Agate Beads

Agate is banded gemstone which is creatively striped by nature. This gemstone belongs to family Chalcedony quartz. Agate is highly valued as lucky charm or amulet from ancient time. According to gemstone therapists say that Agate can cure insomnia, Agate wearer will get very pleasant sleep and will not be disturbed by scary dreams.

Agate is formed in rock cavity so agate is often found in natural round nodule shapes with concentric bands of variety of colors and textures. Agate has different varieties with different colors and textures like Blue lace Agate, which has very fine bands of blue and white color; Botswana Agate has bands of grey, brown and white. Agate from Mexico is called Crazy lace Agate which has patterns of various colors and many more.

Agate beads are very beautiful you can use them Agate strand or you can use in contrast with other gemstone like pearls to create stunning look. Usually agate beads are available in many different colors like yellow, golden, cream, Pitch; pink most common color in Agate beads is Brown to Shades of Red. Agate beads are often translucent with black, brown and golden highlights. Usually Agate beads are round but they are also available in baroque, oval and square shape. Bracelet and necklace of Agate beads looks very pretty. Usually Agate is combined with Yellow gold, Silver, Platinum or white gold.

Hardness of Agate beads is between 6.5-7mohs on hardness, so it is quite sturdy and long lasting stone. So any specific care is not required for Agate beads. Agate is boiled in strong bicarbonate solution and soaked in different chemical solution for desired color like to get Red color Agate is soaked in Iron nitrate solution. For green color chromic acid or nickel nitrate is used. For Black color first Agate is soaked in sugar solution and then in Sulphuric acid. For more information on Agate beads visit www.orientalpearls.net/strands_agate.php