Welcome to
Dichroic Coated Beads
by Kawahara
  Welcome to Dichroic Coated Beads by Kawahara, The World’s Brightest Iridescent Cylinder Beads!
Are you disappointed with the barely-there oil-slick iridescence of Aurora Borealis (AB) beads? Now for the first time, you can have the iridescent beads of your dreams with the world’s first Dichroic-Coated Cylinder Beads! Dichroic-Coated Aiko beads are the brightest iridescent cylinder beads in the world! Dichrobeads by Kawahara is the first and only business in the world to coat popular size 11/0 TOHO Aiko beads with Dichro (TOHO Aikos are the same as MIYUKI Delicas and can be used interchangeably with them). Now you can let your dreams of fiery opals, iridescent butterfly wings and flashy peacock feathers come alive onto your beadwork! See for yourself how much brighter Dichroic Aikos are than AB-type beads!

Which one is which?
As you may expect, left one shows Dichroic-coated Aiko beads, and right one shows Aurora Borealis type beads.
Please note: These pictures were taken in the same light condition and identical setup! Please click on pictures, to see enlargements, details, etc.
Spectral scans show that Dichro is MORE than 250% BRIGHTER than AB-type coatings! Dichro is so much brighter than AB-type coatings because AB-type coatings (like Iris, Rainbow, Irid, and of course Aurora Borealis) are composed of just one metal oxide layer, whereas Dichro is composed of more than ten metal oxide AND quartz crystal layers!
The Dichroic layers are also applied using vacuum deposition technology which is much more precise than the sprayed-on AB-type coatings. The Dichroic Coating is the highest quality iridescent coating in the world! It was originally developed by NASA and requires extremely advanced technology to produce. Dichrobeads by Kawahara works in partnership with the world’s premier Dichroic Coating Company, Coatings by Sandberg. Coatings by Sandberg is world-renown for the high quality and consistent color of their dichroic coatings. They have invested more than five million dollars in building the high-tech vacuum plasma-spray chambers required for dichroic coatings, and actually employ technicians from NASA! Dichrobeads by Kawahara has invested over $20,000 and spent more than four years of research and development in building the special equipment needed to coat the teeny tiny Aiko beads.
We are the first and only business in the world to coat cylinder beads with Dichro!
 

“I received the beads, and they are stupendous! I don’t know how you do it, but they are even better than I was hoping for!”
- Judy Walker
Award Winning Bead Artist
Writer for Interweave Beadwork Magazine
Workshop teacher at the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee

“For those who love the mutable glow of dichroic beads, Jamie Kawahara has created a special new product- Aiko beads coated with dichroic colors. These… are perfect for adding highlights to beading projects. And for beaders who may previously have shied away from incorporating large, bold dichroic beads in their projects, these small wonders allow for magic in moderation.”
-Beadwork Magazine, April/May 2006 issue

“You don’t need many to add a distinctive touch of colour to your beadwork… a few Aikos can go a long way.”
– Beadworkers Guild Journal, United Kingdom, Jan 2006 issue (to see the full article click here - opens as PDF document on new page)

"I am thrilled with your Dichroic Aiko beads. After trying them I am hooked... These beads have opened up a whole new dimension for me. I was looking for a contrast and the dichroic coating has done this for me. I know the cost is high compared to other beads but well worth the results."
-Louise Hill, Louise Hill Designs
www.louisehilldesigns.com

We are so sure that you will like our Dichroic-Coated Aikos, that we offer you a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
If you are not satisfied with your purchase, simply return it at any time and you will receive a full refund of your purchase price. There is no fine print!