I'm no help as far as the New coatings but if you are stuck with the beads...you could try "Etch All" an acid based liquid that produces a Matte finish. Maybe it wouldn't be as hard on the beads, but who knows. Also, not sure, but you may be able to REUSE the liquid.

Also Arrow Springs Etching Crystals are favored by some people, and probably less expensive? (Will not etch borosilicate glass, Plus since it is a powder you must be aware to ALWAYS add the powder (Acid crystals) to the water! and Never the reverse!).

I have seen the "lined" color seed beads, many sizes, and even Vintage lined seed beads...but Color -Coated is a new one!

Be sure to follow Safety directions. I have not used or ordered Etch All in ages but hope it is still available as it can give a nice result. But a Tumbler with fine grit has to be more cost effective for larger quantities I should think.

Thanks for the Heads Up on the bead finishes- WHO KNEW they were scrimping on the Color! and Coating beads now! What country were these beads from?? Do they come strung on hanks or loose?? Just curious as to what they look like too.

Anne

Thanks, Anne - I hope to stick to tumbling for this effect so I don't have to handle the acid. I used hydrofluoric acid on occasion in my lab at work and it's a very hazardous chemical that I will not miss!

The first time I encountered this was a purchase of vintage beads almost 20 years ago. I made necklaces with them. It took YEARS for the coating to chip off! (Opaque white glass underneath.)

I had to restring some customers' necklaces for years after.

So even if you etch them, there's no guarantee the coating won't fail later.

I would imagine tumbling would simply remove the surface of the coating and make it even more vulnerable to peeling/chipping off.

Beads with a different color coating have been around for a long time. It depends on the color, manufacturer, desired effect which methods are used for the final product.
I know of a manufacturer of Chinese seed beads that uses a color coating on white beads a lot.
Many seed beaders now use Japanese beads, and they know which coatings are more durable than others. In general, plain opaque Czech beads are a safe choice.

Plum purple is a difficult color for the glass used in seedbeads, which typically is the more dull or brownish purple from use of manganese as a colorant.

"Sol gel" coatings seem to be the norm now for purple Czech seed beads - you can see them at the Preciosa site. Very appealing, but will fade in sunlight. Watch out for anything labeled "Terra," it's dyed.

There is also a sputtered (?) metallic coating ("Crystal Colored Luster") that produces a violet purple over colorless transparent glass, which would of course be abraded off in a tumbler. Loupe inspection reveals this coating.

https://preciosa-ornela.com/images/pdf/Rocailles-Sample-Cards.pdf

I used all the information to quickly home in on what I (inadvertently) purchased. I believe the beads are coated with a sol-gel coating of unknown composition. I can peel some of it off in fairly flexible pieces, so it is probably at least partly organic. Could have inorganic components for color and/or durability. It's kind of too bad that glass chemistry is not being used exclusively to make beads that are solid glass. Beaders are gaining a larger range of artistic expression but sacrificing the longevity of their work. I doubt any of these coatings will be around in 100 years unless the beadwork is carefully conserved.

I think I'll continue to look for antique or at least vintage solid glass beads to complement the ones I have. They are a combination of a large purple "Peking glass" - or so I think - bead with some dusky plum purple "pineapples".

hi Rosanna
in Nicole Anderson's "The Glory of Beads" there is a section describing how some innovative finishes were developed to add lustre or dye colour to the outside surface (like nail varnish) or just within the hole of drawn beads of transparent or translucent glass, which were basically painted on but not permanently fused to the surface.
Fine for fashion or theatrical costume embroidery but too perishable for anything that might need washing!
Accidentally the fumed-on iridescence or metallic coating which is applied to many czech beads at a temperature also may rub off, i've discovered.

found yesterday at antiques market- also note the cheap stamped metal T-bar and ring clasp -so i wonder if this is a Czech or French Prosser beads necklace? the thread is cotton-

It used to be some of the cheap Indian-made glass beads were coated (like the ones sold in kits at Michael's, etc.) I made some simple bracelets with them, mostly to show how, with good color choices and spacers/accent beads, you could still make something pretty with cheap beads. Then the coatings flaked off. Ouch!

But then I made a long necklace with small Czech copper-colored seed beads, good quality ones. I wore it half a dozen times. Then I saw the color was wearing off! It was a metallic copper coating that wore off with wear. (It didn't get wet, it wasn't out in the sun, it wasn't exposed to intense heat, etc.) I can't remember exactly when I bought them, I think maybe ten years or so ago.

Now I'm suspicious of all metallic glass seed beads, using real metal beads instead.

This also happened with some brand new "faux sea glass" glass beads I bought from a vendor online with a good reputation. The beads were listed as "dyed", and it was recommended I wash them before using, to remove the excess dye. Well, I simply rinsed them with water--and the "dyed" color completely flaked off! Very frustrating....

I'm thinking this is a way to manufacture a wide range of colored beads more cheaply. If it happens to my own jewelry, I can fix it. But I'm freaking out about the jewelry I've sold to so many people over the years, what will happen when those beads reveal their true character.

Apologies, I hope this link to the image works!
Do you see anything that stands out? :^D

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/522839837990638307

Now that you've mentioned it, I do recall your posts on this subject. Should have made a point to study them harder!