Beads are a very common component for making jewelry, whether it’s a bracelet, necklace, or something else. There are several kinds of beads that use a different material, shape, size, weight, or look that you can use to achieve different looks for your jewelry. Even sometimes, gemstones. At Halcraft Collection, we want to help you find the perfect jewelry making supplies for your upcoming project.
If you want to know which are the best beads for jewelry making, you’ve come to the right place. We wrote this quick guide outlining the nine best beads you can use. They can be bought in sets or as loose beads on their own.
Bone beads are hand carved from the bones of animals into different bead shapes. You can get simple round beads or more intricate shapes and designs. The material of bone makes the beads lighter, and the natural color of bone can be very warm and striking.
Ceramic beads are made with clay and ceramic material. Shaped in their soft, wet form, they are then hardened in heat and fire. These beads can have beautifully polished or glazed finishes because of the nature of the material. You can get striking color tones from them. Along with that, they come in varying sizes with a small or large hole that can suit various jewelry projects.
Coral beads are crafted from different kinds of coral. At Halcraft, we only use coral materials that do not harm the environment or sea life. We use fossilized coral that is mined like stone and cut into intricate shapes and sizes. The colors of coral beads are truly stunning and perfect for stringing a beautiful necklace.
Glass beads have a more translucent quality to the coloring but are more limited in the shapes that can be used compared to others. However, the way that glass can hold colors is unique, especially if it is made with a blend or pattern of colors.
Freshwater pearl beads have a more natural shape and less variety for shapes and sizes since they are harvested — not crafted. But if you’ve seen pearls before, you know how striking their natural coloring can look. They can be dyed with other colors as well but are equally beautiful in their natural form.
Metal beads are crafted from cast metal, which works very well as spacers on your jewelry. You can get very intricate shapes and patterns cast in metal beads, such as knots or animal shapes. You can also have them painted with gorgeous colors or kept with the simple natural tones of different metals — iron, silver, gold, copper, and so on.
Resin beads can be made to look like other materials, such as glass, metal, or stone. However, they are typically lighter than those materials and are cast from molds like metal to achieve a wide variety of shapes and patterns. This gives a wide variety of styles, looks, and colors to choose from, suitable for just about any type of jewelry.
Semi-precious beads are carved from semi-precious stones like amethyst, tiger eye, amazonite, and more. They will typically maintain their natural look but are shaped and polished to be as bright and striking as possible.
Wood beads are carved from natural wood, painted with various colors, or simply polished to show off the natural tones and textures of the wood it was carved from. You can find a great variety of patterns and styles.
These nine beads are the best types you can use when making jewelry. That includes virtually every kind of DIY jewelry designs, such as:
So whether you want beads to make bracelets, one of the most common types of jewelry to use beads, or any of the other styles, you can use these great beads to make something beautiful.
Also, check out our video tutorials for more inspiration on your jewelry design journey!
