Rods of Italian Morretti glass are softened in an oxygen/propane torch.  The soft glass is then wound on to a clay coated stainless steel rod called a mandrel.  Other colors of glass are softened and added to create the final design.  Dental tools are often used to help create these designs.  

When the bead is complete, it is placed in a 960 degree kiln to anneal the glass.  This process takes the stress out of the bead so that it will last a lifetime.