An ever-growing and evolving glossary of beads and their country of origin.

AFGHANISTAN
LAPIS
This beautiful blue stone comes from the Sar-I-Sang mines of Afghanistan, and contains flecks of Pyrite, also known as “Fool’s Gold.”

ANTARCTICA
ANTARCTIC PENGUINS
There are four different species of penguin that spend their entire lives on the continent of Antarctica!

AUSTRALIA
MOOKAITE
These “semi-precious” stone beads are formed from hardened fossil sediment.

AUSTRALIA
OPAL
If you look at Opal from different angles, it reveals its “fire” which can range from purples & blues to oranges & pink!

AUSTRIA
SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL
These crystal beads are made using a special, top secret process that makes them sparkle like no other bead in the world!
Photo credit: Cousin DIY

BOTSWANA
BOTSWANA AGATE
These stones have layers of quartz and silica, made from volcanic activity that occurred over 200 million years ago!

BRAZIL
AMAZONITE
Amazonite is named after the Amazon River in Brazil where it was first believed to have been discovered thousands of years ago!

BRAZIL
CITRINE
In ancient times, this stone was thought to possess the power to hold sunlight!

BULGARIA
CERAMIC BEADS
Bulgarian ceramic beads are made using a variety of different techniques such as carving, stamping, and glazing.
Photo credit: Golem Design Studio

CANADA
LABRADORITE
This gray stone reveals flashes of blue light when held at certain angles!
Photo credit: Marycraft Creations

CHILE
DENIM LAPIS
This Lapis from Chile is a paler blue than that of Afghanistan, it also contains less Pyrite (Fool’s Gold).

CHINA
CLOISONNÉ BEADS
These copper beads are enameled in many different colors and they often showcase a floral design.

CHINA
PORCELAIN BEADS
Chinese porcelain beads are hand painted and best recognized in a classic cobalt blue and white color combination.

CHINA
CINNABAR
Genuine Cinnabar is made of mercury, making it one of the most toxic minerals known to man! Now these are made from cast resin, so you can wear them safely.

CONGO
MALACHITE BEADS
This green stone forms above copper deposits found deep in the earth.

CUBA
SEEDS, CERAMIC, & BONE BEADS
The products of mother nature are very popular in this island nation!

CZECH REPUBLIC
GLASS BEADS
The Czech Republic is well known for producing both tiny, cut glass beads called “seed beads” as well as glass beads of other shapes and sizes.
Photo credit: Austin Bead Gallery

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
LARIMAR
This gorgeous blue stone can only be found in the Dominican Republic!
Photo credit: healingcrystals.com

EGYPT
FAIENCE SCARAB & MUMMY BEADS
Scarabs represent the circle of life in ancient Egyptian culture. These beads are made from sand and ground up quartz.
Photo credit: dazzlecity.net

FRANCE
PROSSER BEADS
These opaque beads are made out of a paste which is put in a mold and then heated with fire!
Photo credit: https://mdm-beadalot.blogspot.com

GERMANY
GERMAN GLASS BEADS
These vintage beads are over half a century old. Some of them are even made with real 22k gold!

GHANA
KROBO BEADS
Krobo beads are made from ground up bottles and glass scraps.

GREECE
CLAY BEADS
These clay beads are made by hand in the Greek islands.
Photo credit: Golden Age Beads

GUATEMALA
CLAY BEADS
Guatemalan clay beads were used by the Mayan people to weigh down threads while making hand-spun cotton.
Photo credit: Happy Mango Beads

GUATEMALA
JADEITE JADE
Jadeite Jade is the national stone of Guatemala.

HAWAII
PUKA SHELLS
The word “Puka” means “hole” in Hawaiian. The sea, sand, and sun create holes in these shells, turning them into beads!

INDIA
GLASS BEADS
Indian glass beads have been around for about 2,000 years! These beads are made by sculpting molten hot glass to create unique beads of all shapes & sizes.

INDONESIA
BALI SILVER BEADS
The silver working techniques used to create these beads are part of an ancient Balinese tradition.

INDONESIA
GLASS BEADS
Indonesia has been making glass beads for centuries.
Photo credit: Happy Mango Beads

INDONESIA
JAVA LAMPWORK GLASS BEADS
Handcrafted glass beads made on the island of Java!

INDONESIA – BORNEO
RUDRAKSHA
This bead is made out of a seed that is used as a prayer bead in Hinduism. glass beads made on the island of Java!

JAPAN
CERAMICS & PLASTICS
From ancient techniques to modern designs, these beads are unique and beautiful.
Photo credit: bsueboutiques.com

JAPAN
HANDMADE GLASS
These glass beads are made by hand, making each one unique and one of a kind!
Photo credit: bsueboutiques.com

JAPAN
SEED BEADS
Japanese seed beads are the most uniform and perfect beads of their kind. These tiny “seed” like beads are made from glass!

ITALY
HANDMADE GLASS BEADS
These beads are made from rods of colorful glass.

MEXICO
MILAGROS
Milagros means “Miracles” in Spanish. These charms are used as symbols or prayers for the wearer’s particular needs.

MOROCCO
FOSSIL SHARK TOOTH
Morocco has an abundance of shark teeth and dinosaur fossils!
Photo credit: kalifano.com

MYANMAR
BURMA JADE BEADS
In ancient times, Jade was considered to be almost as valuable as gold!
Photo credit: Celestial Awakenings Crystals

NEPAL
INLAID METAL BEADS
Turquoise and coral bits are embedded into these stunning metal beads.

NEW ZEALAND
CARVED WOOD & JADE
In Maori culture, symbols like spirals called “Koru” are carved in wood, jade, and even bone!
Photo credit: kiwitreasure.com

NORWAY
PUFFIN BEADS
Norway is home to the Arctic Puffin which is one of the smallest of the Puffin species.
Photo credit: The Crafty Bead

PALESTINE
HEBRON GLASS
Hebron Glass was traditionally made with sand and sodium carbonate from the Dead Sea!
Photo credit: earthlyadornments.com

PERU
PERUVIAN CERAMIC BEADS
These colorful beads have so much detail, they are tiny works of art!
Photo credit: Tumi Fairtrade Beads

PHILIPPINES
SHELL, CORAL, & STONE
Products from nature, specifically from the sea, are a big hit in this country with over 7,500 islands!

RUSSIA
CHAROITE
This stone gets its name from the Russian word “Chary” (скупой) which means “charms” or “magic.”
Photo credit: cooltools.us

SOUTH AFRICA
BLUE LACE AGATE
This beautiful light blue stone has subtle stripes made of microscopic crystals!

TAHITI
PEARLS
This beautiful pearl is formed from the Black Lip Oyster.

TANZANIA
TANZANITE BEADS
This beautiful stone only occurs in Tanzania, in a volcanic basin called Merlani.

THAILAND
KAREN HILL TRIBE SILVER
Each and every piece of Hill Tribe silver is made by hand, making each bead completely one of a kind!
Photo credit: beads.co.uk

TIBET
DZI BEADS
Dzi means “sky.” Some of these beads are valued at more than one million dollars!
Photo credit: Momo Duke Shop

TUNISIA
RED CORAL
Red Coral grows in the depths of the Mediterranean Sea in dark caverns or crevices.

TURKEY
EYE BEADS
Protective beads also known as “Evil Eye” beads.
Photo credit: enjoyistanbul.com

REPUBLIC OF CÔTE d’IVOIRE
AFRICAN BRASS BEADS
These metal beads are particularly special because each one has its own unique mold that can be used only once, making each bead one of a kind!

URAGUAY
AMETHYST
This special stone is created when gas bubbles from lava become trapped in volcanic rocks allowing crystals to form! Did you know a crystal can grow over 6 feet long?!

U.S.A.
ARIZONA TURQUOISE BEADS
The world’s most beautiful Turquoise comes from right here in Arizona! It is often used in Native American jewelry.
Photo credit: rincontrading.com

U.S.A.
RHODE ISLAND PEWTER
This is where metal casting in America first began!
Photo credit: lot-art.com

ZUNI
BEAR FETISHES
In Zuni culture hand carved bear fetishes are believed to have magic healing powers
Photo credit: Joe Wilcox Indian Den