Glass Bugle Beads Bugle beads are really just long tubular shaped beads that can range in size from 1/8 inch to 1 1/4 inch. We have separated the glass bugles into their own category of jewelry supplies on our web site, as they do require the special care one should take with glass beads. Bugle beads come in various sizes and colors, as well as different materials. Japanese companies, Matsuno and Toho, makes our glass bugle beads. Bugle beads often are used in costumes for dance and theater, purses, and holiday decorations, as well as jewelry making. If used as a fabric embellishment, care should be taken to place them where flexibility is not required, as they can break rather easily. Bugles make an excellent addition to clothing on vests, collars, and cuffs. In some colors, these glass beads are coated to obtain the desired color, so cleaning may cause unexpected wear. Sometimes bugle bead sizes are described by a number system where the numbers apply as follows:
However, bugle beads also come in 20mm (3/4 inch), 25mm (15/16 inch), 30mm (1 3/16 inch), and 35mm (1 5/16 inch) sizes. |
