Semi-Precious and Coloured Stone —Frequently Asked Questions

A: This means that the tiny bits and dust from working the stone are swept up, ground, and mixed with a resin and molded back into stone and recut into beads. While is sounds labour intensive - and it is - for some of the more expensive stones, (such as lapis and turquoise) - it is usually worth it, to the manufacturer. The end result to you is that you get beads that are usually half the price of the "real" thing - do contain some of the real thing, are more colour-stable, and more consistent in colour and texture. They have less of the irregularities that genuine, first-cut stone has. The treatment is permanent and durable.

A: Virtually every stone bead on the market is somehow treated - usually at least by heating to make them appear clearer and the colours more vivid. Heat-treating and colour-treating is most common.

We give you as much information about a stone as we have - including any treatments that we know or even just suspect.

It is now such an industry accepted practice, that most suppliers do not mention it, as they assume the buyer knows, and will assume they are treated.

Think of it as analagous to wearing makeup - if it is not considered wrong to put on lipstick so that you look your best when you leave the house, then heat-treating stones to make the colours richer and brighter is the same idea.

So long as the treatment is permanent and does not make the stone less strong or harm it in some other way - then we think it is fine, as it makes beautiful stones affordable for more people.

A: Real stones are imperfect. Look for flaws, inclusions (stuff inside the stone) - changes in texture. Handle the beads, go to shows and see lots of beads, you'll start to get an eye for it. Break open a bead - see what is inside.

And, do a sanity check, based on the price, and availability, and quality. Has a previously rare stone, suddenly become common? Is the price consistent with what you see elsewhere? Is it expensive enough to warrant imitation?

A: Goldstone is a man-made stone, being made of glass, with copper flakes suspended in it. It is also known as aventurine, and monkstone. Lampworkers also use this in beadmaking, and it is also used in handmade marbles, where it is known as "lutz." The most common base colour is an earthy brick red, but midnight blue and deep forest green are also available.

Some places are now calling this "Sand Stone" -- but as it is so far removed from "sandstone" - which is a crumbly composite, naturally occuring stone, easily carved but not very durabable and seldom used in jewelry, we'll just resist that little trend. ;-)

If you are a lampworker and want to melt some into your beads - you need to buy the goldstone specifically made for this, as the COE for the beads is unknown.