Glass beads vs crystal beads:
A Bead Lover’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Beads
Confused about glass beads vs crystal beads?
Learn the key differences between these popular jewelry-making materials and discover which one is right for your next project.
The glass beads vs crystal beads comparison is something we encounter very often, for a very good reason. When you create any piece of jewelry, you want it to stand the test of time and also provide an exciting look. Both crystal and glass beads are perfect for that. However, they come with their share of pros and cons. It brings up the question: which is the better option when you need beads for your jewelry project? Here’s which one you should choose!
Why should you choose glass beads?
Glass beads tend to be the cheapest option available, so if you want to create beautiful jewelry on a budget, you can’t go wrong with them. These glass beads are made from recycled glass. You can find them in all kinds of shapes, colors, and sizes. Most of the time, they are suitable for necklaces and bracelets, but also various types of jewelry and even home décor or clothing.
While they don’t have great value, they can enhance the look of any jewelry piece. In a lot of cases, glass beads can be strung together to deliver a very beautiful style and look. Plus, the best part is you have many of them readily available on the market.
Glass beads pros
- If you want to get started with jewelry-making, glass beads are usually the least expensive option on the market.
- Glass beads also last for a long time, and that’s why a lot of people opt for them when compared to other solutions.
- There are multiple styles, from pressed glass to lampwork or even seed beads.
Glass beads cons
- When you want to exude luxury with your jewelry, glass beads aren’t a great addition. That’s because they are not a premium material.
- Glass beads lack the brilliance of crystal beads, which could hamper the look of your jewelry.
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Why should you choose crystal beads?
If you’re looking for a material that’s beautiful and easy to work with, yet a tad more expensive, then crystal beads are the right option. Crystals are made from minerals. These are heated and then cooled, a process that makes the crystals look great and very sparkly. Whenever you compare glass beads to crystal beads, you will notice crystals look stunning and provide a very high brilliance level.
On the other hand, crystal beads come in various shapes or sizes. That’s because it’s hard to find identical crystals. Many of them will be different from one another. Such a feature, combined with the inherent sparkle and style, is what sets crystal beads apart.
Crystal beads pros
- Crystal beads look stunning; they maintain a very good sparkle, and many people use them to create statement or formal jewelry pieces.
- Another great benefit of crystal beads is that they are meant to last for a very long time. Even if they end up getting dropped, they suffer very little to no damage.
- You can find a multitude of finishes, shapes, and sizes for crystal beads. When you compare glass beads vs crystal beads, you’ll notice crystal is more versatile, and that can be a game changer.
Crystal beads cons
- Due to the manufacturing process and crystal nature, these beads are usually a more expensive option.
- Crystal beads have a very high brilliance level. That means handling them can be difficult, which can lead to a more challenging manufacturing process.

Which is the better option?
When you compare glass beads vs crystal beads, it always comes down to what you are looking for. If you have a smaller budget and want to make colorful, casual jewelry, glass beads are usually a very good choice. However, if what you want is to showcase luxury and create sparkling jewelry pieces, crystal beads are the best option. Thankfully, both materials last for a long time, so it’s always up to the nature of your project and budget!
Photo by Ali Yasar isgoren and Photo by Jason D on Unsplash