaped beads cut from natural shell and stone materials.
Hematite
Hex	(Hexagonal) Faceted bead which resembles a small tile.
Inclusion	Transparent to opaque color or colors within transparent body of another color.
Iris	Rainbow or irrediscent effect coating on opaque glass. See "AB"
Jet	Petrified coal.
Jump Ring	Finding used to join two or more pieces of chain or other findings.
Karat	Measure of fineness of gold. 24k is pure gold. 20k, 18k, and 14k are gold combined with alloy.
Kevlar	Very strong yet thin beading thread, originally used for making bullet proof vests.
Kidney Wire	Metal earring finding shaped like a kidney.
Lampwork	Handmade glass beads made by manipulating slender glass rods in front of a gas burner.
Lanyard Clasp	A clasp that all of us have seen in bags straps and such, but never knew the name... See picture. ;-)
Leverback	Type of earring finding. See picture.
Linings	Metallic or other colored coatings on the interior (hole) surface of a transparent bead. The effect of a color lining is also sometimes achieved through a colored inclusion closely surrounding the hole.
Linsin	Designates disk with side-to-side hole.
Liquid Silver/Liquid Gold	Thin tubular beads, straight or twisted, approximately 1/16" x 1/4" long, silver or gold plated.
Lobster Clasp	Metal clasp whose shape resambles a lobster.
Lustre	Colorless transparent coatings that give a very high gloss to the underlying surface.
Machine cut	Facets have highly polished plane surfaces and sharp angles which create brilliance and sparkle; facetting is regular and consistent.
Matrix	Core glass onto which different colored glass or glasses are fused while hot, as in turquoise-matrix. (Hubble).
Matte	Designates very a low-lustre, velvety, smooth surface. Also referred to as " frosted " or " Laliqued". Matted transparent beads become translucent.
Metallics	Opaque coatings that include hematite (gunmetal), bronze, gold, silver, copper, antique gold, or antique silver.
Memory Wire	Base metal wire which retains a coiled shape. Good for making bracelets.
Millefiori	Italian for " 1000 flowers. " Decoration consisting of slices of multicolored glass rods (canes), usually pressed smooth (marvered), while hot into the surface of a core piece of glass.
Miracle Beads	Very bright japonese beads made from a fiberglass-like material.
Mirrrored, mirror-backed	Reflective coating on part of the surface of transparent materials, either to act directly as a mirror, or to multiply internal reflections created by facetting.
Molded	Facetting pattern is regular and consistent from bead to bead. Surface quality, from style to style, can range from very smooth and uniform with well-defined edges, to edges that are very rounded, and surfaces that have dips, flow marks, and other irregularities.
Myrrh Beads	Beads made from the hardened sap of the Myrrh tree, in Africa. Fragrant.
Neihua	Chinese glass bead painted from the inside.
Nymo	Strong nylon thread commonly used for bead weaving. Comes in sized 00 (ultra-thin) to F (thick), in a variety of colors.
Opaque	Solid color which does not allow light to pass through.
Oxidation	(Antiqued) Darkening or other color changes of metal which is accelerated by humidity, especially salty air or the presence of acidic perspiration. This does not happen to very high-karat gold or stainless steel.
Padre Beads	Turquoise colored glass trade beads made in China during the 17th and 18th century.
Picasso	Dyed opaque swirled multicolored patterns over opaque glass.
Peking glass	Generic term for transparent to opaque glass made in mainland China in colors that are more subtle than those in glass made elsewhere.
Pony	Beads meade of segments of drawn tubes of glass of various thicknesses, typically slightly oval in shape due to tumbling and polishing, the shorter dimension being through the hole. Larger than seed beads and smaller than crows. Also known as "E" beads, sizes 5/0 or 6/0. Pony beads were made prior to seed beads and were used extensively during the 1830's to 1850's.
Post	Type of earring finding.
Rattail	Rayon cord with silky texture, in bright colors, used to string larger beads.
Repousse	Decorating metal in relief by pushing the relief out from the back.
Rocaille	See Linings. A silver-lined seed bead, usually with a square hole.
Rolled Gold	Similar to gold filled, but of thinner gauge.
Rondelle, belly	Flattened bead with center hole.
Rudrakshas Beads	Irregular shaped beads, made from a tree from Java, and used as prayer beads by the natives.
Satin glass	Shimmering translucent glass that appears to consist of fibers of differing tones of the same color.
Satin finish	Low-lustre satiny surface effect intermediate between glossy and matte.
Scarabee	Rich, brilliant iris coating, usually over jet glass.
Seed Bead	Beads made of segments of drawn tubes of glass of various thicknesses, typically slightly oval in shape due to tumbling and polishing, the shorter dimension being through the hole. Smaller than Pony beads, usually ranging in size from 8/0 to 24/0. The larger the numbe the smaller the bead.
Sharps	Short, stiff needles used for sewing through material.
Sherpa Coral	Very old (200-300 old) orange glass originally made in China.
Silver-lined	See Linings.
Silver or Sterling Silver plate	Heavy electroplating of Sterling silver. Sterling platings are lacquered to retard oxidation. The base metal is usually brass.
Split Ring	Finding used to join two or more pieces of chain or other findings. The wireygtes around twice, like a mini key-ring, which makes it difficult for the piece to come apart.
Spring Clasp
Stamped	Brass in any form may be either hollow, i.e. lightweight reversible constructions, or with detail in raised relief on the top side and a concave, open back.
Sterling Silver	92.5% Silver. The balance is usually copper.
Striated	Opaque, translucent, or transparent body with threads and swirls of other tones or colors on the surface or throughout.
Surgical steel	Stainless steel -- a non-allergenic material when not plated. It is darker and grayer than sterling silver.
Tiger Tail	Nylon coated steel wire used for stringing projects involving heavy beads.
Through hole	Hole in bead or pendant that passes entirely through the material, and is symmetrical with respect to the overall form.
Toggle Bar	Type of necklace clasp. See picture.
Top hole, end hole	Half-drilled hole at hanging end of pendant or drop requires glue-in or screw-in hanger. Also can be used as " stopper " for decorated hatpins.
Trade Bead	Old glass beads, mostly made in Venice 200-400 years ago, used for trade in Africa and the Orient. Usually large, cylindrical, and colorful.
Transparent	Allows light to pass through, clear or colors.
Translucent	Allow light to partially pass through, clear or colors.
Vermeil	18 karat gold plate over solid sterling silver.
Watermelon Beads	Glass beads made in Czechoslovakia around 1920, usually stripped in yellows, blues, and greens.
White Heart	Bead made of two layers, the inside layer being white, and the outside usually red, orange, or pink. These are not heart shaped! Most white hears are antique.

Some of the definitions and descriptions used here are copyright 1995 by Ornamental Resources, Incorporated. We are grateful for their permission to quote from their catalog to create this feature. This information may not be reproduced or distributed for financial gain or included in commercial collections or compilations without express permission from Ornamental Resources, Inc., P.O. Box 3010WW, Idaho Springs CO 80452. Visitors are permitted to print out this section for personal use only.

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