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From the mountains of Afghanistan, this exciting medley includes a wide variety of delightful beads including lapis lazuli, turquoise, and others. ...
View full detailsThese natural beads are made using dried lava, formed from molten rock originating from a volcano eruption. They come in a variety of shapes and si...
View full detailsThese Onyx Beads are the ideal addition for any jewelry project. This stone material is specifically crafted for its deep black color, creating a s...
View full detailsFrom the mountains of Afghanistan, this exciting medley includes a wide variety of delightful beads including lapis lazuli, turquoise, jade and oth...
View full detailsTake a moment to appreciate the unique and striking patterns of these stunning Lapis Lazuli beads. Lapis Lazuli Stone beads like this are known for...
View full detailsBe inspired by these lovely Lapis Lazuli Beads. Lapis Lazuli beads can make for a truly vibrant accent piece or spacer in most your original neckla...
View full detailsThese Onyx Beads are perfect for use in all your jewelry making and design projects. Onyx will add a luxurious and classic look to your necklaces, ...
View full detailsThese Black Skull Beads have a fun and playful energy to them. Carved from natural stone and then dyed black these skull beads are sure to be an at...
View full detailsThis great set of Lapis Lazuli Heart Beads is ideal for making cute jewelry designs. Lapis Lazuli is popular gemstone that has been used for centur...
View full detailsCheck out this amazing strand of high-quality stone beads made of authentic turquoise. This brilliant and unique color will add an unmistakable acc...
View full detailsLabradorite is often referred to as a ‘Stone of Magic’. It is believed by some to help one become more self aware of their emotions and psychic con...
View full detailsTake a moment to appreciate the unique and striking patterns of these stunning Lapis Lazuli beads. Lapis Lazuli Stone beads like this are known for...
View full detailsThis beautiful strand of Skull Beads is great for designers with a bold design aesthetic. Whether you use these skull beads as chunky charms for br...
View full detailsAventurine is a form of quartz and is considered to be the "Stone of Opportunity." Often said to enhance prosperity and wealth, this green gemstone...
View full detailsThese natural beads are made using dried lava, formed from molten rock originating from a volcano eruption. They come in a variety of shapes and si...
View full detailsThis gorgeous pack of Dark Carnelian Beads is perfect for creating a translucent pop of color to you jewelry designs. You can string these beautifu...
View full detailsThe clear black and white patterns on the surface of Zebra Jasper resembles the coat of a zebra. Zebra Jasper is often referred to as the ‘Stone of...
View full detailsThese beautiful saucer beads are from the mountains of Afghanistan. They are made from recycled, reconstituted stone meant to resemble traditional ...
View full detailsFun and easy to work with, these colorful Druzy Agate Stone Beads are a great choice for creative and custom jewelry designs. The name Druzy genera...
View full detailsThese Skull Beads are a great way to add a playful and interesting vibe to your design projects. Each skull bead is skillfully shaped then is dyed ...
View full detailsThe clear black and white patterns on the surface of Zebra Jasper resembles the coat of a zebra. Zebra Jasper is often referred to as the ‘Stone of...
View full detailsCheck out this amazing strand of stone beads made from "African turquoise", which is sourced from African jasper mines. This brilliant and unique c...
View full detailsTake a moment to appreciate the luxurious hues of these carnelian beads. Commonly referred to as the 'Stone of Confidence', Carnelian beads can mak...
View full detailsRose Quartz is said to be a stone that represents one’s heart, and is found in varoius areas across the world including Madagascar, Germany, India ...
View full detailsGemstone beads are treasured by many. The power and symbolism of color is central to the cultures of many indigenous tribes in Africa. From the speckled whites and grays of Bauxite Beads which mark the acceptance of a newborn into Krobo society, to the deep reddish brown of Carnelian which symbolizes vitality and fertility, it's no wonder that certain stones are considered invaluable among some tribal cultures. But, African Gemstone Beads aren't just prized for their aesthetic beauty and rarity. Tribes such as the Yoruba also place great value upon certain types of gemstones owing to their former use as early currency. Through early trade routes, there was considerable influx of natural Gemstone Beads such as agate, carnelian and turquoise; stones which were often traded with Yoruban and Bedouin chiefs in exchange for furs, art and slaves.
Unsurprisingly, the collectible value of African Gemstone Beads inspired many artisans to produce counterfeit copies from other less precious materials - the Ancient Egyptians being a great example. After exhausting many of their own turquoise mines, they looked to another material with similar properties: jasper. The vast majority of African Turquoise Beads sold today are produced from this mineral. Bauxite, favored for its reddish-brown marbled appearance, was also used throughout the trade era to produce faux Carnelian Beads, and remains a popular element among native jewelry crafters today.