I posed this question here once, without the appropriate link, and don't see it. Please forgive me if do everything twice. I seem to have rec.crap.beads hiccups.....
Can semi-precious beads be fumed with gold to look like this?
I would think that some of the harder, heat-tolerant stones could be, like tourmaline (or is that considered precious???) but softer stones like turquoise or moisture-trapping stones like quartz wouldn't fare so well in the heat. Would be interesting to try with some of the more forgiving (and inexpensive) stones, though.
KarenS
Yeah, they can, Becki. It took me a moment to think about it, because I don't remember seeing stone beads fumed before. But I've seen lots of crystal points fumed, and even have some. "Aqua aura" is one opalescent one that comes to mind.
Tina
Becki - it depends on what "semi-precious" stone you use. Remember that for a fumed finish to really "stick" it requires a fairly high temperature.... That would mean the bead would have to be brought up to temp... and then fumed... and then annealed slowly back down. Such temperatures would destroy some semi-precious stones, change the colors of others.... Basically - I would think it would not be terribly practical....
Cheryl
Yes, I have some quartz rondelles that have an AB Coating. That's also what the mystic topaz is - topaz with an ab coating.
It's not fumed, per se, but I doubt you want the entire chemical process that's used to make them. ;-)
Barbara
Cool, and thanks for the thoughts. I want all my beads to look like that. LOL.
Becki
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