Not all glass is created equally...

Examples above are of an art glass pendant, a dichroic pendant, and a millefiore pendant.


Glass fusing has become quite popular. But as a buyer of glass jewelry it is imperative that you buy your glass pieces from an experienced glass artist. Improperly fused glass can crack and break apart on you for no apparent reason. It is important to know how to combine the glass properly since you cannot mix different co-efficient glasses. I work with various types of glasses that have co-efficients of 90, 96, and 104. In addition, it is important that the glass is properly annealed for strength and durability. Annealing is the process by which the glass cools and contracts. It must be done at a certain speed and rate of temperature. Often I will set my kiln to hold certain temperatures for periods of time to ensure the proper annealing. I have also heard many stories about pieces being improperly adhered to bails. I only use a special 2 part epoxy for glass and metal which is carefully cured. I also score up the surfaces so that they adhere better. Curing takes time and it must be done properly. So, the moral is...don't be fooled by cheap imitations...they aren't worth it in the long run.