From the Greek word “iaspis” meaning “spotted stone”, jasper refers to a wide variety of mostly opaque stones in the chalcedony family. Frequently occurring in shades of yellow, red and brown, jasper is usually multicolored, with a variety of patterns that have inspired many different names. These irregularly shaped stone chips are smoothed and vary slightly in size and shape. They are a warm brick red color mottled with shades of tan and grey.
Semi-precious stone beads are mined all over the world and then are usually cut in China. They will often be dyed or color-treated to enhance their appearance. We select the best quality semi-precious that is available, and try to avoid finishes that are not durable. It is best to assume that some semi-precious beads will fade over time.