Bead Cuts and Shapes

Common cuts of beads

OVALS
Flat ovals always lie well when worn. Check turquoise beads before you buy for cracks and damaged drill holes. Not all turquoise beads are natural; check for reconstructed or imitation material.

RONDELLES
These emerald rondelles are evenly shaped, well drilled and well polished. This is good-quality material for beads.

TUBBY BRIOLETTES
Briolettes like these are often called "tubbies" because of their shape.
These stones have a good cut and shape - the translucent chalcedony suits that flat cut.

FACETED BUTTONS
Cheaper diamond beads such as these are usually cut as faceted buttons in order to maximize the sparkle. These stones have been laser drilled with very small holes that are uneven in size, making them difficult to string. Diamond beads have sharp edges, so a strong thread or fine cable is needed.

FACETED NUGGETS
Large irregular beads such as nuggets have become very popular. This heavy type of bead needs to be checked for cracks and surface abrasions.

FACETED DROPS
Ruby-in-zoisite faceted drops. The lapidary has used the natural patterning of the gemstone to great effect in this beautiful and imaginative row of beads.

Wholesale Jewelry

Turquoise
For over 3,000 years, the ancient Persians exported turquoise to the world people couldn't get enough of it

Opal
Opal has been attributed with various qualities over the years, from bringing misfortune and hardship to the wearer to

Faceted Round Cuts
There are two main categories of faceted stones: round shapes and straight-sided shapes.

Malachite
Malachite was so popular in the 19th century that the Russian royal family panelled whole rooms with it, and the

Lapis lazuli
Lapis lazuli translates from the Arabic as "heaven (or sky) stone" - it was clearly held in high regard in ancient

Sapphire
Sapphies are more abundant than ruby because its colouring agents (impurities) are more common than those of ruby.

Diamond
Advertising tells us that a diamond is a rare and valuable thing to possess. While it cannot be disputed that white

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