ITALIAN seed beads are no longer being produced, and are extremely rare. Those still on the market are from vintage stock and are highly prized by collectors. The 24/0 seed bead is the smallest ever made and used primarily for restoration and reproduction work for 1700 thru early 1900 beadwork. Once referred to as "sand" beading, the intricate work produced from these tiny micro beads often looks more like cloth than beadwork.