There are many different types of beads available to jewelry makers, including gemstone, clay, acrylic, glass, and wooden beads. Within each type of account, there are typically many different sub-classifications. This article will begin to explore the different types of these beads that are available for jewelry makers to use.

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 one type of tree beads are more common in areas where those trees grow naturally, while these beads may be considered a luxury in areas where these trees are less common. Different types of wood can be chosen based on its look, feel, grain, or scent.

Olive
Olive wood beads have a beautiful red hue, and the elegant grain is often attractive and wavy. While younger trees produce softer wood, as the tree ages the heartwood becomes very hard and as the color darkens the grain tends to develop more.

Bayong
Bayong trees are most common in the Philippines and many of the country’s wooden beads are made from bayong wood. The 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 jewelers. While most jewelry makers prefer to keep their beads in the natural warm reddish-brown color of the wood, it is possible to purchase bleached or painted bayong beads.

Sandalwood
Sandalwood beads are light in weight and light in color. They are a popular alternative for people who don’t want a dark colored bead. These beads are also known for their pleasant aroma. In Hindu culture, sandalwood is often used to bring clarity and clear perception to the person wearing it.

ebony
The wooden beads that are made from ebony are wonderfully dark and dense. It is possible to get an ebony form that has a very tight wood grain, where it appears as if two distinctive colors are together. This can help give the beads a unique banding pattern.

Rosewood
Rosewood beads are a very heavy type of bead that is dense and therefore ideal for jewelry making. These beads will often 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 as 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 almost any color.