Bead Shack is one of the longest standing & largest beads shop in Australia!
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Bead Shack

7x6mm Cross (25) - Lemon Transparent Frosted - Vintage Czech Vaseline Glass Beads

$5.00 AUD

What an interesting bead!  A frosty transparent bright lemon that will really show up on your designs!  And they have a little secret too (read below).

Measurements:  7mm x 6mm x about 4mm thick

Quantity per pack:  25

Here is a fabulous collector’s unique find!  Do you collect this type of glass in vases, statuettes and more?  Add these unique beads to your display either into a small clear container, or made into useful jewellery items.

Uranium in glass beads, often called Vaseline glass, uses tiny amounts of uranium dioxide to create distinctive yellow-green colours that brilliantly fluoresce under UV (black) light, making them popular for unique jewellery, with modern beads being safe for handling despite their low radioactivity. These Czech-made beads are a favourite for crafters and collectors, known for their vibrant glow and variety of shapes and sizes, even though uranium use in glass was historically banned for a period. 

Our fabulous customer named Clay from Wollongong introduced us to this phenomenon.  We knew about this style of bead being in existence, but didn't realise we had any at Bead Shack, until he walked around our shop with his black light torch!  That was a strange experience - having a person shine a torch on our whole range.  He has shared with us the photos of a small beaded chandelier he made himself from our beads, to put in his home display.  We hope you are as in awe of his display as we are.  You will see the small beaded chandelier in one of the photos up near the ceiling above his display cupboard.

Key Characteristics:

  • Colour: Ranges from yellow to green, depending on concentration, often resembling Vaseline.
  • Glow: Glows bright neon green under UV light due to the uranium content.
  • Safety: Considered safe for handling and wearing; the radioactivity is very low, less than many household electronics.
  • Origin: Primarily produced in the Czech using traditional glassmaking techniques.

How to Identify:

  • Blacklight Test: The most definitive test is a bright green glow under a UV or blacklight.
  • Colour Variation: Look for the characteristic yellow-green hue that often appears more green under UV light. 

Usage:

  • Used by jewellery makers for unique necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.
  • Popular for creating vintage-style or rave-themed accessories.
  • Collected for their unique glow and historical appeal.