Faceted Glass Beads Facet is a flat edge of a cut stone. Faceted beads are cut to produce multiple flat faces for a dazzling effect. Each different cut of a faceted bead has a different number of facets. The accumulation of different angled facets allow light to bounce from one to the next which creates a spectrum of colors and brilliance.

What is Faceting of Beads?

Faceting is the method or technique of cutting and polishing a stone bead surface in order to get maximum brilliance. Faceting is done by hands and by faceting machines too. By cutting and polishing the beads and gems, it is made possible for light to enter the stone and bend in different positions. This is called refraction in gemology. A refractometer is used by the faceters to measure the speed and angle of light as it enters a gemstone. Many a times, refractive index is the key to gem identification. The faceted gemstone beads such as diamond beads, ruby beads, emerald beads etc. are attributed value depending upon their refractive index granted through faceting. Sometimes 'Shaving' is also done to create a faceted bead. Shaving is the cutting of a stone generously across the table (largest facet or crown of the gemstone) while allowing for very little depth. Shaving makes a stone appear to be of higher carat weight than it is.

Different Cuts of Faceted Beads

Cut is the method of faceting a gem. A gem bead is faceted in various ways.

Single cut: A faceted bead made with single cut consists of seventeen facets or less.

Swiss cut: A faceted stone bead consisting of thirty-three facets.

Brilliant cut: Faceted beads that have a brilliant cut are round-shaped stones consisting of a minimum of fifty-eight facets.

Step cut: It is also called emerald cut. When a faceted bead is made with a step cut, it acquires rectangular facets along its perimeter.

Full cut: It is a round-shaped, brilliant-cut gem of small proportions. It is mostly used to describe accent diamonds. However, the term may be used to denote colored beads of gems as well.

Fancy Cut: Faceted beads with fancy cut are the stones that are given unusual shapes. For example, triangle beads or heart beads with facets can be called fancy cut beads. Fantasy Cut: Fantasy cut style of faceted beads have facets that are arbitrarily placed.

Rose cut: It is an age-old art of faceting a stone. Here the faceted bead is cut in a manner that it looks like an opening rose. This cut gives birth to one of the most exquisite type of flower beads. This cut is usually seen in groups of six. This method of rose cutting is sometimes used in making marcasite jewelry.

Cabochon cut: This is not an actual cut. It is in fact the art of rounding a gem without facets into the shape of a highly-polished dome.

Popular Faceted Beads

Faceted beads can be found in different materials and shapes. Round beads, oval beads, star beads, triangular and heart shaped beads- all are there to be used in jewelery, craft projects and for other purposes. However, faceted beads made from some particular materials are more popular than others.

Faceted Glass Beads

Glass beads with their inherent property of shining are the most favorite beads to be given various facets. They are available in almost all sizes- 4mm faceted, 6mm faceted beads, 8mm faceted beads, 10mm faceted beads.

Faceted Gemstone Beads

Faceted diamond beads and crystal beads are the most sought after gemstones beads. However, other semiprecious beads like pearl beads, amethyst beads, lapis lazuli beads, turquoise beads, garnet beads and many more are also in demand due to their growing importance in contemporary wedding jewelery trends.Generally they come in almost all sizes and have two grades- Grade A and Grade B. Grade A faceted gemstone beads have smooth facets and are polished by handwork. Grade B faceted beads too have facets made by handwork but they are polished by machine.

Faceted Acrylic Beads

Acrylic faceted beads are multi-sided and generally transparent beads that have a variety of shapes. They can be teardrop beads, faceted heart beads, acrylic birthstone drops, acrylic faceted drops, or star beads. Acrylic beads are used for jewelery, craft and fabric decorating.

Faceted Plastic Beads

Plastic beads are the most popular beads for craft projects due to their being comparatively cheap beads and availability in hundreds of colors, shapes, and sizes. In fact, the faceted plastic beads are most convenient to be used in faceted bead art. They are available in all sizes ranging from 4mm to much larger bead sizes.

Faceted Metal Beads

Metal beads are also given facets to make them shiny and lustrous. Faceted metal beads are most popular in making beaded jewelery. Gold faceted beads, silver beads and even sterling silver faceted beads along with black metal faceted beads can be easily found in many shapes ranging from round, oval, teardrop, cube, square, triangle, diamond, heart, star etc.