Artisan Lampwork

What is Lampwork?  Amazingly detailed pieces of art!  The lampwork beads we use in our Sarah Lauren Design creations are made by highly talented Artisans from Australia and the United States of America.  These beads start out as beautiful colourful rods of glass that are heated over a flame and the molten glass is wrapped around a metal rod called a mandrel.   Effetre/Moretti glass from Italy is an example of the glass these Artisans use.  During this process of lampworking the rod is passed over and in and out of the flame and decorated with more glass, metals, enamels or frit.  Talented bead artists manipulate the glass with tools and form the glass into many different shapes to create what we call lampwork beads.  A talented Artisan creates his or her own unique style through utilisation and manipulation of materials, tools and their own specialised techniques. 

By annealing the glass beads, they are guaranteed to be very hard, durable enough for everyday wear with long lasting heirloon quality.  When a glass bead is finished, the hot bead (while still on the mandrel), is placed in a kiln heated to the correct temperature.  The annealing process releases the stress from the glass and slowly cools the beads down to room temperature.  Cooling the glass too quickly will cause them to crack.

Please note that all Artisan lampwork beads that we use in our designs are created one at a time and each one is slightly different from the next.  The lampwork beads we use in our designs are usually obtained directly from each artist.

When Artisan lampwork beads are used we will state the name of the Artist.

DO NOT confuse the artform that I have described above with the more affordable glass beads, while still called lampwork beads, they are prefect for everyday jewellery but are not Artisan quality lampwork beads. 

Polymer Clay

The polymer clay beads I use in my designs (mainly for children’s jewellery) are obtained directly from each artist.  The talent of each artist to create these tiny detailed beads truly adds to their beauty.  While they are hardened by the artist they can still break if not treated with care.  It is best not to give these type of items to a child who is under 3 or a child that may put them in their mouth.

Precious Metals

Fine Silver – 99.9% silver.  Soft, white, lustrous metal.  Too soft to be made into beads but available as wire.

Sterling Silver – As fine silver is so soft and more difficult to work with, sterling silver is formed by combining 92.5% silver and 7.5% of some other metal, usually copper to harden it making it more malleable.  It is often recognised by it’s actual silver content (.925) that is stamped on manufactured jewellery (including ear wires).  Items I make with sterling silver components will have a tag attached stating it is sterling silver.

Bali Silver – It is so named after the locality in Bali, Indonesia where highly skilled metal smiths are well known for their ornate and detailed wirework and grandulation.  Genuine Bali silver is made entirely by hand from the raw process of combining silver with copper to make sterling silver – to hand forming each individual bead and each decoration on the bead. 

Hill Tribe Thai Silver – Can contain anywhere from 97% silver to 99.9% (fine silver) depending on your source.  And like Bali silver, it is named after the area in Northern Thailand where these find beads are  crafted.  Thai silver beads and other ornaments are crafted by about 20 or so ethnic groups that make up what we refer to as Hill Groups.  In recent years the government has taken a special interest in the Hill Tribes, opposing certain agricultural practices and specifically the growing of opium, so the tribed turned towards tourism and selling their crafts.  The artisans that produce these beads are highly talented silversmiths and the designers that use their beads in their jewellery often do so in order to aid support to these craftsmen and their families.  Each bead is crafted by hand using simple, often rustic tools and the result is the highest quality and unique silver decoration available.

Gold-filled – Gold-filled tends to be the designers affordable choice of metal to replace pure gold.  To make this metal, a layer of gold is mechanically bonded with heat and pressure to a base metal, then rolled or drawn to be given thickness.  The value of gold-filled is greater than gold plated because gold-filled has an actual layer of gold, not just a microscopic film.  With proper care, the gold (filled layer) has the potential to last a lifetime.  

Vermeil – is another gold coloured metal of choice often used to replace karated gold.  To make this metal 22k gold is plated over a core of sterling silver.  The outcome is a durable piece of jewellery that looks and fells like pure gold and will not wear off as gold-plate does.

Other metals – Copper, Brass, Nickel, Pewter, Niobium, Surgical Steel, German silver are other metals used in handcrafted jewellery.  Many designers choose these metals to enhance their particular design.

Swarovski Crystals

Swarovski is the brand name of precision cut crystal glass products that was founded by Daniel Swarovski in 1895.  The factory, located in Wattens, Austria, makes a wide range of products including sculptures, home décor products and event their own line of jewellery.

Most designers love the high quality precision cut crystals for their sparkling clarity and the way they reflect light in a wide spectrum of colours.  It is unmatchable in quality of any crystal available mainly due to it’s high lead crystal content of between 24% and 32% and secret manufacturing process which produces a “diamond like” brilliance. 

Another Swarovski line is their Crystal Pearls.  These are the highest quality glass pearls available and are designed scientifically to specifically match the shine and nacre on real natural pearls.  Swarovski crystal pearls actually have a real crystal core.

Semi-Precious Gemstones

I search for the best quality natural gemstones available and obtain them from sources I trust to offer the genuine gemstone.  Although natural gemstones are sought for the best quality for use in jewellery designs, I will invariably offer items of high quality that are dyed, stabilized or otherwise enhanced to offer a varied range of jewellery.

Other materials

We do use freshwater pearls.  These are available in a wide range of colours, size, shape and quality.  We also use in our designs Czech glass beads, shell, ceramic, wood, bone and other items we come across that will add to the designs we are creating.  We have made a choice not to use coral in any items that we create.  This is due to the way the coral is harvested which tends to destroy a good portion of the coral that is left behind.  Being from Queensland, Australia we are partial to our Great Barrier Reef.

Stringing Material

We use high quality 49 strand .15 diameter nylon coated twisted stainless steel wire.  This is the professional quality wire and will resist kinking and not kink and bend the way cheaper Tiger Tail beading wire will.