By your remark "... what he used to make the new ones," I hope you mean these were the beads that INSPIRED the copies.

There are unbelievable stories circulated that Javanese beadmakers take old beads (or old glass), and make it into new beads. I believe they tell this story to make some implausible connection between old beads and new copies—and I do not believe it is true. The new copies are most likely made from new glass.

Your phrasing may inadvertently seem to confirm this fake story.

Jamey