Technique
Atelier Alexandra specialises in lamp-working—a millennia-old technique where rods of coloured glass are melted in a flame and wound around a steel mandrel to form beads. Below is a concise overview of the tools we use and the key steps each bead passes through before it reaches a piece of jewellery.
NB: this technique requires concentration, good coordination of both hands, as well as good eye-hand coordination.
Choosing the colors of your glass beads
The first step is to select the colored glass rods that will bring your creations to life.
Melting the glass around a metal support
The tip of the glass rod is slowly introduced into the flame until it glows; the molten glass is then wound onto the rotating mandrel to create an even gather.
Decorating beads using various tools and techniques
Fine stringers (thin pulled glass), dots, silver leaf or frit are applied to create patterns—from simple polka dots to complex floral murrine.
Annealing beads in a special kiln to remove glass tension and strengthen them (8 hours)
Finished beads are placed into a digitally controlled kiln and slowly cooled to remove internal stress, ensuring durability and longevity.
Cleaning the glass beads
Once cooled, the beads are removed from the mandrel and carefully cleaned to remove the release agent. Each bead is then inspected, quality-checked, and paired with silver or gold findings—ready to become a unique piece of jewelry.
The result
The complete process can take several hours to create unique and personalized beads.
