Delica Durability

About the Durability of Delicas
A Caravan Beads Info Sheet
Data supplied by Miyuki Shoji Co., Ltd.
Last updated March 2006

Copyright note: This information is copyright 2006 by Caravan Beads, Inc. It may be freely printed, copied, and distributed electronically IN ITS ENTIRETY. Please--no quotes out of context. Any errors, typos, etc. are the fault of Caravan Beads, Inc. and should be brought to our attention--thanks!

Notes:
1) The information from Miyuki dealt with three possible ways in which the colors of Delicas may change. They are:

a) colors which might change and/or fade due to bright sun or deterioration with time;

b) colors rubbing off from friction or contact with skin acid;

c) colors which will alter or fade from dry-cleaning.

2) They emphasized that the treatment and use of certain beads ultimately determines how the colors will last. For example, those beads marked on the chart below as being subject to fading or color changing are, they state, not particularly likely to do so. However, in an "abnormal situation," fading is possible or even likely. So if you make an amulet purse using the beads which Miyuki indicates might fade, and it is displayed in a sunny store window, it probably will begin to fade sooner or later. Likewise you probably shouldn't make bracelets or necklaces with Delica colors which rub off.

Similarly, the beads marked as subject to drycleaning changes will generally be okay as long as the dry-cleaning solution is a weak one. But if it is too strong, the coatings on silver-lined and dyed beads will be lost.

Finally, colors which Miyuki says may rub off might last years in a woven hanging but be totally inappropriate for a bracelet.

3) Any Delicas not on the list below are tough and resistant to a,b, and c above.

4) Please note the following special cautions:

a) DB-21 is nickel-plated. If "used roughly" the plating may rub off.

b) DB-35 is galvanized on the surface of the bead. This finish is not very resistant to friction or skin acids.

c) DB-410 thru DB-432: These beads are dyed on the surface of DB-35 and subject to the same problems as DB-35.

Here is the key for the listings below:

A=color might fade or change

B=color might rub off

C=color might change or fade with dry-cleaning

Delica Durability 2006		A	B	C

DB-0001	Metallic Gunmetal
DB-0002	Metallic Dark Blue Iris
DB-0003	Metallic Forest Green Iris
DB-0004	Metallic Dark Plum Iris
DB-0005	Metallic Variegated Blue Iris
DB-0006	Gunmetal Iris
DB-0007	Metallic Brown Iris
DB-0010	Black
DB-0011	Metallic Olive		X
DB-0012	Metallic Dark Raspberry		X
DB-0021	Nickel Plated		X
DB-0022	Metallic Dark Bronze		X
DB-0022L	Metallic Light Bronze
DB-0023	Metallic Gold Iris
DB-0024	Metallic Olive Green Iris
DB-0025	Metallic Blue Iris
DB-0026	Metallic Steel Iris
DB-0027	Metallic Dark Green Iris
DB-0029	Metallic Purple Gold Iris
DB-0031	24kt Gold Plated		X
DB-0032	Rhodium Plated		X
DB-0033	24kt Gold Lined Crystal			X
DB-0034	24kt Gold Light Plated		X
DB-0035	Galv Silver	X	X	X
DB-0036 ?			X
DB-0037	Copper Lined Crystal	X	X	X
DB-0038	Palladium Plated		X
DB-0040	Copper Plated	X	X	X
DB-0041	Silver Lined Crystal	X	X	X
DB-0042	Silver Lined Gold	X	X	X
DB-0043	Silver Lined Flame Red	X	X	X
DB-0044	Silver Lined Aqua	X	X	X
DB-0045	Silver Lined Orange	X	X	X
DB-0046	Silver Lined Green	X	X	X
DB-0047	Silver Lined Cobalt	X	X	X
DB-0048	Silver Lined Gray	X	X	X
DB-0050	Crystal Luster
DB-0051	Crystal AB
DB-0052	Pale Peach Lined Crystal AB	X		X
DB-0053	Light Yellow Lined Crystal AB			X
DB-0054	Dk Peach Lined Crystal AB	X		X
DB-0055	Pink Lined Crystal AB	X		X
DB-0056	Raspberry Lined Crystal AB	X		X
DB-0057	Aqua Lined Crystal AB	X		X
DB-0058	Marine Blue Lined Crystal AB	X		X
DB-0059	Amethyst Lined Crystal AB	X		X
DB-0060	Lime Lined Crystal AB			X
DB-0061	Wine Lined Light Topaz Luster	X		X
DB-0062	Light Cranberry Lined Topaz Luster	X		X
DB-0063	Cobalt Lined Sapphire AB	X		X
DB-0064	Taupe Lined Crystal AB	X		X
DB-0065	Lined Topaz AB	X		X
DB-0066	White Lined Crystal AB			X
DB-0067	Light Peach Lined Crystal Luster			X
DB-0068	Peach Lined Crystal Luster			X
DB-0069	Blush Lined Crystal AB	X		X
DB-0070	Coral Lined Crystal Luster	X		X
DB-0071	Transp Pink AB	X		X
DB-0072	Orchid Lined Crystal Luster	X		X
DB-0073	Magenta Lined Crystal AB	X		X
DB-0074	Fuchsia Lined Crystal AB	X		X
DB-0075	Dark Coral Lined Crystal AB			X
DB-0076	Light Blue Lined Crystal AB			X
DB-0077	Blue Lined Crystal AB			X
DB-0078	Aqua Mist Lined Crystal Luster	X		X
DB-0079	Turquoise Green Lined Crystal AB			X
DB-0080	Pale Violet Lined Crystal Luster	X		X
DB-0081	Gray Lined Crystal AB			X
DB-0082	Transp Pale Pink AB	X		X
DB-0083	Transp Pale Aqua AB	X		X
DB-0084	Sea Foam Lined Crystal AB	X		X
DB-0085	Blue Lined Aqua AB	X		X
DB-0086	Noir Lined Crystal AB	X		X
DB-0087	Root Beer Lined Light Topaz AB
DB-0088	Berry Lined Light Topaz AB	X		X
DB-0089	Blue Lined Light Topaz AB	X		X
DB-0098	Transp Light Siam Luster
DB-0099	Transp Light Topaz Luster
DB-0100	Transp Light Topaz AB
DB-0101	Light Smoky Topaz Gold Luster		X
DB-0102	Peach Topaz Gold Luster	X	X	X
DB-0103	Dark Topaz Rainbow Gold Luster
DB-0104	Claret Rainbow Gold Luster
DB-0105	Garnet Gold Luster
DB-0106	Shell Pink Luster
DB-0107	Transp Gray Rainbow Gold Luster		X
DB-0108	Cinnamon Gold Luster	X	X	X
DB-0109	Crystal Ivory Gold Luster		X
DB-0110	Transp Light Marine Blue Gold Luster		X
DB-0111	Transp Blue Gray Rainbow Gold Luster	X	X
DB-0112	Transp Sea Foam Luster		X
DB-0113	Transp Blue Luster		X
DB-0114	Transp Silver Gray Gold Luster		X
DB-0115	Topaz Gold Luster	X	X	X
DB-0116	Wine Gold Luster		X
DB-0117	Violet Gold Luster		X
DB-0118	Transp Saffron Luster		X
DB-0119	Transp Honey Luster		X
DB-0121	Apricot Topaz Gold Luster	X	X	X
DB-0122	Root Beer Gold Luster
DB-0123	Transp Smoky Olive Luster	X	X	X
DB-0124	Transp Golden Olive Luster	X	X
DB-0125	Emerald Gold Luster
DB-0126	Cinnamon Rainbow Gold Luster
DB-0127	Forest Green Rainbow Gold Luster
DB-0128	Plum Gold Luster
DB-0129	Mulberry Rainbow Gold Luster
DB-0131	Opaque Dark Olive Luster
DB-0132	Opaque Blue Gray Luster
DB-0133	Opaque Golden Olive Luster
DB-0134	Opaque Purple Gray Rainbow Luster
DB-0135	Opaque Eggplant Luster
DB-0141	Crystal
DB-0144	Silver Lined Dark Topaz	X	X	X
DB-0145	Silver Lined Yellow	X	X	X
DB-0146	Silver Lined Smoky Amethyst	X	X	X
DB-0147	Silver Lined Chartreuse	X	X	X
DB-0148	Silver Lined Emerald	X	X	X
DB-0149	Silver Lined Capri Blue	X	X	X
DB-0150	Silver Lined Root Beer	X	X	X
DB-0151	Transp Orange AB
DB-0152	Transp Green AB
DB-0157	Opaque Cream AB
DB-0158	Opaque Mauve AB
DB-0159	Opaque Vermillion Red AB
DB-0160	Opaque Yellow AB
DB-0161	Opaque Orange AB
DB-0162	Opaque Red AB
DB-0163	Opaque Green AB
DB-0164	Opaque Turquoise Blue AB
DB-0165	Opaque Cobalt AB
DB-0166	Opaque Turquoise Green AB
DB-0167	Opaque Med Blue AB
DB-0168	Opaque Gray AB
DB-0169	Opaque Chartreuse AB
DB-0170	Transp Dark Topaz AB
DB-0171	Transp Yellow AB
DB-0172	Transp Red AB
DB-0173	Transp Smoky Amethyst AB
DB-0174	Transp Chartreuse AB
DB-0175	Transp Emerald AB
DB-0176	Transp Aqua AB
DB-0177	Transp Capri Blue AB
DB-0178	Transp Cobalt AB
DB-0179	Transp Gray AB
DB-0180	Transp Root Beer AB
DB-0181	Silver Lined Light Bronze	X	X	X
DB-0182	Silver Lined Jade Green	X	X	X
DB-0183	Silver Lined Royal Blue	X	X	X
DB-0184	Silver Lined Dark Bronze	X	X	X
DB-0191	Copper Lined Opal	X	X	X
DB-0200	Opaque White
DB-0201	White Pearl Ceylon
DB-0202	White Pearl AB
DB-0203	Cream Ceylon		X
DB-0204	Antique Beige Ceylon		X
DB-0205	Light Caramel Ceylon		X
DB-0206	Opaque Salmon
DB-0207	Opaque Tea Rose Luster
DB-0208	Opaque Tan Luster		X
DB-0209	Opaque Light Gray Luster
DB-0210	Opaque Antique Rose Luster		X
DB-0211	Opaque Limestone Luster		X
DB-0214	Opaque Red Luster
DB-0215	Opaque Turquoise Blue Luster
DB-0216	Opaque Cobalt Luster
DB-0217	Opaque Turquoise Green Luster		X
DB-0218	Opaque Med Turquoise Blue Luster		X
DB-0220	White Opal
DB-0221	Gilt Lined White Opal	X	X	X
DB-0230	24kt Gold Lined Opal - 5gr			X
DB-0231	Crystal Ceylon
DB-0232	Light Lemon Ice Ceylon			X
DB-0233	Light Daffodil Ceylon			X
DB-0234	Baby Pink Ceylon	X		X
DB-0235	Salmon Ceylon			X
DB-0236	Carnation Pink Ceylon			X
DB-0237	Mint Green Ceylon	X		X
DB-0238	Aqua Green Ceylon			X
DB-0239	Aqua Ceylon	X		X
DB-0240	Dark Sky Blue Ceylon	X		X
DB-0241	Pale Violet Ceylon	X		X
DB-0242	Silver Gray Ceylon	X		X
DB-0243	Blue Ceylon			X
DB-0244	Pink Ceylon	X		X
DB-0245	Cotton Candy Pink Ceylon	X		X
DB-0246	Dark Cotton Candy Pink Ceylon	X		X
DB-0247	Hot Pink Ceylon	X		X
DB-0248	Light Orchid Ceylon	X		X
DB-0249	Purple Ceylon	X		X
DB-0250	Amethyst Ceylon			X
DB-0251	Opaque Smoke Gray Luster		X
DB-0252	Opaque Gray Luster		X
DB-0253	Opaque Dark Orchid Luster		X
DB-0254	Bronze Luster	X	X	X
DB-0256	Light Cinnamon Ceylon			X
DB-0257	Sky Blue Ceylon	X		X
DB-0261	Opaque Linen Luster
DB-0262	Opaque Chartreuse Luster		X
DB-0263	Opaque Cactus Luster	X	X
DB-0264	Opaque Mallard Luster	X	X
DB-0265	Opaque Mauve Luster		X
DB-0266	Opaque Denim Luster		X
DB-0267	Opaque Smoke Luster	X	X
DB-0268	Opaque Blueberry Luster	X	X
DB-0271	Sparkling Silver Gray Lined Crystal			X
DB-0272	Goldenrod Lined Topaz AB	X		X
DB-0273	Forest Green Lined Topaz AB			X
DB-0274	Lined Pea Green Luster			X
DB-0275	Lined Emerald Luster	X		X
DB-0276	Lined Emerald AB	X		X
DB-0277	Transp Cobalt Luster	X		X
DB-0278	Lined Cobalt Luster			X
DB-0279	Cranberry Lined Emerald Luster	X		X
DB-0280	Cranberry Lined Crystal Luster			X
DB-0281	Fuchsia Lined Crystal Luster	X		X
DB-0282	Cranberry Lined Light Topaz Luster	X		X
DB-0283	Cranberry Lined Peridot Luster	X		X
DB-0284	Sparkling Amethyst Lined Light Blue			X
DB-0285	Blue Lined Aqua	X		X
DB-0286	Midnight Blue Lined Aqua AB	X		X
DB-0287	Cinnamon Lined Topaz Luster	X		X
DB-0295	Lined Red AB			X
DB-0296	Lined Ruby AB	X		X
DB-0297	Garnet Lined Ruby AB	X		X
DB-0301	Matte Gunmetal
DB-0306	Matte Metallic Slate		X	X
DB-0307	Matte Metallic Silver Gray
DB-0310	Matte Black
DB-0311	Matte Metallic Dark Olive		X
DB-0312	Matte Metallic Dark Raspberry Iris
DB-0321	Matte Nickel Plated		X
DB-0322	Matte Metallic Dark Bronze		X
DB-0323	Matte Metallic Copper Rainbow Iris
DB-0324	Matte Metallic Patina Iris
DB-0325	Matte Metallic Blue Iris
DB-0327	Matte Metallic Dark Green Iris
DB-0331	Matte 24kt Gold Plated		X
DB-0332	Matte Rhodium Plated		X
DB-0334	Matte 24kt Gold Light Plated		X
DB-0335	Matte Galvanized Silver	X	X	X
DB-0336	Matte Palladium Plated		X
DB-0340	Matte Copper Plated	X	X	X
DB-0351	Matte White
DB-0352	Matte Opaque Cream		X	X
DB-0353	Matte Opaque Antique Beige		X	X
DB-0354	Matte Opaque Blush
DB-0355	Matte Opaque Dusty Orchid		X	X
DB-0356