Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I have to register online?
• Is it safe to shop online?
• Do you ever sell less than perfect beads?
• Is each item "one-of-a-kind"? Or can I reorder the same item?
• If I am unhappy with the beads, can I return them?
• Do you offer wholesale discounts?
• Do you have quantity discounts for retail customers?
• Can I buy your beads at local bead stores?
• What size are your beads?
• How to find the item number from receipt I already have?

About Our Lampwork Beads:

• What is lampwork?
• What kind of glass do you use?
• What is annealing?
• What is difference between imported lampwork beads and Grace Lampwork beads?
• How long does it take to make a bead?

About Online Shopping:

Do I have to register online?

You may browse our website without registration. To purchase from our Online Store, registration is also NOT required. However, Coupon Codes can only be applied after you login. Therefore, before placing your first order, please create a login profile to register with Grace Lampwork Beads.

Is it safe to shop online?

Yes. After you login, 128bit SSL encryption is turned on a safe tunnel between your PC to web server. Everything you enter from your PC will be encrypted and sent directly to web server.

Do you ever sell less than perfect beads?

No. We only sell our best quality beads to customers. We hold a very high standard on quality control.

Is each item "one-of-a-kind"? Or can I reorder the same item?

Our products are not one-of-a-kind. You can reorder the same product again. Since the beads are handmade individually, however, the pattern and size may be a slightly different.

If I am unhappy with the beads, can I return them?

Yes. You may return or exchange beads within 10 days from when you receive the package. Please see our Returns & Exchanges page for more details.

Do you offer wholesale discounts?

Yes. 25% off $100+ orders, 35% for $500+ orders and 50% off for $1,500+ orders. Wholesale customers need to fax or email a COPY of your Reseller Permit or Tax ID to (fax) 866-504-7023 or (email) info[a]gracebeads.com (change [a] to @). See our Wholesale Info page for more details. You can use coupon code ONLY after you login.

Do you have quantity discounts for retail customers?

Yes. $100+ orders, you may receive 10% off. The coupon code for this discount is MT10. You must apply coupon code in Shopping Cart, otherwise discount will not be given. Coupon Codes can ONLY be used AFTER you login.

Can I buy your beads at local bead stores?

Yes. Please check out our Bead Store or Schedule pages for more details.

What size are your beads and hole size?

Our Rondelle beads come in sizes, 9x13mm and 16x10mm. Lentil beads are 15mm in diameter and Pillow beads are 13mmx13mm. The hole size on most beads is 2.5mm. For more information, please check our Resource page .

How to find the item number from receipt I already have?

If you have previously purchased from us online or at a bead show and would like to buy that same item again, it may be helpful to know that the receipt and the tag include the item number.

Here is sample format of the receipt or tag: 156-111 012 01

111 012 01 is the item number.

156 is the SKU number. It may be 3 or 4 digits. If you have a receipt printed from the computer, you don't need this number. However, if you have 3 or 4 digits on your handwritten receipt from a show, contact us to identify the product item number you need.

To search online for the product item number, there are no spaces between each digit. Simply use 11101201 as keyword to search. Or since the last two digits (in this case 01) correspond to the shape of the bead, you may enter the item number without the last two digits to list all shapes of the matching beads. For example, search 111012 and press enter. You will not only get the shape of 01 (rondelle), you may get 11101202 or 11101204, which are the lentil and pillow shaped strands, respectively. Any matching focal beads will also be included in the list.

Bead sets have tags with their item numbers. Focal and heart single beads do not have tags attached, therefore you can check our Resource page for the item number naming policy.

About Our Lampwork Beads:

What is lampworking?

The term of lampworking started about a thousand years ago. Artists used an oil lamp to melt a glass rod and wind the melted glass on a mandrel (i.e. steel stringer) to make beads. Although the art form has been practiced since ancient times, it became widely practiced in Murano, Italy in the 14th century. Lampworking is also known as flameworking or torchworking. Most artists today use torches that burn either propane or natural gas with pure oxygen.

What kind of glass do you use?

The best quality glass comes from Italy, same as Murano beads. Some special colors come from Germany. We also add lots of silver to customize our own colors.

What is annealing?

Annealing is the process of slowly cooling glass to relieve internal stresses after it was formed. The process may be carried out in a temperature-controlled kiln. Annealing glass is critical to the durability of glass. If glass is not annealed, it will retain many of the thermal stresses caused by quenching and significantly decrease the overall strength of the glass. All beads made by Grace Lampwork Beads are annealed.

What is difference between imported lampwork beads and Grace Lampwork Beads?

The difference between imports and artisan beads is quality. Inexpensive import beads are made of cheap glass. The raw material costs one-thirtieth to one-twentieth of Italian and German glass (ratio is 1:30). Due to the massive production, it lacks quality control for each bead. There is no annealing process applied, which means those beads crack easily. You get what you pay for. If you want to make fine lasting jewelry, artisan beads are a better choice.

How long does it take to make a bead?

For the rondelle, lentil and pillow shaped bead set, it takes about 5-10 minutes to make ONE bead, depending on the design. This time does not include the time spent on annealing, cleaning and other processes. The faster you go, the less quality control you have. So, it's a balance. We don't want to lose the detail and quality by pursuing quantity.