European Bead Bracelet Jewelry
Europeanbling beads are lovingly handcrafted in solid silver, gold-plated sterling silver, murano glass and other fine materials. Our European beads and bracelets are interchangeable with all major brands including Pandora, OHMBeads, Chamilia, Biagi, Nagara, and Trollbeads*. You are free to design and collect all your favorites. If you are new to European charm bracelet jewelry, please see our 'How to Start Making Your Own Jewelry' section.
*For Trollbeads customers, our silver and glass beads will fit your Troll bracelets but your Trollbeads will ONLY fit on our hand-woven Viking chains, they will NOT fit our snap clasp bracelets.
Sterling Silver
All of our silver jewelry is solid sterling, with a stamp of authenticity.
Pure silver is far too soft to used in functional objects. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver, and 7.5% other materials, usually copper. Copper gives it its strength, while at the same time preserving the ductility and beauty of the precious metal.
Over the years, most countries in the world have developed their own systems of hallmarking silver. The purpose of hallmark is: To indicate the purity of the silver alloy used in the manufacture or hand-crafting of the piece. To identify the silversmith or company that made the piece.
All of our sterling silver bears the "925" stamp/hallmark. European beads are fantastic keepsakes, and can last lifetimes, if cared for, cherished, and passed down.
EB-AHL002:
OHM Torii Gate
EB-EBP001:
Dolphin
EB-WHO005:
OHM Japanese Hakama
EB-WHR003:
OHM Letter "LOVE"
View All Sterling Silver Beads
Gold Plated Silver
We use only the highest standard of gold plating, called gold vermeil. In the gold vermeil process, a thick layer of gold is bonded to the solid sterling bead, giving it a gorgeous and long-lasting finish.
EB-EAS09911PG:
November Crystal Rope
EB-EAS10003PG:
March Crystal Openwork
EB-EAS10107PG:
July Crystal Barrel
EB-WHT00818:
OHM 7.1"/18cm
Gold & Silver - Two Tone
Using the same vermeil technique, but allowing some of the sterling silver to show though. The possibilities are endless.
14k Gold
Gold is dense, soft, shiny and the most malleable pure metal known. Hense the common practice of alloying it with other metals to give it strength and longevity. For centuries gold has been highly valued, especially for jewelry.
In medieval times, gold was often seen as beneficial for the health, in the belief that something that rare and beautiful could not be anything but healthy. Even some modern forms of alternative medicine assign metallic gold a healing power.
Gold has had a place thoughout history. From Native Americans, Europe, Asia, Aftrica. The legend of the golden fleece may refer to the use of fleeces to trap gold dust from placer deposits in the ancient world. Gold has long been considered the most desirable of precious metals.
Crystals, Stones, & Cubic Zirconia
The synthesized material, cubic zirconia, is hard, optically flawless and usually colorless, but may be made in a variety of different colors. Because of its low cost, durability, and close visual likeness to diamondm CZs are used in jewelry to allow everyone to the affordability of beauty.
EB-EBJ07207:
July Crystal Crown Heart
EB-EBJ02111:
Topaz Crystal Sunflower
EB-EBJ019:
Grape Swarovski
EB-EBC009:
Pink MOP Butterfly
View All Crystals, Stones, & Cubic Zirconia Beads
Glass
Our glass bead jewelers make the beads in batches. This means that most designs are not repeated once they run out. They continually create new designs and color combination for us to enjoy.
Each bead is made, one at a time, by hand! Glass rods are melted and wrapped around a mandrel that the artist continually spins in order to form the round shape.
- Preparing the mandrel – The beadmaker starts by dipping a mandrel, or wire (stainless steel welding wire, cut into lengths) into a clay based substance (commonly referred to as “bead release”) and letting it dry.
- Heating rod and mandrel – The flameworker selects rods of glass to heat in the flame of the torch. When both glass and mandrel are sufficiently warm, the beadmaker starts rotating the mandrel while allowing the glass to wind upon it.
- Shaping the bead – Beads are shaped using a combination of heat, gravity and tools such as graphite paddles, mashers, tweezers, and picks. Presses to create shapes and indent patterns into the glass are also used.
- Decorating the bead – Beads can be decorated by melting stringers, or fibers of glass on the surface, creating dots or lines. With a sharp pointed tool, feathers, hearts or other designs may be produced. Metal decorations of copper, silver, gold, palladium and platinum are applied as metal leaf, wire, mesh or fuming.
- Striking – If silver based colors are used (striking colors), the bead must be heated for a few moments in the torch flame or kiln to allow crystals to reform in the glass. This temperature is slightly above the stress relief point.
- Annealing – Once completed, beads should be heated to 940º-1050°F (depending on glass type), until the piece reaches its “stress relief point”, held at that temp for a short time, then slowly cooled to avoid thermal shock.
- Cold working – The cooled bead can be further decorated. Standard cold working techniques can be employed such as sandblasting, faceting and polishing. Etching the finished piece with acid leaves a matte finish. (This description taken directly from wikipedia).
For our European beads bracelets, we also add a silver core. From our artist’s hands to yours, a strong, beautiful, unique design in glass.
Enamel
Enamel (or vitreous enamel or porcelain enamel) is the colorful result of fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 degrees Celsius. The powder melts then hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating on metal, glass or ceramic.
