Labradorite Beads
Labradorite beads are a plagioclase feldspar whose grey body lights up with blue, green or gold when turned at the right angle, an effect called labradorescence. This collection holds natural labradorite in a range of finishes and shapes for bracelets, necklaces and earrings.
Appearance
The base color is a smoky grey, from pale and translucent to dark and nearly opaque, and the flash runs from the common electric blue through green, gold and, less often, purple and orange. Flash is directional: a bead shows it only when the layered plane faces the light, so a strand sparkles in patches rather than all at once. Strands vary widely in how much flash they carry, and icy grey material shows more body than fire.
A polished finish shows the flash as a broad sheet of color; microfaceted and faceted cuts turn it into scattered sparks and work well on paler material. Rough or nugget beads keep the flash on whichever faces were cut flat. At 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale labradorite is a little softer than quartz and has 2 directions of cleavage, so avoid hard knocks. Wipe it clean and keep it away from ultrasonic cleaners.
Formation and origin
Labradorite crystallizes in slowly cooled igneous rocks such as gabbro, anorthosite and basalt. As the feldspar cooled it separated into microscopic alternating layers of 2 slightly different compositions, and light reflecting between those layers interferes to produce the colored flash. The color depends on layer thickness, which is why blue is common and purple rare. The stone is named for the Labrador coast of Canada, where it was described in the 1770s, and most bead material today comes from Madagascar. Larvikite, also called black labradorite, is a rock with a different feldspar and a silver flash.
Pairings
Amethyst beads: purple against grey labradorite picks up the blue flash and keeps the strand in cool tones.
Clear quartz beads: colorless spacers let the labradorite flash stand out and add hardness to the strand.
Citrine beads: warm yellow echoes the gold flash and brightens a strand of darker labradorite.
Meaning and Metaphysical Beliefs
Labradorite has long been tied to the northern lights. An Inuit legend holds that the aurora was once trapped in the rocks of Labrador and freed by a warrior's spear, with the stones that kept their light becoming labradorite. In crystal traditions it is associated with intuition, transformation and protection of the aura, and it is often placed with the third eye and throat chakras. These are traditional beliefs, not claims of physical effect.
