Trollbeads information that can inspire your creativity with your own Trollbeads collection. Share your thoughts, be involved and please leave comments!

...but were afraid to ask!

Part 1. It's All in a Name

The Unique glass beads by Trollbeads are undeniably the one category of Trollbeads that is open for all kinds of interpretation depending upon your own experience with and knowledge of these incredible beads. To begin this discussion let’s start at what to call  these beads as this is one area that confuses many collectors. I remember a couple of years ago having a debate with our Trollbeads Gallery Forum members on what the best name is and it was really quite arbitrary with the name being different on different websites and in different countries. 

Lund (our past U.S. Distributor) referred to them as “Assorted Beads” but that name was too vague for me and we were permitted to call them anything that fit but not "OOAK".  Many dealers in the U.S. chose to call them "limited edition" beads but for me this didn’t work either.  Owning an art gallery my idea of a limited edition is something that has a finite end and I’m sure no one has been counting the beads as they were being made. Another problem with calling them limited edition is that Trollbeads had actual limited editions such as Brilliant Hearts and later Crazy Lace Agate, for two examples. Calling them "Limited Edition" would surely confuse the collector because these releases had nothing to do with Unique beads.

In Europe the dealers were selling these beads as “OOAK” beads  (which is  an acronym for "one of a kind") but as I mentioned Lund did not allow us to use the term due to legal ramifications. They believed the term to be misleading, where most all of these beads were not one of a kind.  This difference in the terminology may not seem like a big deal yet it was for the U.S. dealers.  At this point in time collectors the world over would run computer searchs for the term “OOAK” Trollbeads and where we could not use the term, it cut us out of a lot of internet searches. This was a big drawback for the U.S. dealers but I also understood the issue involved. The discussion I mentioned on our Trollbeads Gallery Forum brought up interesting points but I remember one of my Forum members telling me that “Unique” literally meant one of a kind and she was right of course but my use of the word was more about something being different from the norm. Since we had been using the name on Trollbeads Gallery since the early days, people had come to know the Unique beads on Trollbeads Gallery were in fact the same as the OOAK beads in Europe.

So call them what you want but on Trollbeads Gallery they will always be known as Unique!

In future blog articles I will be discussing the styles, values and origination of the Unique Trollbeads. Please contact me if you want anything specific or have anything to add!

The photograph above was taken of the Unique Trollbeads I was sent for Trollbeads Fest 2010.  I can't wait for the Unique beads to arrive for Trollbeads Fest 2011!

Amber Trollbeads are one of the most exciting of the natural or “from nature” beads in the Trollbeads line.  Amber is a very intriguing material because of its age and for its qualities.  Amber jewelry has been around for thousands of years but Trollbeads is the first and only modern day interchangeable bead line to use Amber for their beads.  Trollbeads has worked with amber and developed techniques to shape, drill and polish it until a bead is created.  Trollbeads has 4 amber beads in four tones, Alabaster, Honeydew, Maple Syrup and Caramel Sunset.

Trollbeads also offers unique amber beads available in sets as picture below.The unique amber Trollbeads are remarkable little sculptures!!

The excitement surrounding amber and the amber Trollbeads is all about ambers’ prehistoric age. The age of amber ranges between 30 to 50 million years old.  It started out as very thick and sticky sap that dropped from trees.  This sap was so sticky anything that came in contact with it would become stuck and as more sap ran, whatever was stuck became encased in the resin.  The value of amber is less based on its color and more on the inclusions and what they are.  I have seen whole bugs trapped, in perfect condition, within an amber Trollbead.   It is remarkable to hold something so ancient. Historians found that the Paleolithic era had amber gemstones (45000 - 12000 B.C.) and the nomadic hunters of the Mesolithic age (12000 - 4000 B.C.) used amber in their hunting.  The hunters carved phases of the moon, the animals and visually recorded the hunting season on amber.  During the Neolithic era (4000-1900 B.C.) amber jewelry became a symbol of wealth and the rich were using it as gifts.  Later in future B.C. centuries the Greeks and Romans used amber in decorative inlay work alongside gold and ivory creating art objects and vessels.

Through different mining operations around the world scientists have collected thousands of pieces and discovered there are over 1000 species of extinct insects in amber.  Imagine the knowledge scientists have gained from this incredible prehistoric material.  

As with all stones and gems there is a wealth of material on the healing powers of amber.  It is said that amber brings great relief to people with pain and medical problems with the neck, head and throat areas of the body.  Wearing a necklace of amber has supported this theory and there is evidence that amber helps the nasal passages.  In the thousands of years of amber’s history many cultures recognized the health benefits.  An amber bracelet has been and still is advised to people suffering from rheumatism and arthritis. Amber is also used to counteract fatigue. This is one of the reasons why wearing amber jewelry is recommended for anyone older than fifty.  Today in many health spas they use amber, which is ground to a dust form and added to cream when giving messages. Be it fact or folklore it is a popularly held notion that the use of amber jewelry ensures health and good luck. If you believe in the diverse healing benefits of amber than you’re on your way to a healthier life.   I don’t know about you but I have decided to wear my Trollbeads Amber bracelet every day.

Trolllbeads Gallery Unique Amber

Trollbeads Gallery Amber

 List of Amber Facts:

• Transparent
• Hardness is 2+
• Deep dark orange red to a light transparent
• It is very light (is said to float in salt water) With or without silver core, I can’t say!
• Age: 30 to 50 Miliion Years old. 
• Found all over the world but notable mines are in the Baltic region.