The Featured Bead this time is actually a whole series of beads — one that you probably need to know about!
Coming soon: new #5328 Xilion cut bicone beads from CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements! You may ask, “Dave, why exactly is this important?” The reason is that this bead is replacing one of the most popular beads in the world, the #5301 faceted bicone.
The #5301s from CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements are being phased out by Swarovski, and replaced with Xilion cut #5328 bicones. Swarovski plans to start shipping #5328s in June, and have a full transition before the end of the year. This new cut is unique to Swarovski (preventing unauthorized imitations), and provides a new, higher degree of brilliant shine. Here is one more view, in “line art” provided by the manufacturer:
So if you’re a fan of #5301s, now is the time to stock up. They’ll be collector’s items soon! The most popular colors and sizes of #5301 bicone beads are available at low factory-pack prices when you buy in large quantities. For information on coatings and finishes, see our free online glossary of crystal coatings & effects.