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Addition #14 - Gem Beads
Gram Bead Dop - Dop for faceting beads
In this addition set I have created some bead designs which are new and never been done before.
I call these "Gem Beads"
What are Gem Beads? Well the short answer is faceted beads that are made out of precious and semi precious gemstone materials.
This is both a brand new concept and a very old concept. New because no faceting designer that I am aware of has ever specifically designed for this type of cutting. Old of course because beads in one form or another have been around probably since a cave man tried to impress a cave woman.
I think that fine quality faceted gem beads have been ignored for way too long by almost every one. Gem beads offer some unique oppertunties for faceting as well as designs and materials. Also in my experience this is a section of the gemstone market that has been left virtually untouched by faceters and better quality cutters. There is very little to no one doing finer quality faceted beads. The bead market is actully huge and in many ways both more important as well as more profitable and open to faceters than any other section of the gemstone market.
Think about it... With the modern day price increases of quality rough as well as the high saturation of commercially faceted stones, competition is not only fierce, but in many cases just not worth fighting over. As quality rough becomes harder to aquire and more expensive... I have heard more than one new faceters or hobby cutter complain that there is not a lot of choices for them to cut. This is true in some respects, especially at the upper levels of rare and expensive commercial faceting rough. To facet and cut at the high end level of the market demands a pretty high entry level of money and frankly experience that most new and hobby people do not have.
Gem Beads on the other hand... These can be faceted out of less expensive more available rough, and be fun to cut as well as unique and marketable. What materials? Well the only real limit is your imagination. Here are just a few I have faceted gem beads with:
Rose Quartz - Ideal material for beads.
Chalcedony - Blue, orange, purple, green, yellow
Quartz - Amethyst, Citrine, Fire Quartz, virtually all types
Lapis - Makes very interesting beads
Turquiose - I have seen many types
Agates - All types of colored and clear materials.
Jade - All colors and types.
Opal - All types, fire and well as just colored types from Oregon, Brazil, et...
Sunstone - Schiller as well as golden and colored.
Tourmaline, Beryl, Garnets, et... - Any type of very good quality color, but less then facet quality clarity materials, as well as silky materials in any of these types make great beads.
I can go on... but you get the idea. The possibilites are almost endless and virtually any material that is pretty and cuttable will work. That being said I tend to stay with the clean "silky" types of materials as well as the Quartz's that are flawless. But it is anybodies chioce.
"Gem Beads - Addition # 14 " (42 designs) with all of the above is $17.95. The shipping usually takes 2-5 days depending on where.
Below are links to all of the designs in "Addition #14 - Gem Beads"
E-mail to inquire or order: jeff @ faceters.com or jeff @ cabbers.com