These teeny-tiny shimmering droplets accomplish far more than their size suggests. Beaded jewelry is the ideal way to sculpt your creativity, whether you want to add a new dimension to your jewelry collection or create your own style. These tiny beads, which come in tens of thousands of different styles, may give you the look you want for almost any event. After all, each bead is distinct and special in its own right. However, you'll be surprised to learn that bead culture isn't just another modern-day fad. Beads have been used in the trade for, well, possibly forever.
Read on for five fascinating facts about jewelry beads.
@. Lava Beads Carry The Energy of Fire Within Them
Lava beads are made from molten lava that has been discharged through igneous rocks during a volcanic eruption. When the volcano goes silent and the hot molten lava comes into touch with the ambient air, it is said to cool. When the substance cools, it takes on the appearance of a semi-porous, semi-soft blackish or greyish solid matter.
Jewelry makers take this material and cut it into small lava beads. This stuff, however, is claimed to contain the enormous energy of the fire element even after being converted to beads. As a result, wearing lava bead jewelry is thought to help regulate body temperature.
@. Seed Beads Were Used As Barter Materials In Ancient Age
Seed beads are little, tiddly beads that are usually made of glass. Typically, a large volume of glass is dragged through a machine to generate a thin glass tube, which is then cut, polished, and colored to create seed beads. Seed beads are widely utilized not only in jewelry, but also in art and craft. Seed beads date back to the 13th century, when India was still ruled by the British Empire and other empires.
Seed beads were extensively utilized as monetary items for barter trade in those days when the barter system was prominent. That is, folks who were short on cash would buy things and then trade them for seed bead packets instead of cash. So, as you can see, these tiny little glass beads have been associated with royalty for hundreds of years!
@. The First Ever Art of Making Glass Beads Was Discovered by Egyptians
Glass beads get their name from the production process, which involves manipulating glass to create beads. Some traders are supposed to have traveled by sea carrying pots of nitrate for trading thousands of years ago. They decided to eat their supper on a beach one day. They had to bury their cauldron in the sand in order to cook their food. They did this by creating nitrate powder mounds in the sand. When nitrate reacts with sand and absorbs the heat from the sun, it forms a glassy liquid. Despite the fact that the glass was discovered by accident, the Egyptians were the first to form it into glass beading about 3000 years ago.
Egyptian faience beads, constructed of clay and covered in vitreous materials, are the earliest known glass beads. Following in the footsteps of Egyptian glass beads, the Romans learnt how to make glass beads, which was then followed by other regions. Glass beads are now one of the most widely utilized beads by jewelers and craftspeople all over the world.
@. Real Coral Beads Can Change the Colour of Milk & Turmeric
Scientists verified that there is a simple technique to determine whether coral beads are real or fake. In a bowl of milk, place some coral beads. Allow some time to pass. If the color of milk begins to shift from white to slightly colored after a period of time, the coral beads are genuine and not imitations. Turmeric powder can also be used to test these beads.
Fill a dish or box halfway with turmeric powder, then add your coral beads. If you observe a change in the color of the powder after a few hours, the beads are real. If the color does not change, you should consult your jeweler!
@. Lapis Lazuli Beads Are Known As The Beads of Truth
Did you know that Egyptian queen Cleopatra used powdered lapis lazuli in her cosmetics? Also, did you know that Catherine, the Russian princess, dedicated an entire chamber of her palace to Lapis Lazuli, which she used to decorate everything with?
Lapis Lazuli was, and continues to be, a favorite bead stone of great monarchs, empresses, and leaders. Lapis Lazuli is known as the Stone of Truth and Awakening because of the qualities of the materials it is made of. Many spiritual gurus believe that carrying or wearing Lapis Lazuli jewelry can protect a person from psychic attacks and assist them control the energy needed for success, peace, and plenty.
So now you know a little more about these small, unassuming jewelry beads the next time you encounter one. That was a lot of fun, wasn't it?