Home / Beads / Beader's Glossary

This is the place to find out what a Peridot or a Labradorite is. There are over 80 bead-related terms for you to browse.

Note: Some of the definitions and descriptions used here are copyright 1995 by Ornamental Resources, Incorporated. We are grateful for their permission to quote from their catalog to create this feature. This information may not be reproduced or distributed for financial gain or included in commercial collections or compilations without express permission from Ornamental Resources, Inc., P.O. Box 3010WW, Idaho Springs CO 80452. Visitors are permitted to print out this section for personal use only.

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Naturally occurring turquoise is becoming rarer every year. African "turquoise" is an exotic blend of base color and dark matrices in blues and greens that is actually a jasper. Jasper is a member of the chalcedony family, a type of quartz. The stone is opaque and fine grained, and typically occurs in shades of red, yellow, green, greyish blue, brown and combinations of these. Jasper is partially organic, and is used in many forms of jewelry and lapidary arts. Jasper was known as the great "rain-bringer" in the fourth century, and is known as a powerful physical healer said to promote beauty and grace and rebound negativity back to the sender. It is a stone of the earth, and therefore very grounding. Jasper is commonly found in the regions of North Africa, Sicily, France, India, Venezuela, Germany and the United States.

To produce the desired color for their beads, African beadmakers melt colored glass from bottles or other glass items in a small, woodburning furnace formed by hand from clay. They then use iron rods to form the molten glass into various shapes. Today, entire villages are supported by beadmaking cooperatives formed by African women. In the vivid colors and irregularly formed glass beads they produce, they convey their unique sense of style while providing themselves and their families with financial independence.

Agate is a type of quartz that has hidden or microscopic crystals and bands of color forming a circular pattern.

Amazonite is a green striped or spotted variety of microline feldspar, an important rock-making group of minerals that make up about one-half of the Earth's crust.

Amber is not a stone, but a yellowish-brown substance formed from the resin of the amber pine of Northern Europe. Transparent amber can be 120-180 million years old. Opaque amber can be 60 million years old. During great changes in the Earth's surface, trees became buried in the earth or under water. The resin hardened into irregularly shaped lumps and through time washed up on the shores of the Baltic Sea, where most of the world's supply of amber is found. The names comes from the Arabic anbar. The Greeks called it electron due to its color or its ability to collect a small negative charge when rubbed. Amber dust mixed with honey or water was used to treat eyes, ears, stomach, liver and kidneys. The smell of burning amber helped women through labor. Figures have been found carved out of amber by Stone Age shamans during Neolithic times, and Roman warriors studded their mail with amber for good luck in battle. Today, scientists study the insects trapped in amber of long ago, to learn more about our past.

Amethyst is a quartz crystal and gets its name from a Greek word "amethustos" meaning "not drunken", as this grape-colored stone was believed to protect against intoxication by alcohol. Amethyst is a variety of quartz, prized for its fine purple color. It is the birthstone of February and is believed to bestow stability, strength, invigoration and peace. Since it is believed to support sobriety, it is an excellent stone for one who is attempting to find freedom from addictive personalities. It is believed to bring luck, constancy and spiritual awareness.

Japanese seed beads made of precisely cut glass, making them uniform in shape and size and color. They have large holes compared to their diameter. These beads are not old. "Antique" is a trade mark of Toho Corp. Miyuki Shoji Corp.

Aquamarine come from Latin and translates as "water of the sea." Sailors used to carry this stone as a good-luck talisman. It is believed to bring love and affection to the wearer. A symbol of youth, hope, happiness, wealth and affection, aquamarine is purported to ensure faithfulness in relationships. Legend has it that this stone originated in the treasure chests of mermaids.

Aragonite is a mineral that forms from skeletons of different sea life. Aragonite was first discovered in Aragon province, Spain where its name was derived. Locations for occurrence include Spain, Mexico, Morocco, New Mexico, and Arizona. Aragonite varies in color and can be white, gray, colorless, yellow, pale green, violet, or brown. Aragonite is also the primary mineral that makes up the organic compound commonly known as mother of pearl. Aragonite is a grounding stone, often used to center and ground physical energies during stressful times and strengthen one's connection with the earth.

Rainbow or iridescent effect coating on transparent glass, usually on one side of the bead.

Aventurine is sometimes mistaken for jade. It is a type of quartz with crystals so small they cannot be seen with the naked eye. Aventurine is considered a power stone, excellent for attracting abundance and wealth. It is said to help the wearer through stressful situations and reinforces one's decision-making abilities and leadership qualities. Many also believe it to be a healing stone for relieving stress, anxiety, and emotional discomfort, helping the wearer see alternatives and potential.