Dichroic Glass has come a long way since the 1950s and 1960s when NASA first started using it for their satellite mirrors, and an even longer time since the Egyptians and Mesopotamians were using regular glass for jewelry and other items such as decorative tiles and bowls in 4500 BC and 3000 BC. The process of Dichroic Glass jewelry can be incredibly confusing and very scientific, but to actually see these pieces in hand makes it all worth while. This kind of glass contains multiple layers of different oxides; silver, titanium, chromium, aluminum, zirconium, magnesium, and silicon. This is done through a vacuum process. When its fired the heat changes the coloring of the glass.

The word Dichroic actually comes from two Greek root words, Di meaning two and Chroma meaning color. So Dichroic literally means "two colored" of course now a days this translation isn't exactly true since these handcrafted pieces are all unique in color, ranging from one or two colors on up to dozens and dozens of colors. Its really amazing when you take a look at some of these pieces of infused glass, some of the colors are just incredible. And some of the designs on the glass actually looks like it was drawn or painted on. Its not however, that's just the type of designs that come to pass when heating up the glass.

These pieces of glass can be made into almost anything including rings, necklaces, pendants, earrings and a lot more, and that's just the jewelry side of things. I just recently learned that this glass can also be fused into other things besides jewelry, you can also buy wall decor, photo frame holders and wall hangings.

This is a really interesting thing to check up on the next time your looking for a really unique gift to get someone, for any occasion. This sort of work takes a certain sort of person. Obviously not just anyone can do this and actually turn out some beautiful pieces of work as the ones Ive seen unless they have some experience with it. This is why I think these pieces would be a nice gift for anyone in your life, because not only is it a nice gift, but also because of the passion and love it takes to make something as beautiful and unique as this.

This would probably be a pretty cool process to watch, if someone actually got the chance to see how this stuff is made in person or even got to try it out on their own. It seems like its sort of the same type of process as glass blowing, which is another one of those "arts" that is just absolutely fantastic. If you really are interested in seeing how this is made, I did find a few videos on YouTube, Myspace and some other places. Its not the same as seeing it up close and personal, but if your really curious you'll go and have a look! I have yet to find any places that sell this jewelry in my home town, but I did happen to find a store a few months back in a town a few hours from mine, that sold only this sort of art. So who knows maybe you have someone in your location that knows how to do this kind of stuff!