Our Story
Unicorne Beads began in 1967 as Unicorne Gifts, a small creative company in Chicago built around handcrafted gifts, collectibles, and artistic keepsakes. From the beginning, the heart of the business was simple: create pieces that felt personal, imaginative, and made with care. Over time, our love for glass artistry became the center of what we do. The same creative spirit that shaped Unicorne Gifts slowly evolved into a more focused collection of handmade glass beads for jewelry makers, artists, crafters, and collectors. What started as a small gift company grew into Unicorne Beads, a brand known for color, detail, and creative possibility.
Today, Unicorne Beads is based in sunny Southern California, where we continue to design and create beads that bring personality to handmade jewelry and craft projects. Our collection now includes lampwork glass beads, opal beads, dichroic beads, playful shapes, and DIY jewelry kits made to help makers turn simple ideas into meaningful designs.
Even as our style has grown over the years, our purpose has stayed the same. We believe handmade materials should feel special, approachable, and inspiring. Every bead we create is made with the hope that it becomes part of something personal, whether that is a pair of earrings, a bracelet, a necklace, a gift, or a design made just for fun.
Handmade with Care
Our glass beads are individually designed and made by skilled glass artists using the traditional lampworking process. Each bead begins with glass shaped in a torch flame, where color, form, and detail come together by hand. After the bead is made, it is carefully finished and kiln annealed for added strength and durability.
Because our beads are handmade, each piece has its own small variations in color, shape, and finish. These details are part of what makes lampwork glass so special. No two beads are exactly the same, giving every design a unique handmade character.
Many of our colors are custom mixed to create the rich, vibrant look Unicorne Beads is known for. From soft coastal shades and luminous opal tones to bright seasonal colors and bold dichroic finishes, our beads are made to stand out while still feeling easy to design with.
We are especially known for our playful shapes, detailed finishes, and wide variety of styles. Our collections include classic teardrop glass beads, halo disk beads, sea-themed beads, flower-inspired designs, opal beads, dichroic beads, and ready-to-create jewelry kits. Whether you are looking for a simple accent bead or a statement focal bead, our goal is to offer pieces that make designing feel fun and natural.
Made to Inspire Jewelry Makers Everywhere
At Unicorne Beads, we believe creativity should feel joyful, approachable, and personal. Our beads are made for makers of all kinds, from small business owners and jewelry designers to hobby crafters, gift makers, and longtime collectors. Some customers use our beads to create finished jewelry for their shops. Others use them for personal projects, handmade gifts, bead collections, or creative time at home. However you design, our hope is that our beads help spark new ideas and make the process more enjoyable.
We also create DIY jewelry kits for makers who want a simple way to start a project. These kits are designed to bring together beautiful materials and approachable designs, making it easier to create earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and other handmade pieces with confidence.
From our early days as Unicorne Gifts in Chicago to our current home in California, we are grateful to be part of a creative community that values handmade work. Thank you for being part of the Unicorne Beads story. We are honored to be a small part of what you create.
