There are many different types of beads available to jewelry makers, including gemstones, clay, acrylic, glass, and wood beads. Within each type of account, there are generally many different sub-classifications. This article will begin to explore the different types of these beads that are available for use by jewelry manufacturers.
While not all tree species are suitable for making beads, there is a wide range of different woods that have been used to create wooden beads. These include olive, sandalwood, bamboo, apple, ebony, rosewood, bayong, and many more. You will often find that beads of one type of tree are more common in areas where those trees grow naturally, while these beads can be considered a luxury in areas where these trees are less common. Different types of wood can be chosen based on their appearance, feel, grain or aroma.
Olive
Olive wood beads have a beautiful shade of red and the elegant grain is usually attractive and wavy. While younger trees produce softer wood, as the tree ages, the core wood becomes very hard, and as the color darkens, the grain tends to develop further.
Bayong
Bayong trees are more common in the Philippines and many of the wooden beads in this country are made from bayong wood. Wood is ideal for making wooden beads because it is easy to work with and is very strong. Most bayong trees have a very distinctive wood grain, which also makes the wood popular with jewelry makers. While most jewelry manufacturers prefer to keep their beads the natural warm reddish-brown color of wood, it is possible to purchase bleached or painted bayong beads.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood beads are lightweight and colored. They are a popular alternative for people who do not want dark colored beads. These pearls are also known for their pleasant scent. In Hindu culture, sandalwood is often used to give clarity and clear perception to the person using it.
Ebony
The wooden beads that are made of ebony are wonderfully dark and dense. It is possible to get an ebony shape that has a very tight wood grain, where it appears as if two distinctive colors are together. This can help the beads have a unique stripe pattern.
Rosewood
Rosewood beads are a very heavy type of bead that is dense and therefore ideal for jewelry making. These beads usually have a very fine and beautiful wood grain.
Painted beads
Beads that have been made from a less distinctive type of wood are often painted, rather than left in their natural state. If you want to paint your own wooden beads, it is important that you use paint designed for use on wood, because wood is often very porous and this could affect the appearance of the paint once it has dried. Painting these beads allows you to have beads of almost any color.
