Click picture to see entire image:

Cost per bead:

60 cents

Bead material:

Glass

Country of origin:

Czech Republic

Size/shape:

16mm (long) x 11.5mm (wide) x 4.5mm (thick) ovals with polished sides or "windows".

Colors/description:

Clear glass with loose red and white stripes, with a brown mottled "picasso" coating around the edges.

Hole size:

1mm (estimated).

Defects:

Unfortunately, about 30% to 40% of these beads have cracks.  As I always do with polished beads, I inspect them individually and eliminate defective beads before shipping.  However, I don't always see the cracks when they are small.  If I accidentally send you cracked beads, please contact me for a partial refund.  These beads have a few other defects also.  An occasional bead is malformed (I'll discard those).  The clear glass allows you to see the hole running through the bead, and most beads have picasso coating in the holes, which makes them look brown.  I am not eliminating those beads as defective.  Some beads have bubbles in the glass; I am eliminating those beads only if the bubbles are large.  A few beads are mostly clear glass, meaning that they have very little color in them; I am eliminating those beads.  If you are dissatisfied with the beads, you can always return them (I'll pay the return shipping in accordance with the Terms of Sale).

How photographed:

At the window in natural daylight.

Comments:

In the past, if a bead had a high percentage of defects (as these do), I would absorb the loss myself.  But I can't do that with these very expensive premium beads.  Since I am eliminating a large number of them, I have to charge a higher price for the good beads.  I have set the price so that the expense of the defective beads is borne partially by me and partially by the customer.  You might wonder why I don't return them to the supplier.  First, supplier "J" isn't gracious about accepting returns, and second, the beads are beautiful and I felt that some customers would be willing to pay extra for the good ones.