Every bead we string has a story. Here is what each stone is traditionally worn for, the gem facts behind it, and how to keep it looking beautiful for years.
Tiger's Eye is the classic "get it done" stone. Traditionally it is worn for courage, self-confidence and the kind of steady focus that helps you follow through on a decision instead of second-guessing it. Its warm, earthy color is also tied to grounding, so it is a popular pick for anyone who wants to feel more settled and sure of themselves.
Its name comes from the way the bands catch light like a cat's eye. It has been carried as a protective talisman for centuries, and folklore holds that Roman soldiers wore it into battle for bravery.
The famous silky glow (called chatoyancy) comes from fine parallel fibers inside the quartz that catch the light as the bead turns. The golden-brown color comes from iron.
Tough and easy to live with. Rinse in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, then dry. Avoid harsh chemicals.
Back to all stonesRed Tiger's Eye keeps everything people love about golden tiger's eye and adds a warmer, more energetic feel. Traditionally it is worn for motivation, vitality and passion, the push that gets you moving when you feel stuck. It is often called the "survival stone" for the steady, grounded drive it is said to bring.
Red tiger's eye occurs naturally where golden tiger's eye has been exposed to heat, and most of what is sold today is gently heat-treated to bring out the red. It is the same stone with a deeper, richer color.
Heat converts some of the iron in golden tiger's eye to hematite, which turns the bands red while keeping the cat's-eye glow.
Same as tiger's eye: lukewarm water and mild soap, pat dry, keep away from harsh chemicals.
Back to all stonesMoonstone is the stone of fresh starts. It is traditionally worn for intuition, emotional balance and a sense of calm during change, and it has long been linked with the moon, cycles and feminine energy. People reach for it at the start of a new chapter, a new job, a move, or simply a new season of life.
The Romans believed moonstone was formed from solidified moonlight, and it has been treasured in India for centuries as a sacred stone. It is one of the birthstones for June.
The floating glow (called adularescence) is light scattering between extremely thin layers of two feldspar minerals inside the stone. The blue-flash "rainbow moonstone" sold in many shops is actually a white labradorite, a close cousin.
Softer than quartz and can break if knocked hard, so take it off for heavy work. Clean with a soft cloth or a quick rinse in mild soapy water, and avoid sudden heat. No ultrasonic or steam cleaners.
Back to all stonesMalachite is known as the stone of transformation. Traditionally it is worn during big life changes, when you are ready to let go of old patterns and step into something new. It is also one of the oldest protective stones, said to absorb negative energy so it does not reach the wearer, and it is closely tied to the heart.
Ancient Egyptians ground malachite into green eye paint and carved it into amulets thousands of years ago. Russian tsars lined entire rooms with it, and the Malachite Room still stands in St. Petersburg's Winter Palace.
Malachite is a copper mineral, which is why it is so vividly green. Real malachite has irregular, uneven banding. Perfectly repeating patterns usually mean it is imitation.
One of the softest stones we string, so treat it gently. Keep it away from water, sweat, lotions and cleaning products, take it off before showers and swimming, and wipe it with a soft dry cloth. Polished beads are safe to wear.
Back to all stonesCarnelian is a warm, energizing stone. Traditionally it is worn for creativity, motivation and confidence, the spark that helps you start a project and the stamina to see it through. It is linked to the sacral chakra and to vitality, and it is a favorite for performers, makers and anyone who wants a little more boldness.
One of the oldest gems in jewelry. Carnelian beads have been found in Bronze Age sites, ancient Egyptians associated it with the goddess Isis, and Romans carved it into signet rings because hot wax does not stick to it.
The orange comes from tiny amounts of iron oxide. Much carnelian is gently heated to deepen the color, a traditional and accepted practice.
Durable and low-maintenance. Mild soap and lukewarm water are fine. Store it apart from softer beads such as pearl and malachite so it does not scratch them.
Back to all stonesCitrine is the sunshine stone. Traditionally it is worn for optimism, joy and abundance, and it is nicknamed the "merchant's stone" because shopkeepers once kept a piece in the cash box to draw in prosperity. It is tied to the solar plexus, the center of personal power and self-worth, and it is a popular pick for anyone who wants to feel lighter and more positive.
Citrine was mistaken for topaz for centuries and became a favorite of Art Deco jewelers in the 1920s and 30s. It is one of the birthstones for November.
Natural citrine is uncommon. Most citrine sold today, including the deeper orange shades, is amethyst that has been heat-treated, which is a standard and accepted practice. Either way it is the same quartz mineral colored by iron.
Hard and durable. Clean with mild soap and lukewarm water. Keep it out of prolonged direct sun, which can fade the color over time.
Back to all stonesLabradorite is the stone of magic and transformation. Traditionally it is worn to strengthen intuition, shield your energy from other people's stress, and find courage during change. Turn it in the light and the hidden flash appears and disappears, which is why so many people see it as a reminder that there is more to a person, or a situation, than what shows on the surface.
It was named after Labrador, Canada, where it was documented in the 1770s. Inuit legend says the Northern Lights were once trapped inside the rocks there, and a warrior freed most of them with his spear; what remained became labradorite.
The flash (called labradorescence) is light bouncing between microscopic layers inside the feldspar. Each bead shows a different flash depending on how it was cut.
Handle with a little care; it can chip on a hard knock. Clean with a soft cloth or mild soapy water. No ultrasonic cleaners.
Back to all stonesLapis Lazuli is the stone of wisdom and truth. Traditionally it is worn to speak honestly and clearly, to trust your own judgment and to open the mind to deeper understanding. It is tied to the throat and third-eye chakras, and for thousands of years it has been the color of royalty, priests and scholars.
Lapis has been mined in the mountains of Afghanistan for more than 6,000 years. It fills the burial mask of Tutankhamun, and Renaissance painters ground it into ultramarine, once the most expensive pigment in the world.
Lapis is a rock made of several minerals: lazurite gives the blue, pyrite adds the golden flecks and calcite shows as white streaks. Gold flecks are a good sign; very cheap, flawless blue is often dyed.
Softer than most beads and slightly porous, so it shows wear faster. Wipe with a soft dry cloth, do not soak it, keep perfume, lotion and alcohol-based products off it, and store it apart from harder stones.
Back to all stonesMoss Agate is the gardener's stone. Traditionally it is worn for growth, new beginnings and abundance, and for feeling connected to nature when life keeps you indoors. It is considered gentle and steadying, a stone for slow, patient progress rather than sudden change.
European farmers once hung moss agate in trees and on the horns of oxen hoping for a good harvest, and it has been carried for luck and prosperity for centuries.
Despite the name there is no moss inside. The green tendrils are inclusions of minerals such as chlorite and hornblende that grew in branching patterns as the stone formed.
Durable and easy. Mild soap and lukewarm water, then dry.
Back to all stonesRose Quartz is the stone of love in every form: romantic love, friendship, family and, above all, love for yourself. Traditionally it is worn to soften a hard season, to open the heart after hurt and to bring a gentler, more compassionate tone to daily life. It is the classic heart-chakra stone.
Rose quartz beads dating back to about 7000 BC have been found in Mesopotamia. Ancient Egyptians believed it could hold off aging, and Romans carved it into seals.
The pink comes from microscopic fibrous mineral inclusions spread through the quartz, which is also why the stone looks cloudy rather than glassy.
Hard, durable and stable in everyday light. Mild soap and lukewarm water are all it needs.
Back to all stonesRed Jasper is the stone of endurance. Traditionally it is worn for grounding, stamina and quiet strength, the kind that helps you keep going through a long week rather than a quick burst of energy. It is tied to the root chakra and is a go-to for feeling stable, safe and physically present.
Jasper was carved into seals on Minoan Crete almost 4,000 years ago, and red jasper is thought to be the first stone in the high priest's breastplate described in the Book of Exodus.
Jasper is quartz packed with so much iron oxide and other minerals that it becomes fully opaque. The iron is what makes it red.
Durable and low-maintenance. Mild soap and lukewarm water are fine.
Back to all stonesTurquoise is one of the oldest protective stones on earth. Traditionally it is worn for safety on journeys, for good fortune and as a token of friendship, and it is linked to the throat chakra and honest communication. Across many cultures a piece of turquoise was given as a gift to wish someone well.
Turquoise was mined in Egypt's Sinai peninsula more than 5,000 years ago, prized by Persian royalty, and it remains sacred to Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and other Native American nations. It is one of the birthstones for December.
The blue comes from copper; iron shifts it toward green. Most turquoise on the market is stabilized to keep its color and strength, and imitations made from dyed howlite are common, so buy from someone you trust.
Porous, so it soaks up lotion, perfume and even skin oils and can slowly change color. Put it on last, keep it dry, store it out of strong sun and wipe it with a soft dry cloth. No soaking, no chemicals, no ultrasonic or steam cleaners.
Back to all stonesSunstone is the stone of light and leadership. Traditionally it is worn for joy, optimism and self-confidence, and to shake off heaviness or a stretch of low motivation. It is tied to the sacral and solar plexus chakras, the seats of creativity and personal power, and it is a favorite for people who want to step forward and be seen.
Oregon named sunstone its official state gemstone in 1987. The "sunstone" of Viking navigation legend was most likely a different, clear crystal used to find the sun on cloudy days.
The sparkle (called aventurescence) comes from tiny flat inclusions of copper or hematite that reflect light. Man-made "goldstone" glass is sometimes sold as sunstone; real sunstone has softer, more random glitter.
Moderately durable; avoid hard knocks. Clean with a soft cloth or mild soapy water. No ultrasonic cleaners.
Back to all stonesObsidian is the strongest protective stone in most traditions. It is worn to shield against negativity, to stay grounded under pressure and to see a situation, or yourself, honestly. It is tied to the root chakra. People often describe it as a stone that helps clear out what no longer serves you, so it is popular for anyone working through a difficult stretch.
Obsidian forms when lava cools too quickly for crystals to grow. Aztec and Maya craftsmen shaped it into blades and polished mirrors, and obsidian tools are among the oldest ever found. Its edge is so fine that obsidian blades have been made for surgery.
Obsidian is not a mineral at all but natural glass, which is why it is so smooth and reflective. Tiny iron-oxide crystals give it the black color. Bright blue, green or red "obsidian" is man-made glass, so real obsidian is almost always black, brown or smoky.
Glass chips and scratches more easily than quartz, so avoid knocking it against hard surfaces. Clean with a soft cloth or mild soapy water, and keep it away from sudden heat.
Back to all stonesPearls are the classic symbols of purity, wisdom and integrity. Traditionally they are worn for calm and emotional balance, and they are linked with the moon and water. A pearl is the only gem grown by a living creature, which is why so many traditions treat it as a stone of patience and of beauty that comes from within.
Pearls are among the oldest gems ever worn, mentioned in Chinese records more than 4,000 years ago and prized by Persian, Roman, Chinese and Indian royalty. Persian lore called them the tears of the gods. Pearl is a birthstone for June.
Nearly all freshwater pearls today are cultured: a mussel is gently encouraged to coat a tiny piece of tissue with layer after layer of nacre, so each pearl is solid nacre through and through. Most are lightly bleached to even out the color, and each one is a little different in shape, which is part of the charm.
The softest gem we string, so follow the classic rule: last on, first off. Keep pearls away from perfume, hairspray, lotion and sweat, wipe them with a soft damp cloth after wearing, and store them separately from harder beads. Never soak and never use ultrasonic cleaners.
Back to all stonesAmetrine brings together the calm of amethyst and the bright optimism of citrine in a single bead. Traditionally it is worn for balance, mental clarity and creative problem-solving, for moments when you need both a clear head and the energy to act. Many people describe it as the stone for turning ideas into reality.
Almost all natural ametrine comes from one place: the Anahí mine in eastern Bolivia. Legend says the mine was given to a Spanish conquistador in the 1600s as a dowry from an Ayoreo princess named Anahí.
The two colors formed in the same crystal because different zones grew under slightly different temperatures, so the iron inside took on two different colors. Some ametrine on the market is heat-treated or synthetic, so a trusted source matters.
Hard and durable. Mild soap and lukewarm water. Keep it out of prolonged sunlight, which can fade both colors.
Back to all stonesRhodonite is called the stone of compassion. Traditionally it is worn to heal emotional wounds, release resentment and find forgiveness for others and for yourself. It is a heart-chakra stone with a steadier, more grounded feel than rose quartz, which makes it a favorite for working through grief or a hard relationship.
Named from the Greek word for rose, rhodonite was first described in Sweden in 1819 and became beloved in Russia, where the Ural Mountains produced huge decorative pieces. It is the state gem of Massachusetts.
The pink comes from manganese, and the dramatic black veins are manganese oxides that formed along cracks as the stone weathered. It is often confused with rhodochrosite, a softer pink stone with white bands; rhodonite is the one with black veins. No two beads are alike.
Moderately soft; avoid knocks and harsh chemicals. Clean with a soft cloth or mild soapy water.
Back to all stonesPick your stones, your bead size (4mm to 10mm) and your wrist size, and we will string it by hand.