Fire Polished Czech Crystal Colors (With Birthstones)
Fire polishing is a less costly way to finish the beads using heat, not individual machine cuts. The beads are pressed and then tumbled in a heated container to polish the facets. This process results in a perfectly beautiful bead, but the edges aren't as "sharp" nor are the facets as exactly sized. If you look very closely you can tell the difference between a machine-cut and a fire-polish bead, although from a distance it is nearly impossible. Swarovski crystals are more expensive and machine cut.