Bluish-purple with a silvery corona finish, the elusive corona finish. It is somewhat in the AB class, but then again it is not. Amazing to see, the camera does not really capture it. Sometimes it appears gold, other times as a deep antique silver dependant upon the light source and the angle of light. Most interesting bead and one of the missing finishes. Originally called "Palian Blue", these are 5mm rounds.
Sold in lots of 18 for $24. Order Item #BD-VN6000.
Sanduca is the name of the color, the finish is the same silver as the one above. "What?", you say? "But it looks golden!" Well, some of them look golden, others look silvery, yet others who knows what. That is the beauty of this finish, you never know what you will get, again light-dependent. But the finish is definitely dark silver, wait till you see for yourself in your own hand, you will be amazed. They measure a tad over 6mm, accurate production was not really developed until years later. Bicones. The glass itself is a steely grey. Sold in lots of 6 for $12, or to put it another way, $12 a half dozen. However if you take a dozen, which means you have to order 2 lots, the computer will bring the price down to $21/dz. For awhile anyway. Order# BDVN6001.
Sanduca is the name of the color, the finish is the same as the one above and by some amazing coincidence so is the name!!. "What?", you say? "But it looks like an oval! " Well, it is an oval, that might explain it. Ovals, 7.5x5mm. Very unusual bead and not too many to be had. So don't wait and find out later that you should not have waited because when we sell out, we sell out forever. Sold in lots of 12 for $27, Order# BDVN6345.
This is a most amazing bead! The finish was called Macedonia, probably to honor Alexander the Great who was from Macedonia, for this is really a great bead!. It is a phenomenal finish, but boy was it expensive for it's time! It was not used on many beads, so far, we have uncovered the one size, 4mm. No idea if any more lurk down there. The actual has a purplish tinge to it, an effect I believe of the finish which gives it this wild look. Look at all the colors, and gold and silver to boot, and this is just in normal room light. String these into a fancy choker, to get the full effect you simply must keep them together.
Sold in lots of 36 pcs for $24. Order# BDVN6190
Original Hyacinth 8mm article 5100 AB. This shape bead is sometimes called a "nailhead", presumably because it looks like the gizmo that is used to sew clothing together, studs. The bead is sold in lots of 12 for $21, Order# BDVN6389.
We offer many original vintage Swarovski packages throughout this website, which you had to notice unless your were asleep!. This one is sold out however!
Long gone 12mm Elestria Dark made in 1956 for the Weiss Company, themselves long gone! A beauty of a bead but very rare, we have only a few to sell. Have a look, they are sold in lots of 4 pcs for $30. While they last, and as you move further into this catalog you will find that this kind, the large rare ones, don't last too long! Order# BD6637x.
Jet Indigo, or Indigo Jet, I forgot already what it said on the box. 5mm Bicones from a distant era, that Indigo finish really stands out, have a look-see. Sold in lots of 12 pcs for $15.00. Will you be one of the lucky few? We don't have so many to sell. Order Item #BDVN6186a.
Now if you like it in 6mm, then it is 12 pcs for $18, order #BDVN6186. Order soon, there is very little of the 6mm remaining. Also available in 4mm, sold in lots of 24pcs for $18. Pick your size or take them all and make graduates. Order #BDVN6406.
Dark Sapphire bead with the double AB finish combined with the dorado gold finish..a real confusing issue. The gold is not all that prevalent but it enhances the AB and makes it into a dark AB, unusual combination. Thus we end up with the bead known as Taj..guess where that name came from! So far we have only found the 4mm but we suspect there are some others out there somewhere. Sold in lots of 12 pcs for $8. Want something unusual and certainly uncommon? This is it!! Order Item# BDVN6194.
One of the most covetted beads from Swarovski, this color was called Ambrosia. Ambrosia was a mix of every fruit known to man, and to the gods, in Greek Mythology. The sweetness was said to drive men insane and it was a preferred treat of the Greek gods. Reflecting every color of the rainbow inside, it seems to have the AB internally. Coated on one side with silver corona it is a most amazing bead. These date to 1955 and are bicones in 6mm. Sold in lots of 12 for $19.50, fair price for driving men insane! Order # 1810B
Dark Ambrosia 4mm. As fascinating as ambrosia, this is the rarer dark one in a 4mm bicone. Only one so far. Sold in lots of 12 pcs for $10.00. Item # BDVN6259.
Palian Blue with the rare and elusive Corona finish, 10mm. Sold in lots of 6 for $21.50. Order# BD-VN6039.
Some beads get their name from the industry, like rondells, some from the manufacturers, like pagodas, and some from what they look like, like nailheads. These are called "tire beads" because they look like treaded tires. If they do not have the "tread", they are not tire beads, so be forewarned. There are those who would sell any bead in a similar shape as this one and call it a tire bead to the unwary, because tire beads are almost extinct now and very difficult to find in any usable quantity. Tire beads primary function has always been as a separater or spacer bead, there is a difference between the two but it is not so important to go into a lengthy explanation. Just looking at them will tell you the story, any missing parts you can always ask me. I have them in three colors, jet, clear crystal , and light Sapphire matte finish. There is no picture of the crystal, if you need to see a picture of crystal you are in the wrong business! Soon I will have them in two colors because one of them is not very abundant and will sell out faster than the others. They measure 6mm. These beads are fire polished as opposed to table polished. Table polished, or machine cut as they are also known, were of a different ilk than firepolished, reserved for faceted beads and these are not faceted so they were never made in table polished. Sold by color, you can order the jet and the crystal by package as well. A lot of 36 pieces is $18, full packages are now sold out. Make your choice now, while there is still a choice to make! Order BDVN300,301,302.