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Handmade Lampwork Beads continue their Most Wanted status. You might see them as an accent bead in a beautiful bracelet or a focal bead in a gorgeous necklace. The expertise of a lampwork artist is reflected in the style and quality of their beads. It is easy to choose a style and color of bead we like. What's harder to tell is what's below the surface - the quality of the bead. Handmade Lampwork Beads are going for premium prices so before making that purchase here are 5 tips to help you out!

1. Ask if the beads were kiln annealed. To prevent cracks, beads must be annealed then slowly cooled. The best way to do this is in a kiln where temperatures are regulated. The beadmaker anneals the beads to make sure that all that glass cools at the same temperature. The annealing temperature is high enough for glass to flow on a molecular level but not so high that the bead ends up in a puddle on the kiln floor. After annealing, the heat is gradually reduced, bringing the bead to room temperature. This can take several hours but produces beads with less stress so they're less likely to crack.
2. Find out how long the artist has been making beads. This can be helpful information but keep in mind that some people can be quick learners and very skilled while others never quite "get it."
3. Has the beadmaker sold their work on eBay or another online auction site where you can check buyer feedback and referrals? If you're investing a lot of money in a set of beads or bead, find out if the designer is published. If they're a well known bead artist or up and coming, this could be a worthwhile investment.
4. Look at the bead. Are there cracks, is it wobbly or misshapen (and not on purpose), are there bubbles? Some beadmakers use bubbles as design elements but they will look purposeful and fit well with the design. If you're not sure about the bubbles, be sure to ask. Is the shape pleasing? Beads are handcrafted so expect variation, this is part of their charm but the overall appearance should be attractive.
5. Finally, when you're purchasing a bead or a finished piece of jewelry make sure that the bead release has been cleaned from the bead hole and that there are no burrs. Bead release is a gritty substance that lets the glass release from the mandrel. A mandrel is a form around which glass is built up to make the bead; once it is removed, a hole is left so you can string the bead.

Pig and Panda is an authorized distributor of one-of-a-kind Handmade Lampwork Beads. Sometimes they're hard to get but when we get our hot little hands on them you can find beautiful Handmade Lampwork Beads in our Beads & Jewelry Department at Pig and Panda. Our stunning line of specialized lampworked beads feature freeform, organic and floral centerpiece beads. Each bead is one of a kind and created from the wide palette of colors offered by Bullseye, Uroboros, Spectrum, and Wasser glass. The forms are sculpted with long tweezers that pull the glass and shape it into the beautiful lampwork beads you see at Pig and Panda.