Why I Love Cathedral Glass

Okay, what are Cathedral Glass beads?

Cathedral Glass is a type of smooth and transparent stained glass (think stained glass in cathedrals) that balances color with luminosity. Sometimes referred to as “crown” or “barrel” beads, these beads are outstanding when backlit. So when dangling from your ears, the light shines through the beads in your earrings, making them more vibrant and luminous. The color depth can be amazing, depending on the hue. This is especially true of deep blues, reds, and greens.

The unique shape is fairly universal to all Cathedral Glass beads: they start as pressed glass shapes – usually oblongs or olives, then ground down at each end to create a central high polished and faceted center. These “windows” catch and refract the light, while still allowing the deep color to show.

Cathedral Glass is also very lightweight, so you can pack a lot of look without weighing yourself down. I am very mindful of the weight of my earrings and often try them on myself. It’s one thing to have that pair you wear for special occasions that tends to be on the heavy side. But Cathedral Glass lets you wear a pair of earrings all day, and then out for cocktails.

The other thing I love about Cathedral glass is that each bead is literally one-of-a-kind. While it’s not noticeable at a casual glance, the glass used in these beads often features natural, very subtle ripples and streaks. The technique of shaping and forming them is the same, but the actual material has tiny differences.

Special Treatment

Another interesting treatment in the world of Cathedral Glass is the gilt ends. Often, bead makers will apply gold or silver gilt to the top and bottom of the beads. Other makers will coat the ends in a different color.

As with most beads, the possibilities are endless, and more and more options become available as bead makers try new things. Half-gilt, color-coated, top-gilt – the variations are amazing

How to Style Earrings for Different Occasions

I work with Cathedral Glass a lot. I love the way the facets and giltwork interacts with other materials. The colors are rich and compliment everything around them. Here are a few – just click the images to see more about them.