Four Bottles. Four Colours.
Most coloured glass today achieves its colour through a surface coating. A spray or a dip that sits on top of the material rather than running through it.
Lampwork beads are heated repeatedly in a flame, shaped in graphite moulds, and annealed overnight in a kiln. Surface coatings do not survive this process. The colour has to be in the glass itself.
This is why our glass bead bracelets are made from four specific bottles, chosen because their colours are genuine pigmented glass that remains intact through the lampwork process. Four bottles. Four colours that cannot be replicated any other way.
The Four Colours
Tŷ Nant Cobalt Blue
In 1989, Tŷ Nant became one of the first companies to bottle water in cobalt blue glass, at a time when blue glass was used almost exclusively by chemists. The colour predates the fame. It produces a deep, rich bead with a clarity that cannot be achieved with standard glass rods.
Baileys Almost Black
Not quite black. Hold the bottle to strong light and you see it is a very deep, very dark green. The darkness is functional, protecting the cream content from UV degradation. In lampwork it is the most demanding glass to work with, requiring more heat and more attention than lighter colours. The finished bead is dark, lustrous, and unlike anything else in the collection.
Jägermeister Hunter Green
Curt Mast chose his bottle by dropping candidates on his oak floor until one survived the fall. The deep green glass has barely changed since 1935. It produces a bead with a depth that the word green does not quite capture. The colour of old forests, of bottle glass recovered from a riverbed.
Bombay Sapphire Aqua
When Bombay Sapphire launched in 1987, people had to be convinced the glass was blue and not the gin. The colour was inspired by the Star of Bombay, a 182 carat sapphire from Sri Lanka now held in the Smithsonian. The lightest of the four colours, clean and bright, and the most distinctive.
Two Finishes
Each colour is available in two finishes.
The glossy finish retains the natural brightness of the lampwork glass. The frosted finish is achieved by tumbling the finished beads, replicating the natural abrasion of sea glass and producing a soft matt surface. The frosted process makes the beads slightly smaller, which is why frosted bracelets contain more beads.
Handmade in Wales
Every bead is made individually by a glass artist in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Each one is formed in a flame, shaped in graphite moulds, and annealed overnight in a kiln for durability. No two beads are identical. Small variations in size, shape, and colour distribution are the natural result of the handmade process.
Strung on natural rubber elastic with a silver plated Rolf Skeldon charm. Presented in a recycled card and cotton gift box printed with Gwaith llaw goeth o Gymru, fine handcrafted work from Wales.
Recycled Glass Beaded Bracelets FAQs
What are the Rolf Skeldon recycled glass bead bracelets made from?
Each bracelet is made from handcrafted lampwork glass beads, created individually in a flame by a glass artist in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The glass comes from four iconic bottles chosen for their distinctive, authentic colours: Tŷ Nant natural mineral water, Baileys, Jägermeister, and Bombay Sapphire. Each bead is annealed overnight in a kiln for durability, then cleaned and inspected before use.
What size are the glass beads?
Each bead is handmade individually so there is a little natural variation in size across a bracelet. The glossy beads are around 10mm, giving the bracelet a satisfying weight on the wrist without feeling heavy. The frosted beads come out slightly smaller after tumbling.
If you have ever ordered jewellery online and been disappointed when it arrived looking nothing like the photos, these will not disappoint.
What is the difference between the glossy and frosted finishes?
The glossy beads retain the natural shine of the lampwork glass. The frosted beads are tumbled after making, a process that replicates the natural abrasion of sea glass, producing a soft, matt surface with the appearance and feel of glass that has been worn smooth by the sea. The frosted process also makes the beads slightly smaller, which is why frosted bracelets contain more beads than glossy ones.
Why are these bracelets priced at a premium?
Each bracelet contains between 22 and 26 handmade glass beads. Every bead is made individually by hand in Pembrokeshire, Wales, a process that takes considerable skill and time. The glass comes from four specific bottles chosen because their colours are genuine pigmented glass rather than the sprayed coating used in most modern glassware. Combined with the natural rubber elastic, silver plated charm, and recycled card gift box, the price reflects the genuine cost of making something properly by hand.
Are the glass beads durable enough for everyday wear?
Yes. Each bead is annealed in a kiln overnight after making, a controlled cooling process that removes internal stress from the glass and ensures durability. The result is a bead that should last for many years with normal everyday wear. These bracelets are made using precious materials and should be treated with care. Surface scratches and marks are normal through wear and time. Store items separately and clean regularly to maintain top condition.
Will my bracelet look exactly like the product photo?
Not exactly, and that is intentional. Each bead is made individually by hand, which means no two are identical. You may notice small differences in size, shape, and the distribution of colour between beads. This is what handmade means. If you ever encounter glass beads that are absolutely perfect in shape, they were almost certainly machine made. The variation in Rolf Skeldon glass bead bracelets is part of what makes each one unique.
What cord colour is used on the glass bead bracelets?
The cobalt blue, near black, and hunter green bracelets use a black cord. The aqua bracelets use a natural cotton coloured cord. The cord choice is made to complement each glass colour rather than compete with it.
Do the glass bead bracelets come gift boxed?
Yes. Every Rolf Skeldon bracelet arrives in a recycled card and cotton storage box printed with Gwaith llaw goeth o Gymru, fine handcrafted work from Wales.
Can the glass bead bracelets be resized or repaired?
Yes. If the cord stretches or breaks, or if the bracelet needs resizing, send it back and we will restore it. The same repair and resizing promise that applies to our stone beaded bracelets applies to the glass bead range. No time limit on that offer. Contact us at hello@rolfskeldon.com to arrange a return.
