Any Bead Which Is Small Is Termed As Seed Bead

In Eastern Europe, there was a bead industry, that is before World war11 .Germany Italy, and France were also known producers of beads. Material used was glass, metal, aluminium or steel. The cut was usually a “three-cut” faceting, popularly called as steel cuts. “vintage” beads are very costly and are rarely found these days. India, Czech Republic and Japan make the best-Quality and most contemporary germ beads. Japanese germ beads are usually uniform in size and shape.Seed beads is the most common type of modern glass bead. They are used for off-loom and loom bead weaving. They are also used for simple stringing, or just to space the other beads and also used to space jewelry too.

Newest Japanese seed bead: cylinder bead

Cylinder bead is one of the newest Japanese germ beads that is getting popular these days. It was invented in 1980. The cylinder beads are also quite uniform in shape and size like any other Japanese germ beads but these have large holes for their size. The pattern work using these beads can be more accurate and even. Hence, it costs more than round seed beads.

There are three versions of cylinder beads

·         Delica made by Miyuki in 4 sizes:15/0, 11/0, 10/0, and 8/0. From flat facets, light is reflected and this variety of delica is called “cut” delica.

·         Cylindrical beads has a brand name called treasures(formerly antiques) which is made by Toho.

·         In 2005, Toho introduced a new, precise-cut bead which comes in hundreds of colors, its called as “Aiko”.

Two techniques to make seed beads

Two main techniques are used to manufacture seed beads. The Wound method and the Drawn method. Wound method is old fashioned technique and takes more time and so it is not used in bead production these days.

Charlotte, bugle and two-cut beads

Charlotte cut beads: these beads gets their name by its inventor who had a daughter, Charlotte. There is a single facet on each bead that produces more shine. Charlotte cuts usually are available as size 13 seed bead. Size 11, 8, & 15 Charlotte are harder to find, thou they available in some places. True cut is the technical name for any bead size other than size 13.

Bugle beads: these beads are less thick but long. Bugle beads are available from ½” to 2” in length, and these beads are twisted. Two-cut seed beads this is a class of its own. Two cut germ beads was never cut as a round bead, instead its raw cane has been shaved and cut.