I was shopping online for an affordable band ring. I have always been attracted to things, such as wooden furniture or photo frames, that have a rope design or beaded borders. Thus it was no surprise that I chose a ring that has bead-like borders on the outer edges.
In the process, I also discovered a new word – milgrain. Milgrain refers to a row of tiny beads along the edges of a piece of jewelry. It often refers to the row of beads seen along the outer edges of a ring.
The word comes from the French ‘mille-grain’, which means “thousand grains”.
The use of milgrain for decorative enhancement has had a long and global history – used in jewellery in Asia, and also during the Edwardian and Art Deco eras. While historically, the milgrain beads were created by hand, today tools make the process an easier one.
I think “milgrain”, with the artistry behind it, has become one of my favorite words.
Building Bridges 