Will the color of the beads fade?
I get asked this question a lot. A lot of times people want to make beaded jewelry that you can swim or bathe in so you don't have to take it off. Also, many people buy beads from amazon or the hobby shop that are painted and the color peels off almost immediately during use. Well, that won't happen with Miyuki seed beads.
First, Miyuki seed beads are one of the most uniform seed bead on the market. And if you're attempting to weave beads together (e.g., peyote stitch or brick stitch), having beads that are uniform in both size and shape is critical. Not only will it be easier, but it will look much better too!
But what about durability? Miyuki seed beads are also one of the most durable in terms of color and finish, but not all are immune to fading and other unfavorable scenarios.
For good measure, I always recommend keeping your beads as dry as possible, limiting exposure to chemicals in bath and body products (e.g., soap, lotion, and perfume), and storing your beads away from direct sunlight when not in use. This will help protect the color and finish of your beads.
However, some colors will never fade in the sun or even if they get wet. It really comes down to if the beads are dyed or not. Dyed beads are at higher risk of fading. In addition to color, there's also the finish to consider. Some finishes are more durable than others. Keep reading to learn about the different types of finishes and the durability of each.
It's important to note that while the color may be permanent on some beads, which means you can swim with them or bathe with them, the metal findings or stringing material used may not hold up in water or when exposed to chemicals or sunlight. Therefore, it's important to consider all materials before determining whether the jewelry you create is waterproof or not.
Finishes and Coatings
When it comes to the appearance of the beads, there are few things to consider. First, what type of glass is used. The choices are opaque, transparent, and translucent, also known as alabaster.
While some beads have no finish, others have coatings that add shine, sparkle, and extra durability. You can view the different types of glass and most common finishes below.
Something important to note is that the bead finish descriptions vary among retailers. If you want to know the finish that Miyuki has assigned to a bead, use their Bead Directory and search by bead number. The full bead number (including any letters if present) accounts for the color, type of glass, and finish.
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Opaque
These beads have a solid color that doesn't allow light to pass through. They offer a bold, vibrant look.
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Transparent
These beads allow light to pass through, revealing the color of the glass itself. They offer a clean, classic look.
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Translucent/Alabaster
Light passes through the glass, but it is diffused, which creates a milky or opal-like appearance.
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Dyed/Stained
Beads that have been dyed or stained to achieve a specific color. Dyed beads can either be transparent or opaque.
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Color Lined
Transparent or translucent beads with a color dyed inside the hole. This creates a subtle halo effect and can add depth and texture to your designs.
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Matte/Frosted
Beads with a slightly frosted or textured surface, reducing the shine and creating a softer look. Matte beads can either be transparent or opaque.
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Luster
This coating adds a pearly sheen to the bead, giving it a subtle shimmer. A luster finish can be applied to all types of glass. When applied to translucent glass, the beads are referred to as ceylon.
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Metallic
Coatings that mimic the look of metals like gold, silver, copper, and bronze. These can add a touch of elegance and sophistication to designs. Both shiny and matte metallic beads are available.
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Galvanized
Galvanized beads are silver plated and dyed to produce metal-looking beads in a variety of colors. They come in both shiny and matte.
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AB (Aurora Borealis)/Rainbow
This iridescent coating creates a rainbow effect. The AB coating can be added to both transparent and opaque beads. And the beads may either be matte or shiny.
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Picasso
A speckled or mottled finish that resembles the work of the artist Picasso. Adds a unique, textured look.
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Iris
Similar to AB, but often applied to metallic beads, which gives a more pronounced rainbow effect.
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Silver Lined
Transparent or translucent beads with a silver lining inside the hole, similar to color-lined but with a silver metallic flash. Silver-lined beads come in both shiny and matte.
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Ceylon
Ceylon does not refer to a finish, but rather the type of glass. Ceylon beads are made with translucent opal-like glass and have a clear luster and/or rainbow (AB) coating, which makes them appear midway between a transparent bead and an opaque bead.
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Duracoat
This is a coating offered by Miyuki, designed to resist fading and scratching, especially important for frequently worn jewelry. It's generally applied to dyed and galvanized beads.
Miyuki Bead Durability
Collapsible content
๐ Transparent (non-dyed)
Transparent beads are made from raw colored glass. Therefore, the color will not fade or rub off. So if you're looking for a waterproof option, non-dyed transparent beads are one of the best options.
Transparent non-dyed beads come with a polished surface as well as frosted/matte or semi-frosted. This does not affect the durability of the color.
However, please note there are also transparent "dyed" beads and they are at risk of fading overtime with unfavorable conditions. Therefore, it's important to know whether the transparent beads are dyed or not. Some shops specify this, but not all.
๐ Opaque (non-dyed)
Opaque beads are made with colored glass. Therefore, the color will not fade or rub off. So if you're looking for a waterproof option, non-dyed opaque beads are one of the best options.
Opaque non-dyed beads come with a polished surface as well as frosted/matte or semi-frosted. This does not affect the durability of the color.
However, please note there are also opaque "dyed" beads and they are at risk of fading overtime with unfavorable conditions. Therefore, it's important to know whether the opaque beads are dyed or not. Some shops specify this, but not all.
๐ Frosted/Matte (non-dyed)
Frosted and semi-frosted beads have a matte or semi-matte surface.
If the frosted beads are not dyed, then the color is permanent. If the frosted beads are dyed, then the color is susceptible to fading. Therefore, it's important to know whether the color is dyed or not.
๐ Frosted Glazed Rainbow
Frosted glazed rainbow beads have a matte rainbow (AB) finish. The coating of these beads is highly durable and generally applied to non-dyed beads.
๐ Luster
Luster finish beads have a coating applied that enhances the color of the beads and adds extra shine. The luster finish is highly durable and generally applied to non-dyed beads with a few exceptions.
๐ Rainbow (AB)
Rainbow (a.k.a. AB) finish beads have a coating applied that appears like aurora borealis depending on the angle. The coating itself is highly durable.
However, the durability of the bead color may be at risk. Typically, the AB finish is applied to non-dyed beads. But it is also applied to silver-lined beads and color-lined beads. Therefore, the silver or color linings may be at risk of discoloring or fading, but it has nothing to do with the AB finish.
Overall, rainbow finish beads made with non-dyed transparent and non-dyed opaque beads are highly durable.
๐ Metallic
The metal-like coating on some metallic beads may be susceptible to rubbing off with strong friction or contact with acids in the skin. However, some metallic beads are quite durable, especially those with an iris finish.
๐ Iris
An iris coating is similar to rainbow/AB, but it's often applied to metallic beads, which creates a more pronounced rainbow effect. It is a durable finish.
๐ Plated
Plated beads have a very thin layer of real metal applied. The metals include silver, 24K gold, palladium, or nickel. Overall, plated beads are durable. However, the plating is susceptible to rubbing off due to strong friction or reactions with acids on the skin. The silver may also tarnish like real silver does.
Copper plated beads are also available, which are less durable than the metals mentioned above.
๐ Picasso
Picasso finish beads have a "marble-and-mottled" pattern coating. The overall color is generally safe from fading because the beads are not dyed, but the pattern is susceptible to rubbing off due to strong friction or acids in the skin.
๐ Duracoat
Duracoat beads have an extra clear coating applied to increase the durability of either dyed or galvanized beads. While it does improve the durability, it does not prevent it completely. Proper care is still essential.
๐งก Silver Lined
Silver-lined beads are transparent beads with a silver plating inside the hole.
The silver lining is susceptible to discoloration overtime, just like real silver oxidizes. Therefore, proper care is essential.
In regard to the color of the transparent beads, the color is only susceptible to fading if the beads are dyed. If they are made with colored glass, the color will not fade.
Miyuki makes non-dyed silver lined beads as well as dyed silver lined beads. A large subset of the dyed silver lined beads have a Duracoat finish to enhance color durability.
๐งก Gold Luster
Gold luster is a glazed coating that is less durable than other coatings.
Miyuki states that some colors may fade due to ultraviolet rays, and the finish may rub off from strong friction. However, if the beads have an AB coating on top of the gold luster coating, it enhances the durability.
๐งก Color Lined
Color lined beads are transparent beads with a dyed color inside the hole. The dyed insides are susceptible to fading from both the sun as well as chemical in bath and body products. Proper care is essential.
๐งก Ceylon Color Lined
Ceylon color lined beads are made with translucent opal-like glass and have a clear luster or rainbow (AB) coating. The coatings are durable. However, the inside of the holes are dyed and susceptible to fading from both the sun as well as chemical in bath and body products. Proper care is essential.
๐งก Dyed Beads
Dyed beads come in both transparent and opaque. Dyed beads are the most susceptible to color fading from the sun as well as detergents and bath and body products. Proper care is essential.
Duracoat is a finish that enhances the durability of dyed beads, but it does not provide absolute protection. Proper care is still essential.
๐งก Galvanized
Galvanized beads have a non-metal plating applied to give the beads a metallic look. According to Miyuki, the color of the plating is susceptible to discoloration. The plating may also rub off with strong friction or due to exposure to bath and body products (e.g., lotion and perfume). Proper care is essential.
Duracoat improves the durability of galvanized beads, but it does not completely prevent the issues above. Proper care is still essential.