A fused glass process using layers of glass with precious metals & oxides including gold,silver,copper,chromium,titanium,aluminum. The word "dichroic" means "two colors" due to the mercurial nature of the metals in glasss. The artist cannot reproduce two pieces alike. Incredible flash puts them into the gem family.

 It is a glass process that has become a respected "gem" in the jewelry community as the process is tricky, the material used to coat the glass is expensive, and a fully equipped lab is needed to make it. Not to mention that it rivals the beauty of natural gems! It is created in the famed Seattle glass factories (anyone who goes to Seattle would be remiss if they didn't visit at least one of these).

Dichroic glass is a very high tech glass that has properties similar to those of camera lenses. Originally, it was a product made for space exploration. Multiple layers of metallic oxides (Which can include gold,silver,copper,aluminum,titanium,chromium) are applied to a basse glass (usually black, clear or white glass) to coat the surface to the thickness of approximately 1/40th of a sheet of paper. The oxides are bonded to the glass using an electron bombarder inside a vacuum chamber under strict laboratory conditions. Once the coating has adhered to the glass, it is fired in a kiln to make it permanent. The angle of the glass within the vacuum chamber determines the color. Inactuality, there is no color produced. What you are seeing is pure light manipulation at it's finest. The result of this process is a glass that transmits one color and reflects another with incredible life and brilliance. In 1976, some aerospace workers recognized the art potential in this glass and introduced it to the glass community..at a whopping $25.00 per square inch! Today, it's a little better, with the sheets costing approximately $300.00 per square foot.

A glass artist will cut a piece of the dichroic glass, layer it with other compatible glass if they wish, and kiln it. They may add other colors and kiln several times until they get the color combination they wanta, then cover it with "fritz"(glass bits that are clear)and kiln it one more time for a smooth finish. It is then either wire wrapped or set in silver or gold as jewelry. no two pieces are EVER alike.

Expect to be stopped wherever you go to explain what is that you're wearing!