Czech fire-polished beads are machine-faceted, then polished by glazing inside a red-hot oven. This gives them beautiful, glistening colors with a "softer" look and smoother feel at a considerably lower price than the machine-polished Austrian crystal. Slight imperfections are to be expected and add to the allure of these much sought-after beads. Size and shape may vary slightly, and color may vary from dye lot to dye lot.