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Inspired by the Vivid turquoise Ocean, entwined with swirling sandy atolls and coral cays of the Great Barrier Reef, the myriad of colourful fish darting amongst the corals and the rich pink, purple, ochre and gold hues of sunrise & sunset over the Coral Sea, Reef Fire Gallery will invoke a sense of wonder in the formation of each individual piece of artisan Jewellery.

Dichroic glass and fused art glass are kiln fired using a skilful combination of glass & heat. Each piece of jewellery in this collection is individually designed & handcrafted in our Island based studio on Brisbane’s glorious Morten Bay. Dichroic glass with its iridescent qualities and the unique formation of sea glass are featured to create a statement piece that is as individual as the wearer themselves.

What is dichroic glass?

Dichroic glass is glass containing multiple micro-layers of metal oxides which give the glass dichroic optical properties. The invention of dichroic glass is often erroneously attributed to NASA and its contractors, who developed it for use in dichroic filters. Dichroic glass dates back to at least the 4th century AD as seen in the Lycurgus cup.

NASA developed dichroic glass for use in satellite mirrors. It has a reflective and transmitted colour, so, as you look at it, the colours seem to change. This is why it is so difficult to truly captue its full beauty with a single photograph. The effect is stunning & dichroic glass jewellery is possibly the most fused glass you will ever see - so full of light & colour.

Manufacture

Multiple ultra-thin layers of different metals (gold, silver), metal oxides (titanium, chromium, aluminium, zirconium, magnesium) and silica are vaporised by an electron beam in a vacuum chamber. The vapour then condenses on the surface of the glass in the form of a crystal structure. This is sometimes followed by a protective layer of quartz crystal. The finished glass can have as many as 30 to 50 layers of these materials yet the thickness of the total coating is approximately 30 to 35 millionths of an inch (about 760 to 890 nm). The coating that is created is very similar to a gemstone and, by careful control of thickness, different colours are obtained.

Many layers of glass are fired at very high temperatures, some are fired a number of times to achieve the amazing results you see. They are absolutely stunning & sure to be noticed when you wear them!

Uses

Dichroic glass is now available to artists through dichroic coating manufacturers. Glass artists often refer to dichroic glass as "dichro". The main characteristic of dichroic glass is that it has a transmitted colour and a completely different reflected colour, as certain wavelengths of light either pass through or are reflected. This causes an array of colour to be displayed. The colors shift depending on the angle of view.

What is Sea Glass?

Definitions of Sea glass:

Sea glass (also known as beach glass, mermaid's tears, lucky tears, and many other names) is glass found on beaches along oceans or large lakes that has been tumbled and smoothed by the water and sand, creating small pieces of smooth, frosted glass.