For craftsmen engaged in needlework, the question of choosing a bead and determining its size is important, since the quality and attractiveness of the finished work depends on the right materials. How to determine the size of the beads, we will describe in this article.
Why do I need a size system
Previously, as you know, there was no large-scale production for the production of beads, so there were no ideally accurate sizes of beads. Of course, they were respected, but the parties could vary slightly in the size of individual beads. But since the manufacture of beads using classical technology was and remains a kind of art, there were no particular complaints about the size of the products.
However, in the end, the need for even and identical beads increased, and the Japanese bead manufacturers, changing the traditional manufacturing technology, achieved an improvement in the quality of the product, and the size of the beads became standardized.
However, it is worth noting here that beads made in classical technology, by definition, cannot be perfectly smooth, so you should not apply the same requirements to it as to Japanese ones. The same can be said about vintage beads, especially about the one that was created in the Czech Republic.
Czech system
In the Czech Republic, a size classification has been developed by which the size of beads can be more or less accurately determined. Usually it is indicated on the package.
The size of Czech beads, like any other, corresponds to its length in a horizontal position - so that the hole is directed upwards. The numbers indicate the number of beads that fit in one inch (2.54 cm). Accordingly, the size of the beads 5/0 means that five beads can be placed on one inch.
The most popular values range from 5 to 12, but in general there are 24 sizes (not counting even smaller ones, the production of which is rare because it is expensive due to the complexity and unpopularity of the product). Thanks to this generally accepted classification, it is possible to determine the size of the material at home, if the need arises. Moreover, often beads are sold in grams, which creates some problems, but it should be remembered: first of all, such a system of sizes is applicable specifically to Czech beads.
Beads of various sizes, up to the smallest “saber”, were known in Bohemia, and then in the Czech Republic since ancient times. The manufacturers of this country can rightfully be considered masters in the manufacture of a variety of batches of high quality. Despite the fact that their beads can be somewhat uneven, due to this it acquires liveliness and originality.
Incorrect size measurement
Sometimes the craftswomen try to determine the size of the beads by placing it horizontally - the hole is parallel to the plane. So you can determine the height of the beads, but not its size according to the generally accepted Bohemian system.
For example, Japanese and Czech beads of the same size may differ if measured in this way. Japanese beads are much more even and elongated, and in the Czech party there are beads of different lengths - some are completely “flattened”.
What to look for
It is worth noting that the same size of beads may vary for different manufacturers. The same applies to various technologies for creating beads - the actual diameter can vary greatly. Now this material is produced in several countries - the Czech Republic, Japan, China, Taiwan, partly - India and Russia. All types of beads differ, of course, in quality, since the most standardized are Japanese and Czech beads, and there may be problems with determining the size of the other species.