Labradorite Beads are a beautiful way to enjoy this gemstone. Learn about the different kinds of beads and what to look for when shopping…
Lower End:
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| Low Grade: These are faceted rondelle beads are about the lowest grade labradorite you will ever see. There is no translucency and no play of color. | Low Grade: These beads are just a notch better than the beads to the left – they are larger and they have a hint of color. Still very low grade. | Faceted Squares: These labradorites are more colorful and contain pockets of translucence. Their shape is also unusual and required crafstmanship | Typical: This is what you expect to see when you hear “labradorite bead”. They are simple, polished ovals, mostly dark grey with an occasional flash of brilliant color. Nice but still inexpensive. |
Jewelry Grade
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| Round, faceted: These are very typical labradorite beads. They are round and faceted, which adds value. They have a bit of color and a bit of tranlucence. | Translucent: These are very translucent labradorite beads – notice the string is visible inside the stones? They also have some flashes of color making them usable in nicer jewelry. | Nice: These labradorite beads have a combination of lovely faceting, good tranlusence and strong color. A strand of these retail might cost $50 – $120. | Wow: What is special about these beads is their color. At its best labradorite can electrify you with blues and greens – these faceted briolets do that and are semi-translucent and cut nicely. |
Unusual:
One nice thing about labradorite is that it is not uncommon in very large sizes. A large rough crystal provides the possibility of an unusual shape or cut.
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| Octogan: This is a nice, large focal bead that has great translucence and ok color. not many translucent gems can be cut this shape, this large at a low price $10-$40 | Rough: These labradorites have just been sliced – no faceting, shaping or cuting. They still look cool though… a skilled artist can use these to make high end looking even though these beads are not so expensive. | Long Beads: These beads are an exceptional size and shape for any stone – they are even faceted. Too bad they don’t have more color. They will need to be handled carefully – one drop on the floor can cause a shatter. | Top Class: These labradorite beads are so special, both because of their gorgeous intense color and because of their unusual fancy shape. Wow. |
