Focus on Fire Polished Beads!

Ah, fire polished beads. How we love those little sparkling nuggets of glass that are perfect for adding that extra dimension to jewellery design. We could wax lyrical about them all day long; how pretty they are, why they’re so great and should be a staple in any beader’s collection. But first, let’s take you through the history of fire polished beads.

History of Czech Fire Polished Beads

Fire polished beads have been around for a long time, as far back as 5 centuries ago! People created them as they wanted the versatility of beads that could be strung whilst looking like cut gemstones. Nowadays fire polished beads are traditionally made in the Czech Republic. Much of the production of Czech fire polished beads are from cottage industry style factories.

How are Fire Polished Czech Glass Beads made?

So how do fire polished Czech glass beads get from being metre-long glass rods to small and rather simple plain beads? How do they end up as those lovely faceted rounds, rondelles and pears? We did a little research and found this video from Preciosa demonstrating the process.

Using a kiln each glass rod gets melted, stamped or pressed into moulds. Once broken into more manageable pieces and the fire polished beads are then cooled in a vat. The beads are then briefly tumbled to separate them from the scrap glass. The beads are then re-tumbled with water and special sand for different times, depending on the finish. Fire polished beads don’t take as long to tumble as they go through additional stages of the process.

A machine is then used to grind off parts of the beads to create facets. The facet making process is either automatic or manual, depending on the overall shape of the final bead.

And now here’s the really interesting bit; how to make the fire polished beads. The heat from a kiln polishes the faceted beads by partially melting and smoothing the outer edges and rough spots. The heat also gives them very clean and glossy surfaces with extra sparkle.

The final stage is to add any coatings to the fire polished beads. To add a coating the first step is heating the beads and then adding a chemical mix to create a coating which is then poured over the beads. After mixing thoroughly for several minutes, the fire polished Czech glass beads are then allowed to dry. Finally, a kiln cures the coating and reveals the final beautiful colours and finishes.

Types of Fire Polished Beads

Fire polished beads come in a variety of styles and sizes. Finishes such as tweedy fire polished beads, snake fire polished beads and masked fire polished beads are among the most popular. Sizes range from 2mm Czech fire polished beads all the way up to 22mm. Fire polished beads are extremely versatile and lend themselves to a range of complex bead weaving. This includes bead crochet, bead embroidery, and as embellishments to clothes, shoes and homeware!

Ideal for a range of jewellery design

The small facets on the fire polished beads catch the light easily and help add texture and shine to a piece. With these attributes, fire polished beads make great spacers in necklaces and bracelets. A great example is this Half Moon Cuff project. They also work as the main feature (like in this Wheel Criss Crossing Bracelet) or as a stunning focal (such as these Sparkle Plenty Beaded Beads). They are perfect for everyday jewellery, or designs that have a more casual, vintage or ethnic feel to them. They marry with any design and can cope with just a sprinkling or as the key player in a striking design. There’s great news for your wallet too - as they are entirely made of glass. This makes them a less expensive option than crystal beads, whilst still offering the sparkle and depth of colour that some projects demand.

Buy Czech Fire Polished Beads online at CJ Beaders

So, we like them! A lot! And really, we just think the humble fire polished bead creates such a stunning aesthetic. It is hard to truly appreciate just how much they contribute to the success and happiness of jewellery designers. Fire polished Czech glass beads are perfect for those who can’t get enough of a little sparkle and glamour in their life.

If we’ve piqued your interest, Preciosa has a great synopsis of the fire polished beads they manufacture. They also offer downloadable PDFs of their fire polished bead shapes and colours here.

Feeling inspired and ready to get your hands on some of those sparkly goodies yourself? Shop our range of fire polished beads here. And check out our new range of etched fire polished beads here.

Seen a fire polished bead, colour or finish you love but can’t find it on our website? Get in contact with us by calling us on 01202 798151 and we’ll do our best to find it for you.