I decided to add this page for all of you out there that are curious to know what borosilicate glass is. I have found that too much information is better than none at all. 

I choose to work with borosilicate (A.K.A. Pyrex) because of its durable nature and beautiful color spectrum. It is basically the same glass as your favorite durable Pyrex measuring cup is made out of. The difference between soft glass and borosilicate glass is the COE. Borosilicate glass generally has a COE of around 33 where soft glass is around 106. What this means is that borosilicate glass melts at a much higher temperature than its soft glass cousin.

Both soft glass and borosilicate glass has many different metals and oxides added so that artists can achieve beautiful colors. Borosilicate colors however have a quality all to themselves. Some of these colorants include pure silver, pure gold, and cobalt oxides to name a few. Many borosilicate colors also seem to glow from within, and have ethereal opalescent qualities that other glass doesn't seem to possess. To achieve these magnificent colors for you, many of the colors have to be "coaxed out" so to speak. The silver metals distributed in the glass matrix grow crystals when in between temperatures of 1,050 - 1,520 degrees farenheight. For these colors to grow they need to first have a nucleus to grow on. You can actually add nuclei to the glass by flame-striking (holding the cooled bead in the outer part of the flame). Many glass colors that artists buy today come with either nucleus added, or nuclei inhibitors, depending on what the particular color was made to achieve. Colored borosilicate glass also forms the most intriguing reactions when layered together. It is my job as a bead maker to unlock these secrets for you so that you can have "new" beautiful colors.

Borosilicate beads are great for bracelet designs because they are so durable and they can withstand the abuse of everyday wear. If you drop a boro bead it is much more likely to bounce than break although I wouldn't try it at home.  :o)