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Delicas are a particular bead manufactured by world renowned Miyuki, Japan's oldest seed bead producer. They are shaped like a cylinder with a big hole that allows several passes of thread through each bead and are available in a vast array of colors and finishes.

Size 11 is the most popular size of the Delica beads with 944 selections of colors, finishes and treatments in the round cylinders in addition to approximately 55 more in the hex cuts, which are hexagon shaped cylinders. The diverse variations are obtained by specific glass treatments. There is basic transparent glass, basic opaque glass, and etched glass for a matte or semi-matte effect. Then there are the various colored glasses.

Additionally there is a variety of finishes or treatments. "Treatment" means something that is done on the surface of the glass and can be on the top, at times within the hole and in some instances one finish on the top and a different finish in the hole. Treatments may be made up of a clear "rainbow" or "aurora borealis" finish, a "pearl" finish, colored dyes, and an array of metal coatings including precious metals. Some Delica beads have more than one treatment applied to them in order to produce the desired effect.

Note that there may be durability issues with a number of the finishes such as the dyed or galvanized beads. The best retailers should be able to supply you with the durability data.

Miyuki also manufactures a size 10 Delica that is slightly larger, a size 8 that is a lot bigger than the size 11, and a size 15 that is a lot smaller. The size 10 and 15 are relatively new and as a result don't come in as many colors and finishes as the size 11.

Miyuki's Delica beads are of very high quality and therefore they are more expensive. You should buy them from a reputable bead retailer that sells the genuine article. You should be aware that some suppliers have been known to purchase cheaper, lower quality beads from another manufacturer and pawn them off as Delicas. Also be very wary if you are tempted to buy at an on-line auction.

If you are purchasing your beads to finish a pattern that provides you with the Delica number, for example DB-010, you should have no problem due to the fact that every color has a number. However, if you are selecting your beads by description you could have a problem, because there is not a standard color description for each bead. The reason being that the Japanese description does not translate readily into English and the different importers each have their own interpretation. So it's always best to go by the DB- number.

Genuine Delica beads are a great choice in any Loom, Peyote or Brick project due to the fact that they are so uniform. They make any pattern line up perfectly and give a clean, crisp finish to your project. There are fewer culls when you are working and therefore they are more cost effective than their price might indicate. And the color and finish selection is fantastic!