Bead Buzz: Shaped Beads from Concept to Creation

Shaped beads came onto the scene almost a decade ago, and they’ve sparked our imagination ever since. From squares to diamonds to shells and more, these diminutive two-hole (or more) beads are feats of engineering that inspire creativity. The variety of shapes and colors have absolutely exploded, along with patterns for every style of beaded jewelry.

The Birth of DiamondDuos

Harold Medina and Avital Rubin of BeadmasterUSA.com have developed several shaped beads, but they’re especially proud of the DiamonDuo. At the time, there weren’t many dimensional two-hole beads on the market. Harold explains, “For the facets, we worked very closely with the factory. We wanted it to look like a Ferrari, low to the ground. But, it’s tricky to maintain the integrity of the bead structure because of the holes. We worked very closely with a factory in the Czech Republic to achieve the high-end look we wanted.”

Typically, prototypes begin with a rough drawing like the one above. Sometimes, three-dimensional models are made. Harold admits that their original DiamonDuo sample was a mock-up made out of cardboard. “We needed to see something physical, not just the drawing. We passed it around the office and got everyone’s comments.” Avital adds, “When Harold went to the Czech Republic, he took the cardboard model in his carry-on because he was so protective of it.” The factory provided a CAD (computer-aided-design) drawing and insight into the feasibility of producing the shape.

Fixing Issues with Shaped Beads

Some shapes won’t work because the bead won’t support the hole, or because there would be too much breakage during manufacturing. If these issues can be resolved and the design is approved, then the factory runs a prototype batch. These beads are scrutinized for quality and sent to beadwork designers for experimentation and suggestions. The finished bead design incorporates any necessary refinements.

There are two mold makers in the Czech Republic and a limited number of factories to make the beads, so production time can vary from two to five months. The expense of developing a shaped bead can reach into tens of thousands of dollars, with copyrighting the design, registering the trademark, production, shipping, and marketing.

Get the Wheels Turning

Avital enjoys seeing a new shaped bead inspire people. She says, “We were introducing a new two-hole bead at the Tucson gem shows and a teenage girl came to our demonstration. You could just see her face light up and her wheels start turning.” Harold agrees, “This is a very rewarding experience. We have a rule that we never produce a shape that already exists. If we’re going to take a risk, we want it to bring something to the world.”

Harold says, “In the end, it’s a bead. It’s not curing an illness. But, it still feels good to create something and see it go out into the world.”

As you weave, stitch, or string shaped beads together, take a minute to consider the long process and many hands that brought them to your beading mat. They’re tiny treasures made from imagination, ingenuity, and glass to help you create inventive beadwork and share it with your friends, family, and community.

This article appeared in Beadwork April/May 2020. Originally published to web 4/14/2020.

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