Beading Dictionary
Acid- Wash: Glass etched in acid to remove shine; gives a matte finish
Antique Beads: Japanese seed beads made of cut glass
Aurora Borealis: Rainbow effect on transparent glass
Barrel Clasp: A clasp made of two parts that screw together, used in necklaces
Beggar Beads: Large, stone beads (i.e. agate, quartz, etc.)
Bugle: Thin, tube shaped glass beads. Range in sizes from 2 millimeters to 35 millimeters
Bullion: Wire worked over thread or coiled into “springs”
Cast: Glass, metal, plastic or other substance injected into a mold
Charlottes: Regular, smooth seedbeds, usually size 13. Also known as “ one-cut.”
Crimp Beads: Small, metal bead used to end pieces in a tiger tail
Crow: Beads made of segments of glass tubes. Typically slightly oval shape due to tumbling and polishing.
Crystal: Glass that contains at least 30% lead that produces a highly refractive quality
Cut: Plane surfaces and sharp edges. Cutting marks may be noticeable
Delica: Japanese seed beads made of precisely cut glass, uniform in shape, size and color.
Drawn beads: Round, glass beads. Specifically refers too seed, pony, crow and bugle 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: Molded round beads with large irregular facets and mold markings
Facet: Surface of a glass or crystal cut gem
Fish Hook Clasp: Type of necklace
French Hook: A Metal finding that is used in earrings
Galvanized: A non-permanent metallic finish
Hank: Bundle of 10-12 strands of beads.
Heishe: Disc or tube shaped beads cut from shell and stone materials.
Jump Ring: Used to join two or more pieces of chains
Karat: Measure of gold. 24k is pure gold. 20k, 18k and 14k are gold combined with alloy
Kevlar: Thin, but strong beading thread
Lobster Clasp: Metal clasp shaped as a lobster
Luster: Colorless transparent coatings that give a very high gloss
Memory Wire: Base metal wire, which retains a coiled shape, used for making bracelets
Miracle Beads: Bright Japanese Beads made from fiberglass-like material.
Neihua: Painted Chinese glass beads
Padre Beads: Turquoise colored glass beads made in China
Pony: Beads made of segments of drawn tubes of various thicknesses. They are typically oval. Also known as “E” beads.
Rattail: Rayon cord with a silky texture. Comes in bright colors and is used to string larger beads
Seed Bead: Beads made from segments of drawn tubes of glass. They are smaller than Pony beads, ranging in size from 8/0 to 24/0. The bigger the number, the smaller the bead.
Tiger Tail: Nylon coated steel wire that is used for stringing projects involving heavy beads.
Toggle Bar: Type of necklace clap.
Trade Bead: Old glass beads. Large, cylindrical and colorful
Translucent: Allow light to partially pass through, clear or colors
Watermelon Beads: Stripped beads in yellows, blues and greens
White Heart: Bead made of two layers. The inside is white and the outside is usually red, orange or pink. These beads are not heart shaped and are antique.