Natural Baltic Amber Beads | Necklace, bracelets, casual jewelry | Material: Certified Baltic amber (ISO 17677) Size: 5mm/6mm diameter Color: White/amber hues (CIE Lab L* 80–95) Treatment: Polished to 1200 grit (ASTM E1220) | ▲ Natural hypoallergenic material (soothing for sensitive skin) ▲ Durability: Mohs hardness 2.5–4 (resists everyday wear) | ▲ Cost: 20–30% higher than synthetic alternatives ▲ Color consistency: Limited to natural amber shades |
Synthetic Resin Beads | Cost-sensitive jewelry, fashion accessories | Material: Epoxy resin (ASTM D822) Size: 4mm/5mm diameter Color: Customizable (Pantone matched) Treatment: UV-coated (ASTM D3452) | ▲ Affordability: 50% cheaper than natural amber ▲ Color variety: 100+ hues available | ▲ Durability: 50% lower scratch resistance vs. natural amber ▲ Allergens: May cause skin irritation (contains BPA in some grades) |
Glass Beads | Statement jewelry, art projects | Material: Lead-free soda-lime glass (ISO 720) Size: 6mm diameter Color: Transparent/opaque (RGB values defined) | ▲ Shine: High refractive index (1.5–1.9) ▲ Customization: Engraving/embossing compatible | ▲ Fragility: 3x higher breakage risk vs. resin/amber ▲ Weight: Heavier (1.5g per bead vs. 0.8g for amber) |
Plastic Beads | Children’s jewelry, temporary designs | Material: PVC (ASTM D1209) Size: 3–8mm diameter Color: Bright neon shades (CIE 1931 coordinates) | ▲ Cost: 70% cheaper than glass/resin ▲ Lightweight: 0.5g per bead | ▲ Durability: Degradation in UV light (loses 50% color intensity in 6 months) ▲ Toxicity: Non-compliant with CPSIA for kids under 12 |
Citrine Gemstone Beads | Luxury jewelry, high-end accessories | Material: Natural citrine (GIA certified) Size: 5mm diameter Color: Golden-yellow (CIE L* 60–70) Treatment: Heat-treated (ISO 13311) | ▲ Luxury appeal: 3x higher perceived value than amber ▲ Durability: Mohs hardness 7 (scratch-resistant) | ▲ Cost: 40–50% pricier than Baltic amber ▲ Weight: 1.2g per bead (bulky for long necklaces) |
Polished Jade Beads | Cultural/ethnic jewelry, heirlooms | Material: Nephrite jade (ASTM C1218) Size: 6mm diameter Color: Green (CIELAB a* 20–30) Treatment: Polished to 2400 grit | ▲ Cultural significance: Symbolizes prosperity in many cultures ▲ Durability: Mohs hardness 6.5 (long-lasting) | ▲ Brittleness: 2x higher fracture risk vs. resin/amber ▲ Cost: 50–70% more expensive than citrine |