Natural Stone Beads

Know About Natural Stone Beads

Beautiful natural stone beads with great color combinations are made of Dumortierite, Jaspers, Malachite, Onyx(black), Obsidian(snow flake), and Natural turquoise. These beads are favorite for jewelry. Natural stone beads are available in varying shapes(round, oval, square, heart, star, triangle etc) and sizes. The stones that make use of these beads are all naturally existing and therefore expensive.

Introduction to Some Natural Stone Beads

Following are some of the natural stone beads that are used for various purposes and are quite popular among the beads crafts persons as well as beads collectors.

Obsidian

Obsidian is a black volcanic glass formed by the rapid cooling of lava. Obsidian natural stone beads have sharp edges and glossy luster. Know more about Obsidian Beads

Dumortierite

This natural stone is a variety of quartz with the shades of denim blue, from stone-washed to deep indigo.

Jasper

Jasper is a variety of quartz which is hard and durable, and richly colored by minerals, such as iron oxide. Jasper natural stone beads have patterns that are well defined but less regular. Know more about Jasper Beads

Malachite

Malachite is a copper mineral with rich green shades. The texture of malachite natural stone beads is soft and these beads need utmost care to preserve their glossy finish. Know more about Malachite Beads

Rhodonite

Rhodonite is a natural stone that ranges from light to deep pink. It is has streaks of darker shade and is available in transparent and opaque form. The stone consists of silicates of manganese, iron, magnesium and calcium.

Natural Turquoise

Natural Turquoise is found in shades of blue and green. The blue color of the stone is because of its copper content and green because of iron. Know more about Turquoise Beads

Onyx

Onyx, yet another variety of quartz is an opaque stone. Onyx is hard and polishes well, and therefore preferred for jewelry. Naturally this stone is black in color but is usually dyed before using.

Advantages of Natural Stone Beads

There are many advantages of natural stone beads that make it a perfect choice for jewelery and other applications.

• As the name suggests, these stone beads are natural- made from naturally occurring rocks and stones. Therefore, these beads do not contain any kind of impurity or harmful substances.
• As natural stone beads come from earthy materials like mineral rocks, lava etc. they contain many useful substances that prove to be beneficial when touched with skin in form of jewelery etc.
• Natural stone beads also have the advantage of being health friendly because most of the stone beads manufacturers refrain from using chemicals while processing them. The shine in natural stone beads are mostly due to their cutting and polishing.
• People who are allergic to most of the metals and other things that are used for making jewelery can easily wear natural stone beads jewelery as they are skin friendly.
• Although it is a matter of faith, natural stone beads also act as birthstones or lucky stones that bring good fortune according to astrological calculations.

Uses of Natural Stone Beads

Natural stone beads are used for various purposes

Jewelery making: Natural stone beads have been used since ages for making jewelry like necklaces, rings, earrings, etc.

Medicinal use: Many ancient cultures use natural stone beads for curing diseases like asthma, skin allergies etc. In recent times, medical jewelery is also made by using natural stone beads.

Prayer Beads: Natural stone beads are used to make Prayer Beads strings for praying by followers of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.

Beading Gifts: Natural stone beads are also used either for beading gifts or for embedding into other decorative pieces for embellishing them. Some of the examples include beaded boxes, idols, pen holders etc.

Decorative Clothings: Natural stone beads are extensively used for making decorative clothing like wedding dresses, baby clothing etc.

Tips for Buying Natural Stone Beads

Although most of the natural stone beads manufacturers adopt fair means for making these beads, there are some who use certain beads processing techniques that make them look more attractive than they naturally are. If a stone bead looks too perfect it can be a fake one too. Always ask the beads seller about the processing methods adopted for finishing natural stone beads. Here are some treatments that are given to stone beads for making them too perfect to be natural. Know them and avoid them if you want to buy true natural stone beads.

Irradiation: Irradiation is mostly done to natural stone beads like Aquamarine, Blue Topaz, Emerald, and Diamond etc. to bring out color and for removing imperfections.

Heat Treatment: Stone beads like Amethyst, Aquamarine, Ruby, Tanzanite and Topaz are sometimes heated at high temperatures to make their color more attractive.

Dying: Natural stone beads like Lapis Lazuli, Rose Quartz, Amethyst and Citrine are often dyed. Black Onyx is permanently dyed as a normal process. Using dyes on natural stone beads affect their natural color which is one of the main attractions of stone beads. To know whether a natural stone bead has been dyed artificially or not, look for some dye on clear stone that may be visible in cracks. They look darker than the rest of the stone bead. Sometimes dye can also be seen as a residue that rubs off or makes white patches.

Coatings: Many types of coatings are often used on stone beads that take away their natural charm. Jasper is dipped in petroleum products for attractive color and for sealing it. Emerald is oiled where as turquoise is waxed for shiny appearance.

Types of Stone Beads: Rock Stone Beads | Semi Precious Stone Beads | Natural Stone Beads | Carved Stone Beads | Precious Stone Beads | Soapstone Beads