How old are my uranium glass beads?
Glass beads can be difficult to date because so many of them were and still are made. Beaded jewelry pieces can sometimes be dated by their findings. More on that here
(How to date FAQ)
If a strand of beads or loose beads are marked “Czechoslovakia,” then they are vintage. Czechoslovakia became Czech Republic in 1993, well past the date that would be considered “vintage.”
If beads have marked dirt and grime on them, that is a good clue that they are old. Not just from age and being worn, but also because the Czechs buried their glass underground to keep it out of the hands of the Nazis, and it's being unearthed all the time.
If you are buying loose beads, most sellers that designate them as vintage, myself included, know how old they are because of the source, the boxes they come in, and because they have a Czechoslovakia tag. If you find loose beads on Etsy and eBay designated as vintage, then you can usually buy them in good faith that they are in fact vintage.
1920s custard uranium glass cabochons that came in the original brown wrapping from the factory marked “Made in Czechoslovakia”
The same cannot be said for beaded jewelry strands. Many sellers misidentify beaded jewelry as vintage when they are newly made. Having some knowledge on how to date jewelry can be helpful. See this FAQ for more on dating jewelry -
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I am always happy to try to date beads for you, or have a look at a listing for something you are thinking of buying. Just send me an email info@storyshapedstudios.com