Beryl Beads
Beryl beads are cut from a single mineral family that includes aquamarine, emerald, morganite and heliodor, each color named for a different trace element in the same crystal. Mixed beryl strands combine several of these in one string. This collection holds every beryl we stock, from aquamarine and emerald to morganite and multicolor mixes, in a range of finishes and shapes for bracelets, necklaces and earrings.
Appearance
Aquamarine runs from pale sky blue to blue-green, emerald from grass green to deep bluish green, and morganite from soft pink to peach. Heliodor and golden beryl add yellow. Mixed beryl strands put these side by side in pastel runs of blue, green, pink and white, and no 2 strands match exactly. Beryl cut for beads is cloudier than faceted gem material, and emerald beads in particular are lighter and less even than fine emerald.
A polished finish shows the glassy luster of beryl, a faceted cut brightens pale colors, and a matte finish gives the pastels a frosted look. At 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, beryl is harder than quartz and wears well, though emerald can be brittle along its fractures.
Formation and origin
Beryl is beryllium aluminum silicate, a mineral that grows in granite pegmatites and, for emerald, in veins where beryllium-rich fluids met chromium or vanadium in the surrounding rock. Pure beryl is colorless; iron gives aquamarine its blue and heliodor its yellow, manganese gives morganite its pink, and chromium or vanadium gives emerald its green. Aquamarine and morganite come mainly from Brazil, Madagascar, Pakistan, Nigeria and Mozambique. Emerald comes from Colombia, Zambia and Brazil. Beryl is not related to jade, so the beryl jade name describes color only.
Pairings
Fluorite beads: its greens, purples and blues sit in the same pastel range as beryl, though it is much softer.
Rose quartz beads: soft pink that matches morganite and sets off aquamarine blue without competing.
Green apatite beads: a saturated blue-green that bridges aquamarine and emerald tones in the same strand.
Meaning and Metaphysical Beliefs
Beryl has long been linked with clear sight. Polished beryl was ground into early reading lenses in medieval Europe, and the German word for eyeglasses, Brille, comes from the stone's name. Seers used beryl spheres for scrying. In modern crystal traditions aquamarine is associated with calm and the throat chakra, emerald with the heart, and morganite with compassion. These are traditional beliefs, not claims of physical effect.
