Glass beads, imitation pearls, imitation precious or

70.18 - Glass beads, imitation pearls, imitation recious or semi-precious stones and simiiar ass smallwares, and articles thereof ot er than imitation jewellery; glass eyes other t an prosthetic articles; statuettes and other ornaments of lamp-worked glass, other than Imitation jewellery; glass microspheres not exceeding 1 mm in diameter. R f 7018.10 7018.20 7018.90 - Glass beads, imitation pearls, imitation precious or semi-precious stones and similar glass smallwares - Glass microspheres not exceeding 1 rnm in diameter - Other This headin covers a range of widely diversified glass articles, most of which are used, directly or after d e r processing, for ornamental and decorative purposes. These include : (A) Glass beads (e.g., as used for necklaces, rosaries, imitation flowers, ornaments for etc.; for decoratmg textile articles (trimmings, embroidery, etc.), handbags or the e : i for use as electrical insulators). These beads, whether or not coloured, are in the form of small pierced balls, more or less round in shape; they are obtained fi-om tubes which are cut into sections of approximate1 equal length and diameter. The resulting small cylinders are then introduced, together w d a mixture of owdery materials (charcoal, graphite, plaster, etc.), into a metal drum revolving over a kumace. Heat softens the glass cylinders and fiiction gives them a more or less spherical shape, while the powdery material prevents them from adhering to one another. (B) Imitation pearls, hollow or solid, of all colours, shapes and sizes, simulating real earls. Hollow pearls of the most usual type are obtained by blowin thin glass spheres a ong a glass tube of very small diameter and then separating them om each other. Due to the manufacturing process, these pearls present two directly opposite openings throu which a material string can be run. Hollow pearls may also be blown along a lass rod. containing pearl essence (a pasty substance consisting of certain ish scales dissolved in ammonia) is then b l o w into the glass spheres, and sometimes they are filled with white wax to increase their solidity. Such beads can be easily distinguished fiom real pearls through their lightness and the fact that they can be crushed under very light pressure. P i? tg n" Solid imitation pearls are obtained by turnin a drop of glass on a co per wire in a flame, or by casting glass in small moulds .traversed% a t h n copper tube. A er cooling, the metal is dissolved in nitric acid; the glass is not attac ed and the pearls show a diametral opening. These pearls are then coated with pearl essence and, finally, with a protective layer of transparent varnish. E tP (C) Imitation precious stones (including imitation semi-precious stones) should not be confused with the synthetic or reconstructed precious stones of heading 71.04 (see corresponding Ex lanatory Note). These imitation stones are made of special glass (e.g., strass with a hi& refi-active index which may be colourless or coloured directly w t h metal ic oxides. I Imitation stones are generally obtained by cutting fragments of the required size from a glass block; these fragments are then arranged on a piece of sheet metal covered with laced in a small oven in which their edges are rounded off. The stones can then diamonds, rose-cut diamonds, etc.) or engraved (imitation cameos or can also be obtained by dyect mouldlng (e.g., m the case of stones for trinkets). The underside of such stones is often covered with reflecting metallic paint (gem-fintsh). (D) Other glass smallwares such as imitation coral. (E) Various @assarticles (other than imitation jewellery), obtained by assembling certain of the individual articles mentioned above, such as flowers, foliage and pearl ornaments for wreaths; fringes made of beads or bu les and intended for lampshades, shelves, etc.; blinds and ortihes made of glass beads or ugles, and table mats made similarly; rosaries made of g ass beads or imitation precious or semi-precious stones. % f (F) Glass eyes other than those for wear by humans (heading 90.21) , e.g., those for dolls, robots, stuf ed animals. Dolls' eyes fitted to an eye closing mec anism are, however, excluded (heading 95.03). b (G) Statuettes and other ornaments (other than imitation jewellery) obtained by working lass in the asty state with a blow-pipe. These articles are desi ed for lacin on shelves fanimals, L t s , statuettes, etc.). They are generally made o clear g ass ( ead crystal, strass, etc.Por " enamel " glass. P P f (l3) Glass microspheres not exceeding 1 mm in diameter, used for the manufacture of panels for road signs, reflecting si s or cinema screens, or in the cleaning of aeroplane jet engines or metallic surfaces. hey are perfect spheres of solid cross-section. F Flowers, foliage and fruit of cast or moulded glass, for interior decoration and the like, are excluded (heading 70.13). Fancy articles of lamp-worked glass incorporating precious metal or metal clad with precious metal other than as a minor trimming, or constituting imitation jewellery as defined for the purposes of Chapter 71, fall in that Chapter. The heading also excludes : (a) Glass powder, very often silvered or coloured, for decorating postcards, Christmas tree decorations, etc. (heading 32.07). (b) Handbags and similar articles of leather or fabric, decorated with glass beads, imitation pearls or imitation precious or semi-precious stones (heading 42.02). (c) Picture postcards, Christmas cards and the like, with glass trimmings (heading 49.09). (d) Textile articles incorporating applique work of glass beads (Section XI and particularly heading 58.10). (e) Fabrics coated with microspheres for cinematographic screens, etc. (heading 59.07). (0 Footwear, headgear and walking sticks and umbrellas decorated with glass beads, imitation pearls or imitation precious or semi-precious stones (Chapters 64,65 and 66). (g) Imitation earls or imitation recious or semi-precious stones mounted or set in precious metal or metal clacfwith precious meta (beading 71.13 or 71.14) or imitation jewellery withrn the meaning of heading 71.17 (see corresponding Explanatory Note). f (h) Cuff-links (heading 71.13 or 71.17 as appropriate). (ij) Toys, games, Christmas tree decorations (including balls of thin blown glass) (Chapter 95). (k) Buttons and studs (heading 96.06 or Chapter 71 as appropriate). -