Components

      About the components in Shining Moment LLC jewelry

Crystal    Czech Fire Polished Beads    Pearls    Findings

Crystal

All faceted glass beads used for Shining Moment LLC jewelry are mass-produced. The leading producers are in the Czech Republic and Austria. In Austria in the tiny town of Wattens is the Swarovski factory. Swarovski was the first to perfect the production of machine-cut faceted beads and stones. Each bead is cut and faceted, much like a precious stone, by a special mechanical process perfected by Swarovski. This results in extremely "sharp" edges on each facet, and exact calibration of measurements so the facets produce the maximum sparkle and liveliness (refractance).

We use the finest Swarovski crystals & Swarovski pearls in our jewelry. Swarovski crystal was invented by Daniel Swarovski in 1895 in Bohemia. They are made from the finest crystal lead glass, cut and ground with such precision that they sparkle as brilliantly as diamonds. They have a weight and style that sets them apart from normal beads.

Swarovski uses only high lead content crystal glass, typically a full 32% of the glass is lead and lead oxide. The presence of the lead increases the index of refraction, bringing it closer to that of diamond. The sparkle comes from light bouncing off internal surfaces in the lead crystal. This is why lead glass beads have an attractive sparkle and heavier weight than cheaper forms of glass.

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Czech Fire-Polished Beads

Fire polishing is a less costly way to finish the beads using heat, not individual machine cuts. They are formed in a mold and flame polished to give them a subtle sheen. This process results in a perfectly beautiful bead, but the edges aren't as "sharp" nor are the facets as exactly sized. If you look very closely you can tell the difference between a machine-cut and a fire-polish bead, although from a distance it is nearly impossible.

Fire-polished beads possess a look all their own. They have piercing facets and now are available in many awe-inspiring colors. Many also come with the same special finishes found in Swarovski crystal.  If you are looking for an equally beautiful but lower cost alternative to Swarovski, Shining Moment LLC can use Czech fire-polished beads with excellent results.

Two-tone beads:  Extremely difficult to manufacture, these beads blend a clear crystal color with a secondary color. The results can range from subtle to dramatic. The play of color leads the eye ever onward, exploring the explosive or tranquil nature of the jewelry creation. See for yourself, these are "must have" beads.

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Pearls

Shining Moment LLC uses a variety of pearls from fresh water to Swarovski.  Pearls come in variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.  Swarovski pearl colors can be viewed on the Swarovski Color Chart.  If you have a particular pearl color in mind, allow Shining Moment LLC check with sources to see if it is available.

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Findings

Those essentials that are used to create jewelry are called "findings" and include such things as earrings, clasps, and spacers.  All silver-colored findings used by Shining Moment LLC are sterling silver or Bali silver.  Most designs can be duplicated using gold findings, however, the the cost is higher and the variety a bit smaller.

You have your choice of:

At Shining Moment LLC we give you a choice of styles from the type of clasp you want to the look of the chain to the shape of the earring you like best.  That's the joy of custom-made:  you get exactly what you want!

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