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70.18 - Glass beads, imitation pearls, imitation precious or semi-precious stones and similar glass smallwares, and articles thereof other than imitation jewellery; glass eyes other than prosthetic articles; statuettes and other ornaments of lamp-worked glass, other than imitation jewellery; glass microspheres not exceeding 1 mm in diameter.
This heading covers a range of widely diversified glass articles, most of which are used, directly or after further processing, for ornamental and decorative purposes.
These include :(A) Glass beads (e.g., as used for necklaces, rosaries, imitation flowers, ornaments for graves, etc.; for decorating textile articles (trimmings, embroidery, etc.), handbags or the like; or 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 from tubes which are cut into sections of approximately equal length and diameter. The resulting small cylinders are then introduced, together with a mixture of powdery materials (charcoal, graphite, plaster, etc.), into a metal drum revolving over a furnace. Heat softens the glass cylinders and friction 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 pearls. Hollow pearls of the most usual type are obtained by blowing thin glass spheres along a glass tube of very small diameter and then separating them from each other. Due to the manufacturing process, these pearls present two directly opposite openings through which a string can be run. Hollow pearls may also be blown along a glass rod. A material containing pearl essence (a pasty substance consisting of certain fish scales dissolved in ammonia) is then blown into the glass spheres, and sometimes they are filled with white wax to increase their solidity. Such beads can be easily distinguished from real pearls through their lightness and the fact that they can be crushed under very light pressure.
Solid imitation pearls are obtained by turning a drop of glass on a copper wire in a flame, or by casting glass in small moulds traversed by a thin copper tube. After cooling, the metal is dissolved in nitric acid; the glass is not attacked and the pearls show a diametral opening. These pearls are then coated with pearl essence and, finally, with a protective layer of transparent varnish. (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 Explanatory Note). These imitation stones are made of special glass (e.g., strass) with a high refractive index which may be colourless or coloured directly with metallic oxides.
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 tripoli and placed in a small oven in which their edges are rounded off. The stones can then be cut (in the shape of diamonds, rose-cut diamonds, etc.) or engraved (imitation cameos or intaglios). These stones can also be obtained by direct moulding (e.g., in the case of stones of a definite shape for trinkets). The underside of such stones is often covered with reflecting metallic paint (gem-finish). (D) Other glass smallwares such as imitation coral. (E) Various glass articles (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 bugles and intended for lampshades, shelves, etc.; blinds and portières made of glass beads or bugles, and table mats made similarly; rosaries made of glass beads or imitation precious or semi-precious stones. (F) Glass eyes (other than those for wear by humans (heading 90.21)), e.g., those for dolls, robots, stuffed animals. Dolls' eyes fitted to an eye closing mechanism are, however, excluded (heading 95.03). (G) Statuettes and other ornaments (other than imitation jewellery) obtained by working glass in the pasty state with a blow-pipe. These articles are designed for placing on shelves (animals, plants, statuettes, etc.). They are generally made of clear glass (lead crystal, strass, etc.) or "enamel" glass. (H) Glass microspheres not exceeding 1 mm in diameter, used for the manufacture of panels for road signs, reflecting signs or cinema screens, or in the cleaning of aeroplane jet engines or metallic surfaces. They are perfect spheres of solid cross-section.
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 appliqué work of glass beads (Section XI and particularly heading 58.10). (e) Fabrics coated with microspheres for cinematographic screens, etc. (heading 59.07). (f) 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 pearls or imitation precious or semi-precious stones mounted or set in precious metal or metal clad with precious metal (heading 71.13 or 71.14) or imitation jewellery within the meaning of heading 71.17 (see corresponding Explanatory Note). (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).
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