Quick Answer: Beaded bracelets are made from stone, glass, wood, plastic or metal beads on a stretch cord or a clasp. For gemstone beads, check hardness, since howlite is 3.5 on the Mohs scale and onyx is 7. Ask whether bright colors are dyed, because dyeing is common in some stones. Choose stretch for easy wear, or a clasp if you prefer a bracelet that fastens.
Choosing a beaded bracelet comes down to what the beads are made of, how well they wear and how the bracelet closes. This guide covers the common bead materials, how hard the stones in Akitai's range are, what to ask about dyed color, and how to care for a stretch bracelet. The examples come from Akitai's charm bracelet collection, and since Akitai is the brand behind this site, those are our own products.
Beads can be stone, bone, shell, glass, plastic, wood or pearl, according to Wikipedia (checked October 2026), which adds that wood, plastic, glass, metal and stone are the most common bead materials in modern manufacturing. It also notes that some natural materials get extra processing, such as color enhancement with dyes.
A gemstone bracelet uses beads cut from a mineral, and it can mix them with metal beads. Akitai's pages describe gemstone beads together with silver plated brass beads, strung as stretch bracelets. The stone changes how the bracelet looks, how it wears and how you care for it.
It matters, because a softer bead scratches and chips sooner. Hardness is measured on the Mohs scale, where a higher number is harder. The table lists the stones named on Akitai's bracelet pages.
| Stone | Mohs hardness | Akitai listing |
|---|---|---|
| Howlite | 3.5 | Amazonite howlite |
| Chrysocolla | 2 to 4 | Jasper chrysocolla |
| Amazonite | 6 to 6.5 | Amazonite howlite |
| Aventurine | 6.5 to 7 | Aventurine |
| Jasper | 6.5 to 7 | Jasper chrysocolla |
| Onyx | 7 | Onyx |
The figures come from the Handbook of Mineralogy for howlite, Geology.com for amazonite, and Minerals.net for aventurine, jasper, onyx and chrysocolla. They describe the minerals, not any one bracelet. Geology.com adds that amazonite has two directions of perfect cleavage and can break if a ring or bracelet is bumped on something hard, and says it is best used in earrings, pendants and pins. Minerals.net says chrysocolla's low hardness limits its use in jewelry.
Sometimes, depending on the stone, so it is fair to ask any seller. Geology.com says aventurine with very faint aventurescence, the glitter that mica flakes give it, and common quartz are often dyed to make brightly colored beads and cabochons, and that dyed stones have been sold under the aventurine name. Minerals.net says black onyx is often dyed while the banded black and white form is usually natural, and that most jasper is natural although it is occasionally dyed. Geology.com says most of the spectacularly colored agates sold in the gemstone trade have been dyed.
This guide makes no claim either way about Akitai's beads. The product pages name the stones and describe the colors, and they do not describe any treatment. If it matters to you, ask before you buy. Color alone is a clue, not proof.
Choose stretch for the simplest wear, or a clasp if you prefer a bracelet that fastens. A stretch bracelet rolls over the hand with no fastening, so it needs to fit your wrist with a little give. Akitai's pages describe stretch bracelets with 6 mm stone beads and an inner length of about 7 inches on the sets. A clasp bracelet closes around the wrist, so it does not rely on stretch to stay on, but it asks you to work a small fastening each time.
Fit is the part to check. Compare the inner length on the listing with a bracelet you already wear comfortably, and remember that a stretch bracelet that has to be forced over the hand is too small.
Keep it dry and put it on last. Akitai's Warranty page says to keep jewelry dry and away from perfume, lotion and cleaning agents, and to store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Put the bracelet on after lotion and perfume, and take it off before washing your hands or doing anything rough.
The hardness table explains why. A bump that a hard stone shrugs off can chip a softer one, so store the bracelet where it is not knocked against other jewelry.
All four listings. The onyx charm bracelet is a single stretch bracelet of matte black onyx beads with two tassels, the plainest example of a one-strand design. The aventurine listing is a set, and its page describes the beads in its photos as red, orange, yellow, light blue and teal, with silver plated brass beads and a small elephant charm. The product pages say you can wear one or stack several. For ways to combine them, see the post on stacking charm bracelets.
For wear, harder stones such as onyx at 7 hold up better than howlite at 3.5. Beyond that, the best bead is the one you like, in a material you know how to care for.
Color alone cannot prove it. Geology.com notes that brightly colored beads sold under a stone's name are often dyed, so ask the seller what treatment, if any, was used.
There is no single meaning. Colors and stones are read differently by culture, and Akitai's color guide and crystal meanings guide show which ideas have a source. These are traditional beliefs, not medical facts.
Akitai's Warranty page says to keep jewelry dry, so take a beaded bracelet off before washing.
As many as look right to you. The amazonite howlite, aventurine and jasper chrysocolla listings each say you can wear one or stack several.
Compare the listing's inner length with a bracelet you already wear comfortably. Akitai's sets list 6 mm beads and about 7 inches of inner length.
Available Now
Browse the full collection — free Prime shipping on eligible orders. Every purchase directly supports our artisan community.
Shop on Amazon