Organic Jewelry Part 2- Bamboo -Horn and Bone jewelry

by Sheweta Dhanuka

Organic jewelry is the amazing blend of old and new phase that is instinctive raw material used for crafting stunning jewels using modern techniques and designs. Thus, this article endeavors to provide the related information about the natural material used for making organic ornaments such as necklace, bracelets and earrings.

Human being came into existence in this universe millions of years ago and so is his/her passion for ornaments. Initially, the objects utilized by them for making jewelries were all the natural material that required intense search in forest instead of mining. They used to look for horns, bones and teeth of animals, bamboo and wood for making jewels. Today precious and semi precious gemstones are widespread in every corner of the world but the stuff used by our ancestors for jewelry also exists. These are named as Organic Jewelry. It is new contemporary funky items created using intrinsic stuff like bamboo, hardwood, horn & bone and tusk.

Jewelry lovers could add these unique pieces in their collection. Organic jewelry is the amazing blend of old and new phase that is instinctive raw material used for crafting stunning jewels using modern techniques and designs. Thus, this article endeavors to provide the related information about the natural material used for making organic ornaments such as necklace, bracelets and earrings. The details proffered are the basic facts that would help in understanding and knowing these natural materials to some extent.

Bamboo Jewelry

It is the natural grass that grows in long cylinder shape thick from outer circumference while hollow inside. The colour of this innate material varies from light green, yellow or brown. It could be either striped or spotted black in colour. Black bamboo is very rare but valued most. It is tan yellowish and the colour varies from medium brown to chocolate brown. The natural designs and patterns on the solid part differ from one piece to other like it could be burnt design, one-flare colour or tapering effect.

The bamboo jewelries are always created using cylinder shapes. It has natural protective cortex that is the outer surface of bamboo therefore, while making other flat shapes the protective shield needs to be detached. Once the cortex is removed this natural material becomes unsuitable for jewelry, as it gets permeable and less firm.

The circular shapes are cut in form of rings from the diaphragm or membrane of the cylindrical bamboo. The rings are thick in the front while hollow at the back. No two rings have identical look therefore, it is very difficult to match for making jewelry pieces in pairs.

In order to have the smooth insertion of jewelry made up bamboo, it is pre-oiled when it is in its raw form. It should be always oiled else it becomes difficult to retain the shine and wear it. The jewelries must be seldom washed. Only mild herbal soaps or solutions must be used for cleaning. Immediately, after washing it should be wiped off completely with the cotton cloth and oiled before storing it.

The cost of this basic material is determined by its diameter. It is measured in gauges, inches or millimeters. With the increase in the diameter in terms of gauge the price also increases. The length of the bamboo pieces used to make captivating jewelries is usually short, something between 1/2 to 3/4 inches long.

Hardwood Jewelry

High quality hardwood is used to make fascinating jewelries. It is all handmade jewelry as it involves manual carving and sanding. It is ideal for making earrings, as mostly ear gets less wet when compared with wrist, fingers and neck.

The different varieties of wood used for making exquisite ornaments are Chechen, Ebony, Chakte Kok, Granadillo, Katalox, Olive and Maple. All comes in varied colours. Olive and maple are found in bright yellow colour base with dark yellow or brown natural groves on the base. Ebony is dense black in colour. Reddish orange with black or dark brown streaks is the colour for Chakte Kok. Chechen and granadillo are medium brown and dark brown colour respectively, both consists of darker shades grains on the base colour. Katalox is very dark brown colour that looks like ebony black.

In order to make attention-grabbing jewels diverse shapes are cut from thick wood logs. Pieces have to be cut from thick logs because small pieces with less thickness tend to break in due coarse of time. These shapes are joined together to make appealing jewelry items. Only few regular shapes such as cylinder, round, oval, square, one flared, saddle, nail, taper and spike are possible to cut, as wood is relatively stiff. However, many versatile designs are created with inlay. Inlay means that a solid piece is drilled to make it hollow then some other gemstone or small wood bit is inserted in the empty space. In the center of the saddle piece, 3-D concentric circles are made highlighting it outwards. The solid piece is even engraved with some designs like stars, sun, flower and so on. Sometimes, even these are carved in inimitable forms and hand painted in colourful colours. The options for creating exclusive pieces in unlimited, it all just depends on the creativity of an individual.

Price of these amazing natural material is determined through three main factors viz. wood used, artwork and size. All the different types of wood mentioned above come at a different price. Similarly, all diverse artwork calls for a special cost. Inlay tends to be most expensive as it involves the cost of solid wood piece as well as the gemstone/wood plug inserted inside the main solid. Rest all varies with the quality and quantity of the work done on the wooden piece that is used for making jewelries. Finally the size of the wood, with the increase in the size cost also goes up.

All hardwood jewelry in the end is oiled utterly as it fills the empty pores and leads to smooth insertion. These ornaments similar to bamboo jewelries must be washed occasionally with mild soap and water, completely dried and oiled again before storing. Olive oil, peanut oil or jojoba oil could be used to do the needful.

Horn Jewelry and Bone Jewelry

In ancient times, when civilization started people used to wear jewelries made up from horns and bones of the animals. In those times, jewelries were common to males, females and even children. They used to collect the bones, make similar shapes and put it together in a string to make necklace, bracelets and so forth. Ear and nose piercing with sharp animal horn was also proverbial amongst the females. The horn and bone body jewelry continues to be worn by tribes in few parts of the universe till date. Today, these unique ornaments are not only restricted to tribal group but has become the trendy funky style statement in the fashion industry across the globe.

Horns are always found in dark colours like dark brown, black or gray. These are sharp, translucent and could be yellowish or brownish tan. It is made up fibrous protein called as Keratin. Due to keratin, the horns are very hard and taut. As all animals have two horns therefore, for making any jewelry item the pair of identical horns is easily acquired. Bones are composed of calcium carbonate and protein collagen. As calcium is present in large quantity, bones are white or off white in colour.

There are different varieties of horns found like double flared, saddle shaped, plain hollow and hollow with amber inserted ( any other gemstone could be inserted in place of amber like turquoise, bloodstone, opal, moonstone etc ). Fancy and remarkable designs could be engraved on the horns in double flared or saddle shape. Also, bone dust and semi precious gems are also used creatively in unlimited designs. These are referred as saddles or double flared with inlays. Inlays signify to bone dust or the stones. U shape, hair-do’s, yoni shape, spiral, compact spiral, triskels, wicked spiral, java style hoops, plain claws, monster claws, labret shapes, tusks, septum pinchers and flying dragons etc are unique mesmerizing shapes. These are never seen before shapes in any other gemstone or jewelry material.

Same as horns, bones are shaped as saddle, solid or hollow. The diverse designs as created in horn are not possible to produce in bones, as it is more porous. It becomes more porous due to the presence of calcium carbonate in its composition. Round, square, teeth, tusks, claws and more are the regularly found shapes.

These two jewelry raw materials are mostly obtained from water buffalo and cows. Indonesia is the main source for both these animal. India is the main supplier of black cow horns. The horns and bones are attained only after animals die. It is valued very high thus cost is lucrative. The main price determinants are size and country. Indonesian water buffalo horns and bones are priced maximum.

Tusk Jewelry

Tusk are long pointed tooth that protrudes from closed mouth as in elephant, warthog or wild boar. Each single unit obtained from different animals is exceptional and has its distinctive specialty. Boar tusk are short, white and sharp curved. Warthog tusks are same as the former but are more heavy and tan yellowish. The last but most important are the elephant tusk. These are valued maximum and the cost is as high as sky. These are ivory white, strong and very large.

Unfortunately, people with their selfish motive kill innocent animals for its God gifted tusk. It is against the ethical standards to make jewelries using tusk and wear the same. This convention is now obscured with other old traditions. Therefore, only small piece of information is offered about tusk.

Apart from tusk other organic stuffs viz. bamboo, hardwood, horn and bone continues to be used for creating spectacular body jewelry. This funky fashion is idyllic for casual attire. In spite for being so old it persists to have the clout to grab the attention in the mass. It is certainly worth to keep up the old things. So try getting organic !!

More Resources
Horn and Bone Jewelry store
Bamboo jewelry

Organic Jewelry Part 3- Shell-Hair and Feather jewelry

by Ms Nandita Ray

Jewelry made out of organic elements i.e. made out of the remains of living beings and containing carbon is called organic. Apart from Pearls and corals, jewelry made out of Jet, Hair, Shell, Ivory, Bones, and Wood; are all organic in nature.

Shell Jewelry

Nature’s most beautiful gift, the shell comes in wondrous iridescent colors of the rainbow from the sea. It is sad that the Sea that has been bestowing us with not only food but various other bounties is getting polluted. If not salvaged quickly we shall soon lose these amazing gifts. Shell has been used as jewelry for long. Whether in their natural form of cut and shaped it has a charm of its own. The different colors, mother of pearl Nautilus, lily shell, sea urchins, rose colored shell; olive shells with their glow and shine make beautiful jewelry.

The multi layered calcareous skeletons of marine animals like pearl oyster, abalone, nautilus, snail; sea urchins, river mussels whose hard yet smooth inner lining, coated with the organic secretion called Nacre also called mother of pearl, give it an attractive luster. Some shells in their natural form like cowries (shell) or the outer shell of the tortoise or the spiral shell of the snail is often used to make solitary pendants. Cameos are carved on shells.

Crafted in most Islands, where they are easily found, like Hawaii, Maldives, Polynesia and Andaman, it makes for summer cool ethnic chic. Crescent shape, colored discs, silver filigreed body, bead and shell, with coral mixed and matched with pearls earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, pendants and bangles are quite popular.

Bamboo Jewelry

This long and tall grass, which grows in abundance in the monsoon terrains of Asia, Africa and USA is used for many things, jewelry being one of them. Since it is naturally hollow and light weight and coated with a natural shine it makes excellent items of jewelry. The most common bamboo is Bambusa Arundinacea. Bamboos which can grow to a height of 100ft can be woody or climbing grass. The stalks can be thorny, hollow or solid. Some wither and die after flowering while some take 30years to flower.

Bamboo can be made into bangles, earrings, ear plugs, necklaces and belts. They can be hand painted or enameled or finished with silver.

Hair Jewelry

Human hair has been used for adornment and was very popular till the end of the 1800’s. It was during the 1600’s when it was first used as bracelets by both sexes. Hair from the lock of a loved was exchanged and worn for sentimental reasons or in memory of a departed soul. Napoleon wore a watch with a chain braided from his second wife Marie Louise to show faith and fidelity. This was very much in vogue since there were no photographs. When the beloved left for war or for distant shore, a lock of hair made into a pendant was coveted. Hair brooches were popular too.

Jewelry made from hair was used for mourning as well as sentimental reasons. Brooches fringed with seed or tiny pearls, hair encased within a glass cover, or gold monogram, or hair twisted and braided all around a painted photograph, were laboriously crafted. Sometimes two hair tones were used to make the brooches more attractive. The hair strands, clubbed together were twisted and turned till they became hard and thread like. This made it easier to use them in various designs.

Elephant Hair from the tail is used for making bracelets and charms in Africa. The sparse and thick hair of this mammal is also used for handicrafts in South Africa. It is thought to ward of evil and keep the wearer safe. The hair is knotted with either three knots or two knots, into plain blackish grey bracelets.

Feather Jewelry

Has been used by the Native Americans to adorn their bodies. Feathers which a light and come in attractive natural colors can be made into beautiful pieces of jewelry. Peacock, duck, wild fowl, parrot, pea fowl, turkey, ostrich, hawk, raven and their likes have all contributed feathers for the growth of this industry. Feather jewelry is back in vogue.
Feathers are wrapped in silver, dyed in various colors, cut and curled, held in thin chains, wrapped in leather throngs, mixed and matched with beads can be made into pendants, necklaces and earrings. Unique in look they add chic cool look.

Hemp Jewelry

Though banned in its natural form, it can be used under strict licensing for industrial purposes. Fiber, food, oils, clothing, jewelry and building material are made. Commonly known as cannabis this destructive and addictive plant has been successfully used for harmless products. The fibers can be dyed and twisted into bracelets, necklaces, earrings, woven with beads or mixed and matched with shell or seeds, the strong fibers make it sturdy and durable.

Wood, jute, stone and terracotta are also used to make organic jewelry. They are not only environment friendly but also proffer work to many, since mostly they are hand crafted.

Ivory Jewelry

by Ms Nandita Ray

Getting hands on real Ivory is like “living in an Ivory Tower’, next to impossible. This is because real Ivory from the now endangered Indian Elephants is banned.

Part of organic jewelry series Organic jewelry Part 2, Part3

IVORY Facts

Getting hands on real Ivory is like “living in an Ivory Tower’, next to impossible. This is because real Ivory from the now endangered Indian Elephants is banned. African ivory sold and purchased from legal sources is allowed with some strict regulations. Though ivory in its original sense meant only elephant tusks, today it carries a wider circle of animals like Walrus, Boar, Sperm whale, Wart Hog, Hippopotamus and some seeds resembling ivory within its fold.

Elephant Ivory

Elephant Ivory is creamy white, opaque to look, hard and grainy to feel. It is made up of layers of dentine. The inner most layer is the newest and softest. Dentine is made up of 70 % of inorganic material while the remaining is collagen, an organic substance. Different species have different types of ivories. Some are soft while some hard. The tusks are not coated with enamel. Two thirds of the tusk is hollow. The calcified layers of tissue when cut transversely show lines in a particular manner called cross hatching. Some grain lines on the surface reveal a V shape. If held under 10X, oval shaped dots will appear. The color of the tusks depends on the species. African ivory exhibits creamish beige and appears mellow and soft. The Indian elephant’s tusk is white, gets yellow with age and looks like marble. It can be cut and carved easily, dyed and painted It picks up polish easily because the pores are filled with an oil like substance that ooze out gently.

Ivory from the now extinct mammal, with ridged molar teeth and hairy, from the Pleistocene Epoch was also used.

Hippopotamus Ivory

Have long grooved and spiral tusks. It is the second most widely used ivory.

Whale Ivory

Their lower jaws are used for making jewelry and accessories.

Walrus Ivory

The upper canines and other teeth are used. It is called Morse ivory.

Wart Hogs

The canines which grow upwards are used.

Organic Substitute

Tagua nut replaced real ivory. It was brought from South America to England. This led to the setting up of a number of factories in France and England in 1862. By the end of the nineteenth century vegetable ivory was flourishing. The nuts of the Betel tree and Areca nuts are also used.

Tips on buying Ivory Jewelry

Ivory is used for making costume as well as expensive jewelry. Bangles, bracelets, pendants, rings, earrings, necklaces, pins, buttons, beads, cuff links, piano key, billiard ball and figurines. Real elephant ivory is difficult to get. Besides it falls under banned items.

Genuine Ivory will appear fluorescent under strong light. It will give off whitish violet glow.

Real Ivory will show age by its yellow brown color, which will become dull yellow under artificial light.

It will have a uniform and compact texture.

It will show the Schreger lines.

When held under 10X loupe it will reveal oval shaped dots. Plastic or resin will not have these ducts.

Jet Jewelry

by Ms Nandita Ray

Jet is compressed driftwood which when saturated with water sinks to the floor of the sea and remains there for ages. These remains of coniferous trees get compressed and hardened and chemically changed due to heat, pressure and the chemicals present in the water.

Part of organic jewelry series Organic jewelry Part 2, Part3

Jet Jewelry

Also called ‘Mourning Jewelry’ mainly because it has been used for such occasion and also because of its dark black color, the symbol of sadness. It flourished during the staid Victorian Age when people wore it to mourn a loved one. This was started by Queen Victoria who wore jet jewelry to mourn the death of her mother and her beloved husband Albert. Jet is fossilized coal, formed from wood. It can be carved and shaped easily and takes to polish like duck to water. It has been used since ancient times. It is believed that the first recorded use of Jet was by the Magdalenian artisans. In 1500 rosary beads were made. In the 15th century an English mourning ring decorated with a skull and with strand of hair and inscribed with date of birth was crafted for “Iohes Godefray”. Greeks were known to have used it in 200B.C.

Jet is compressed driftwood which when saturated with water sinks to the floor of the sea and remains there for ages. These remains of coniferous trees get compressed and hardened and chemically changed due to heat, pressure and the chemicals present in the water. When plants wither and die in wet environs or peat swamps, the presence of low oxygen and bacteria prevent it from decaying completely. Different debris and waste settle on it, compress it, wring out all the water and change it into Lignite. This is the lowest grade of coal and nearly half the world’s total coal reserves contain Lignite. It is brownish black in color and is called brown coal or witches amber or black amber or Agstein.

Jet is considered semi precious and real Jet is hard to get. It has a dark metallic luster and is lightweight. Best Jet is found in Yorkshire, England. Its mining started in 1850. By 1873 there were 200 Jet shops. However mining Jet is illegal today. Pieces that wash up on the shore can be collected and crafted into jewelry. Brooches, rings, pendants, earrings bracelets, rosary beads, pins and necklaces are made from this. Imitations abound and therefore buying real Jet is quite a task. French Jet is black glass made in USA. Dyed horn and plastics, Vulcanite, a sulpherized rubber, or the sap of the Mayan tree is also passed off as Jet.

Tips for buying Jet Jewelry

Real Jet will have a metallic luster.
Real Jet when rubbed will get electrically charged.
If rubbed on a rough surface it will leave a brownish color.

Beaded jewelry

by Bina Saji

Whether your style is hip-hop, casual, trendy or formal. There is myriad scope for beaded jewellery which appeals to people in every age group. Doesn’t matter whether you are six years, sixteen, in your thirties or even sixties – beads belong to everyone. Depending on the occasion and your style – beads are suited for everyone.

Whether it is the silky, smooth, handcrafted original native American Heishi necklaces or the rare, high-priced black pearl strings or the pretty colorful glass bracelet, which costs just 2$ – they all have one thing in common – they are all beads! Beads are beautiful, exciting and come in several shapes and sizes ranging from large beads to tiny seed beads (like the seed pearls). Different shapes too – oblong, oval, round and everything in between sometimes even rounded square shapes. Beads are in vogue – from fashion magazines, offices and beaches- everyone is sporting beaded jewellery.

Beaded Jewelry some facts

Whether your style is hip-hop, casual, trendy or formal. There is myriad scope for beaded jewellery which appeals to people in every age group. Doesn’t matter whether you are six years, sixteen, in your thirties or even sixties – beads belong to everyone. Depending on the occasion and your style – beads are suited for everyone. For office wear, team a grey suit with pink pearls or co-ordinate your favorite cut-offs with a glass bead anklet – any style, any event – you can’t go wrong with beads! Now even men can be seen wearing chunky bead neck pieces or bracelets at the beach or even at fashion events – beads as accessories are fast becoming favorites and very much in vogue right now! Even body-piercing jewellery are beads.

Beaded Jewelry history

Beads are not new to the world of jewellery. In fact the oldest form of ornamentation was beads. Man picked up stones, bones and shells – smoothened the edges to give it shape; pierced it and threaded it with string to make it a neck piece. Pretty, colorful necklaces were worn by women and the men preferred wearing the bones of animals hunted by them. The native Americans smoothened and polished the beads to make the beautiful heishi strands that feel like silk. Beads have always been in fashion – beads were bartered and even used as money by the native Americans.

Black beads are said to ward off the evil eye and in India , the first piece of jewellery a child – as young as 3 months wears is a black bead bracelet or necklace. This is said to protect the child from negative vibes. The traditional mangalsutra (or the wedding necklace) in India – is specially designed with small black beads on gold wires. In some regions of India , corals are beaded to make the mangalsutra chain. In many other cultures beads are worn as talismans – sometimes a single bead is strung and tied as an armlet for protection.

Beads can be affordable or expensive, this could be a part of the reason they are liked by the masses and the classes. Since beads are available in a variety of materials from paper, glass to precious metals like silver and gold – it is possible for people to buy beaded jewellery depending on their budget. Beaded jewellery is the first piece of jewellery most children learn to make at school with paper balls or readymade beads. Prices of beaded jewellery range from a few dollars to several thousand dollars. There are beaded options for all price ranges and to suit all incomes.

Beaded Jewelry – Many designs

Beaded jewellery can be handcrafted, machine-made or even natural beads (such as pearls) strung together on a thread. In fact , making beaded jewellery is so easy that many creative people wear their own handcrafted beaded jewellery which gives them two advantages – it is cheaper than buying from a store and they get one-of-a kind pieces – which no one else probably has! Creating your own beaded jewellery requires just your imagination and simple items like clasps, string and readymade beads. Plenty of designs and tips are available on the internet.

Beads can be made from a variety of materials – both natural and man-made to create interesting, attractive and unique bracelets, armlets, anklets, necklaces etc. Most designers prefer to use beads to enhance the look of the main pendant or the centerpiece, especially in necklaces. Beads can be made of almost any material – paper, wood, stone, semi-precious gems, metals like brass and precious metals like gold and silver.

Machine-made or handcrafted – beaded jewellery in both, is widely offered for sale. Machine-made beaded jewellery is much cheaper since it is mass produced and is mainly acrylic, wood, plastic, glass and some cheaper colored gemstones which are churned out of the machines in large quantities. The advantage is that all are identical, cheap and great for home projects. The handcrafted beaded jewellery is mainly in silver, gold, precious and semi-precious gems. Silver beaded jewellery combined with red, blue green stones is often more affordable and can be bought off the street (although the silver used may not be 100% pure) and looks great with casual wear.

The higher priced handcrafted beaded jewellery is available in pure silver with precious gems, gold (18K or 22K) with precious gems or gold pendants. These are intricately beaded and some are even carved to make each piece unique. Designers of handcrafted jewellery also claim that no two pieces are ever alike, since absolute perfection is impossible in handcrafted jewellery. Also highly priced are the rarer natural pearl strands in uncommon colors like pink, lilac, silver, black etc.

So, whether you are young or old, man or woman, rich or not-so-rich, beads are for everyone. Get some beads and add to your style!.

An array of Beads

by Bina Shaji Kurup

Buying beaded jewellery, like buying any other jewellery is a joy and it can be great fun deciding what beaded jewellery will suit and reflect your personality. The choice available in beaded jewellery is vast, there are glass beads, crystal beads, wooden beads, plastic beads, precious and semi-precious stone beads and much more.

Organic Beads

Beaded jewellery is the oldest form of ornamentation and clay, bone and shell beads were among the earliest found forms of beads. Bone beads are, as the name suggests, made from bones of animals like camels and cows. They can also be carved and made into different shapes easily. The antique look bead is a finish on the bead which makes it look old and used. Most bone beads are handmade and getting uniform bone beads is difficult. Sometimes, the beads are made from artificial bone-resin also. One can find bone beads which are painted and it is possible to change the color of natural bone beads at home with the help of dyes or bleach to darken and lighten the colors of the bead. The horns of animals such as sheep, buffalo, and goat too are used to make beads -bone and horn beads can be a little expensive and have a hip-hop appeal.

Shells can be made into beads – in fact pearls too are beads. The mother-of-pearl, inside which the pearl grows, is also used to make beads as is the shell of the mollusk. Since shells come in a variety of hues, the beads too have colors depending on the shell used. These shells and mother-of-pearls are sometimes dyed to get beautiful pastel shades which do not occur naturally. The translucent mother-of-pearl is a symbol of good luck in Feng Shui, bringing prosperity and wealth. So if you have a friend who follows Feng Shui, then a mother-of-pearl bead bracelet or earrings can be the perfect gift.

Wood Beads

Carved or plain, painted or natural, wooden beads have a unique allure. Combine wood beads with clay for an ethnic design or with colored glass or rock beads for a casual look. Natural wood beads are made from all kinds of trees from the scented sandalwood to the cheap bamboo. Long lasting as they are, some wood beads are used to make rosaries and other spiritual neckwear, armlets and bracelets. The Rudrksha bead is a naturally growing bead which is believed to have religious and health benefits as well. The beautiful grains of Teak or Rosewood are brought out by polishing the beads and coating them with varnish. Some beads are left unpolished for a raw look and others are artificially colored.

The Egyptians used clay to make beads and till date the trend of making clay beads and baking them in a kiln continues. Polymer clay beads (artificial clay) are easy to make – even at home. Just make the required shapes or carve it and pop it into the oven to bake, but remember to make the holes for stringing them before you bake it! Remove and paint the surface if required. But these are quite heavy, so string them on a strong material like metal wire or leather.

Ceramic Beads

Bright blues with green designs, round, flat and plenty of other shapes – are the ceramic and porcelain beads. These are made with clay but with chemicals added for harder beads with a better finish. An assortment of clay, ceramic and porcelain beads are available on the internet. Coated with a range of colors and finishes from metallic, matte and even enamel, these are very versatile and some ceramic / porcelain beads can even be worn for formal occasions. Whereas the clay beads are earthier in nature, fragile and are great for a rustic or exotic look teamed with gypsy skirts.

Natural Beads

Natural beads can also be crafted from stone. Semi-precious stones and rock stones are both made into beads. Stones like Jasper, Hematite, Rhodonite, Onyx etc. are found in gorgeous colors and some have several colors spilling into each other – making the beads a visual delight. Minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, copper etc in quartz, color the stones in a range of hues – blue, gold, pink, red, green and even black. Soapstone is a very soft stone that can be easily broken if handled roughly and soapstone beads should be worn carefully. Stone beads can be carved into various shapes – geometric, animal, abstracts and plenty more. They have a higher durability due to their inherent hardness as compared to clay, ceramic, shell or glass beads.

Plastic Beads

Plastic or Acrylic beads are normally used by kids, one would think. But the attractive plastic beads with different metallic colors or the pretty birthstone symbol acrylic bead or even the Japanese acrylic, handmade beads can be great for casual wear for people of every age. The advantage of plastic beads is that the colors are almost permanent since the dye is mixed into plastic material used to make the beads and plastic beads, which are not coated from the outside can be washed too. Lightweight and colored brightly in yellows, reds, blues and plenty of other single and multi-colors, plastic beads can be strung on regular thread unlike the heavier glass, metal or stone beads.

Alphabet Beads

Alphabet or Letter beads are great for projects which need names or any words. Alphabet beads come in several materials from silver to ceramic and most of these beads have larger holes than other beads, making it easier to string them to make special occasion name chains or bracelets.

Beads are extremely versatile and can be made from every possible material – natural and man made. Right from shells, wood, paper, seeds to precious and semi-precious gemstones, gold and silver and even fiber optic or artificial Cat’s eye which are man-made to create the same effect of chatoyancy as the cat’s eye stone.

The choice is never-ending and manufacturers of beaded jewellery and beads constantly conjure up new creations to lure everyone – man, woman and child into the fascinating world of beads.

More Bead resources
Bead And Button