What in the world is DICHROIC GLASS?

Dihroic glass is a glass comprising ultra-thin layers of aluminum, chromium, silicon, zirconium or perhaps the metal alloy titanium. The shades are nearly holographic in appearance. Dichroic glass is employed in generating exquisite and vibrant beads, pendants and cabochons. The extremely colorful metallic appearance changes as the piece is viewed at different angles.

These components are vaporized by using an electron beam gun, and the vapour then attaches and condenses onto the surface of the glass, forming a crystal structure made up of as many as 30 levels.

Dichroic glass used in my designs consists of various micro-layers of metal oxides and quartz crystal (these thin layers of oxides possess a total density of three to five millionths of an inch) which in turn give the glass a chance to show two different shades when viewing it from different angles. It also seems rather sparkly as well as lively when seen up close. With the play of light, coupl ed with its lively colour, dichroic glass is an ideal medium for creating lovely and out of the ordinary pieces of jewelry.
Dichroic glass is often employed by jewelry creative designers and is generally seen in highly authentic, large pendants that appear almost like ceramic, however possess far more hues of color.

Dichroic Glass is probably the hottest elements being used by glass artisans at this time. It is really an amazing material initially designed for the aerospace industry during the 50's as well as 60's when NASA, defense contractors,along with the Department of Defense made this high-tech material to use as optical filters, as a shield against cosmic radiation and many other uses. Over the last few years, Dichroic has been discovered by glass artists.

Jewellery made from dichroic glass is multi-colored and eye-catching wearable art. Dichroic glass doesn't have its own color; the colours that you observe in a piece of dichroic jewelry come from the reflection and refraction of light, producing an iridescent spectrum of coloration that is certainly somewhat co mpletely different in every piece.

Dichroic Glass is often formed into pendants, earrings, bracelets and beads. Dichroic Glass can be very well liked in magnets, tiles, and drawer pulls.

Glass jewelry making is assumed to date back around the 9th century in Italy , when beads were traded from Rome and Venice to neighboring countries. The old Italian decorative glass techniques of millefiori and lampworking are still used in fashionable jewelry designs today.

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