Fancy jasper is a semi-precious stone that has been used in Egyptian jewelry and Minoan seals for centuries. This semi-precious stone is made of many beautiful colors, including green, white, mauve, black, and many colors in between. The word 'jasper' derives from the Greek word 'iaspis', meaning 'spotted stone'. This strand of smoothed chips of jasper comes in a variety of colors of opaque stones, and varies slightly in size per bead.
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.