Frosted Cube Recycled Glass Bead Bracelet

Each bead in this bracelet began as a recycled bottle. The glass was broken, melted in a lampwork flame, and gathered into a blob of molten glass, then stretched into a rod before being wound around a metal mandrel and shaped using graphite moulds. Bottle glass requires considerably more heat than standard lampwork glass and more patience. The shaping process leaves marks that must be reheated to smooth out, and too much heat loses the form. Each bead is made individually, then annealed overnight in a kiln to remove internal stress and ensure durability.

The frosted finish is achieved by tumbling the finished beads with an abrasive medium, replicating the natural weathering of sea glass. The process makes each bead slightly smaller, which is why frosted bracelets contain more beads than glossy ones.