We are very proud of our jewelry and want to provide you as much detail as we can with regard to the history and sources of our jewelry.
Our jewelry features a range of popular gemstones and beads, such as: Amber, Coral, Murano beads, Pearls, Tiger Eye, Agate, Millefiori and Venetian beads, as well as trading beads. Our ethnic jewelry and statement pieces come in matching sets, including necklaces, bracelets and earrings. We want you to wear the jewelry the way it was designed to be worn and we have chosen to sell a majority of the necklaces alone and include the matching bracelets and earrings at no cost to you. You may give the matching bracelet and earrings as gifts or keep for yourself.
We carry a variety of glass beads and brass beads at www.jeluxury.com. Two different types of African beads that have been enjoyed by many for centuries are Krobo “Coke Bottle” beads and beads created from “Lost Wax Casting.”
Krobo “Coke Bottle” beads, also referred to as recycled beads, are made by the Krobo group in Ghana. The technique involves crushing glass bottles to a fine powder and applying heat so that the particles blend together. The glass is then poured into clay molds, with an inserted cassava leaf stem creating the air hole. They are baked in an oven, the glass fuses, and the cassava stem burns up. This technique has been used in Africa for centuries to create beads. Krobo beads come in thousands of different colors, shapes, and designs. Because they are handmade, you will rarely find any two strands of Krobo beads alike.
Lost Wax Casting is an ancient African practice in which brass is cast from an artist’s sculpture. The process begins with making a model of the object from beeswax. The object is dipped in a solution of charcoal powder mixed with water. A mold is formed and allowed to dry. As the molds harden, channels are left in the mold to allow the wax to drain out during the heating process which takes place in a kiln. As the wax melts (this is referred to as “lost”), the liquid metal such as molten brass is poured into the mold to form desired ornament or bead. After the metal has cooled, the original object is removed from the mold to reveal the new object. The final process is thoroughly cleaning and dressing it to hide any imperfections before being presented. For a richer finish, some are gilded.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about how these beautiful beads are fabricated as much as we’ve enjoyed bringing them to you.
Happy Shopping!
