Answer: Dichroic Glass is a multi layer coating placed on glass by using a highly technical vacuum deposition process. Quartz Crystal and Metal Oxides are Vaporized with an electron beam gun in an airless vacuum chamber and the vapor then floats upward and attaches then condenses on the surface of the glass in the form of a crystal structure.

Our colors have as many as 30 layers of these materials yet the thickness of the total coating is approximately 35 millionths of an inch. The coating that is created is very similar to a gemstone and by careful control in thickness, different colors are obtained. Thus, all our coatings are created using the same exact materials. Originally created for the Aerospace industry, Dichroic Glass is now made available to the artist community through Coatings By Sandberg, Inc. CBS Dichroic Glass is specifically designed to be hotworked in any way but can also be used in its raw form. The main characteristic of Dichroic Glass is that it has a transmitted color and a completely different reflective color.

Furthermore, these two colors shift depending on angle of view. With the play of light together with its vibrant color, Dichroic Glass is a prime tool used to add interest to any piece of work or project. With over 45 Colors of Dichroic Coatings available to be placed on “any” substrate (ie glass), artists have unlimited freedom of expression.

Sample Image: Dichroic Glass French Hook Earrings by Kroma ~ MOG Store

Description: These sparkly sterling silver French hook earrings by Kroma have a double bezel setting, creating a shadowbox look that frames the pink dichroic squares inside.

Kroma is a husband-and-wife team working out of Santa Fe, NM. The couple creates their beautiful dichroic glass jewelry using a process called “thin film physics.” To achieve this effect, layers of metallic oxides are deposited on the surface of glass in a vacuum furnace and vaporized by an electron beam, evenly coating the glass. The resulting color is as iridescent and dazzling as a butterfly’s wing!