Standard Sterling Silver - 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals (usually copper).

Karen Hill Tribe Silver - the Karen are people of the hills and forests of northern Thailand.  All silver is 99.9 percent fine silver.  Their tools can be anything from nails, chisels to scrap metal.  All of the hill tribes work with silver, but only the Karen have made silversmithing their profession.  My supplier is a member of a Fair Trade Federation who are committed to preserving the traditions of the craftsmen, ensuring that they are paid fairly, improving their education and helping them grow their business.

Lampworking - various techniques over the centuries have been used to create beads, such as kiln forming, furnace work and lampworking.  Lampworking is glassworking using a torch to melt and shape glass.  Many types of glass are used such as Moretti, Borosilicate or Bullseye.  Early lampworking was done with a single flame from a oil lamp allowing the artisan to control the flame.

Czech glass - Czech glass making goes back hundreds and hundreds of years.  Glass as a decorative art form such as engraving was well rooted in Bohemia in the 17th century and held its dominance through the early 20th century and until the Nazi invasion in 1938.  At the end of the war there was the Soviet Occupation and factories no longer produced objects of art.  But families held on to the glassmaking traditions and today there are many small cottage industries where beads are made by hand. 

Crystal - The difference between glass and crystal is the lead content.  Glass is composed of sodium and potassium.  Crystal is composed of sodium, silicone and a lead content of 10-24%.  Lead makes the glass heavier and lead changes the refraction index, making the item appear brighter and cleaner.  Lead crystal is not as brittle as standard glass, making deeper more complicated cuts easier to make. 

Swarovski Crystal - Daniel Swarovski founded his company at the end of the 19th century.  Today, Swarovski produces home accessories, gift ideas, eyewear, etc. worldwide - they are also known for their optical products - binoculars and telescopes.  Swarovski crystal is considered to be the finest in the world - they are unmatched in quality and crystal brilliance.   

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