How to Buy Dichroic Glass for Fused Jewellery
By: John Garcia | Date Posted: October 27, 2021
Table of Contents
Fused jewelry, also known as dichroic glass, has been a popular trend for decades now. This type of jewelry is made with dichroic glass that is applied to the surface of the gemstone. Dichroic glass is available in many different colors and hues, but it can also be purchased in sheets to allow for easier application onto your finished product.
The art of creating jewelry is always changing, and it seems like the world of glass is no exception. Today, many people are incorporating dichroic glass into their designs â a material that has both translucent and reflective properties. Everyone knows that it is important to do research before you buy anything, but sometimes it can be overwhelming. It can be difficult to know which companies are reputable, how much they will charge for the product, what the quality will be like, and how long it will take before you have your item.
This article discusses some of the best ways to buy dichroic glass for your next project, from where you can find it to what types you should consider using.
What is dichroic glass?
Dichroic glass is a type of toughened glass in which the reflection and transmission can be controlled independently. It is used in photography, optics, and optics manufacturing because it reflects light with high efficiency and has excellent mechanical properties.
Dichroic Glass Colors
Dichroic glass colors are known for their luminous properties and for being highly reflective. When lit from a different angle, a dichroic color will change in hue or shade. There are also many types of dichroic glass including opal, selenite, Verre et céramique. Dichroic glass colors are made by stacking sheets of clear glass with different refractive indexes on top of one another. The light is split into different colors depending on the way it moves through the sheets, and each color appears in a specific location after passing through the stack.
Finishing With Dichroic Glass
Dichroic glass can be used for many different things, but itâs most often used in the design of fused jewelry. The dichroic glass is placed on top of a metal or ceramic ring or bead before it is heated up in a kiln. When the bead is cooled, the dichroic glass will have either a rainbow effect if itâs blue-green dichroic glass, or a violet color if itâs red-violet dichroic glass.
There are many ways you can finish your jewelry with dichroic glass. You can start by slaking the edges of the dichroic glass with a torch flame, then dip it into the hot liquid metal, such as Argentium silver, then finally brush away any wax residue that remains on the surface.
How to Buy Dichroic Glass
Dichroic glass is made with dichroic film, but it can also be created by combining several layers of different colored films. Dichroic glass is strongly absorbent and will not absorb any light other than the specific wavelengths that make up the design or pattern. It is a type of colored glass. To make this glass, it takes to first melt and then mix with the colored materials. Some of the main colors available are orange, green, blue, red, yellow, brown, pink, purple, clear, and black.
Why buy dichroic glass for fused jewelry?
Dichroic glass is a type of glass that can be dyed to produce a rainbow of colors. This type of glass is used in fusing different kinds of crystals with dichroic glass. This also has a mirror-like surface so it can be used with reflective metals such as gold or silver. Dichroic glass is a material thatâs used in the manufacturing of jewelry. It has many uses, but one of the most common is to make a piece of jewelry appear to be made of several different colors. Fused jewelry requires dichroic glass because it canât contain strands of metal, which means it needs to be non-metallic and bright. It also helps fused jewels appear more vivid and colorful.
Tips for Buying Dichroic Glass
You can find dichroic glass on a number of different websites, but you should purchase from a reputable online retailer. Often these retailers will offer a supply of size options so you can choose the one that is best for your needs. Additionally, if the seller doesnât have enough size options to suit your needs, they may be able to cut the glass for you. The cost of buying dichroic glass produced by reputable vendors will usually be less than buying it in person.
Learning how to buy dichroic glass for fused jewelry is not an easy task. In fact, if you are a beginner with no qualifications or experience, it may seem like a daunting task. However, it really isnât that difficult and can be managed if you take some time to research what you need to know. Dichroic glass comes in different shapes and sizes, which will affect the finished product of your jewelry. You also need to look at the type of wire that your chosen beads come with and purchase a length that is appropriate for the size of your wires.
Where to buy glass with the highest purity
When it comes to quality and purity, dichroic glass is the preferred option for fused jewelry. The purest form of dichroic glass is made by Schott and will only contain ingredients such as lead oxide, boric oxide, barium sulfate, calcium silicate, and zinc sulfide. When you search for items, you want to make sure that the purity of the glass is at its highest level. Most manufacturers like ArtGlassSupplies.com will list the purity of their glass on their website.
When it comes to dichroic glass, the higher the purity, the better. If you are looking for some quality glass with some serious color blocking capabilities, then choosing some dichroic glass will give you some serious bang for your buck. Youâll notice that different colors can be created when you mix transparent and opaque dichroic glass.
Thank you for reading!