How Murano Glass Jewelry is Made

Our Designer Collection, which features Murano Glass designs by Amercian
Designer Alan K, have been very popular pieces. So, we thought we would share
with you some of the details about how this gorgeous jewelry is made.

First off, authentic murano glass (which is all Alan K uses) comes directly from the Island of Murano, Italy. You no longer need to travel all the way to Italy to buy a beautiful piece of murano glass jewelry. You’ll find several pieces right here in our 2011 collection.

The process begins with the use of slender rods of multicoloured glass. A long pole is used to dip into pots of molten glass of various colours. With each dip of the pole, more and more glass is added, increasing the mass which is composed of layers and layers of coloured glass. This layering effect creates an intricate design, and is heated in a furnace so the layers of coloured glass fuse together. Next, the rod is re-heated and pulled until it becomes very thin, yet it maintains the perfect cross section of the original design. The result is a repetitive pattern called “millefiori” or “thousand flowers”. This name comes from the variety of floral and geometric shape patterns that are present within the glass rod.
Next, the rods are then allowed to cool. Once fully cooled they are cut into small slices. Each slice taken from the rod is called murrine. These tiny sections of unique glass “millefiori” are cut and shaped to fit perfectly into the desired shape. In our collection, shapes include hearts, crosses, ovals, circles, rectangles etc. Once the shape is established, the new shape or form must be reheated again. This will fuse the canes together one last time. After cooling, the rough shaped glass is then ground and polished smooth. The final set in the jewelry making process is to place this magnificent piece of polished glass into its final setting.

Each and every piece of Murano Glass is created by hand from beginning to end so each is its own unique piece of art.

We chose to offer the Murano Glass Designs of Alan K specifically because of his unbelievable attention to detail. The Sterling Silver pieces that he designs are a stunning backdrop to his Murano Glass creations. So, if you want something truly unique and wonderful, check out our Designer Collection, found on our website.

Each piece of Alan K Murano Glass Jewelry we ship comes with its own little Murano booklet that includes photos of the jewelry making process. If you’re looking for something special for you, or to give as a gift, consider something from this special collection. Pieces start from only $39.00 and can be found in our online catalogue under the Designer Collection. You will not be disappointed in the beauty or quality of these Designer Alan K Murano Glass pieces!

Hope you found this information interesting.
Your Visible Treasures Team