5328 Bicone

I panicked a bit when I heard that Swarovski Elements was phasing out my favorite bead--the 5301 bicone--and introducing a new bicone--the 5328. I have a million 5301 bicones and was worried that the new ones would look too different than all the rest...that I'd be sitting here with a whole lot of stock that I'd never be able to move.

So I was incredibly relieved when Nicole Harper sent me some of the new 5328s to try out. I worked up my Pacifica Bracelet, a class I often teach that includes about 200 4mm bicones. Here's a snap:


What I found was that, especially at this small size, there is virtually no visual difference at all! Though the new bicones have many more facets and are a bit more sparkly, the difference in a 4mm is really hard to see. I've heard from my suppliers and other beaders that in the larger sizes (8mm and above) the 5328s are much more brilliant, so the difference there might be more noticeable, but many of us beaders have big supplies of 3mms and 4mms, and I'm happy to report that the sky has not fallen!

One fantastic bonus (thank you Nikia for reminding me!) is that the holes are much smoother, which is great for us beadweavers who have a love/hate thing with crystals because they can tend to abrade thread, causing it to break. You can definitely tell the difference with the 5328s--the holes are much nicer.

Have you tried out the new 5328s? What has been your experience? Do tell!