An Introduction To Baltic Amber Beads
Prayer Beads, Polish Beaded Necklace Creations, and Green Amber Bead Jewelry
Loose Baltic amber beads in assorted colors, already drilled and ready to made into necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry, cost about $25 an ounce. Many of the beads will be natural shapes, however there are perfectly round cognac colored balls, long tube-like connectors that are and make great separators, and teardrop shapes and even rectangular or square beads.
There are soft lemon yellow beads that somewhat resemble the teeth of corn in shape, and also come pre-drilled, and cost under $30 an ounce. If you’re wondering how many beads are in an ounce, naturally that depends on the size of each bead, but in the case of the yellow or butterscotch ones, you get a large fistful, or what could be about a 4 inch pile.
Very translucent rich cognac color beads from Baltic grade AAA amber will cost a little more per ounce, just over $60, but since amber is light, you actually get quite a few beads in an ounce.
There are also large cabochons that work well with beads, especially as the pendant or in a chunky bracelet.
Amber Prayer Beads – Christian, Islamic & Buddhist
Many of the artists who design and sell rosaries, amber prayer beads or worry beads sell through small online shops and often the designs are one of a kind and once they are sold you have order a custom design.
For example some of the beautifully strung amber worry beads, Christian rosaries, Islamic Tasbih and Tibetan Buddhist Mala beads at places like True Baltic Amber, are sold out. However it’s no wonder since they are priced very affordably starting at around $20 for simple ones and going up to $80 and $100 for the large green amber beads in Islamic sets that have 99 stones, and the Tibetan Buddhists designs with 108 beads topped off with a silk tassel.
The 33 bead Islamic rosary that has larger round balls, about 11mm each, also in green amber, costs just under $100. The pieces we are recommending in the prayer bead section are Baltic amber creations from Lithuania.
Traditional Polish Amber Bead Necklace
Classic amber beaded necklace designs from Poland are often multiple strands of small beads strung together in a way that the necklaces appear to go on and on forever. With that in mind, Andzia’s Amber Jewelry has a gorgeous creation based on the traditional Polish style, called the Endless Amber Loop. The translucent stones are a variety of shapes, somewhat flat instead of round, tumble polished, strung together to form a dramatic opera length cherry colored masterpiece using over 600 amber beads! The cost? Less than $90.
Amber Bead Working Ideas
If you’re looking for amber bead working ideas, get inspired not just by the Baltic amber gems but also by the Baltic jewelry making techniques. For example you can use silver wire to wrap each bead and create a necklace (or bracelet) that isn’t strung with invisible thread or waxed string or leather, but fastened with twists of silver. You can see a design, which uses that technique, and is ready made through Andzia’s. It costs about $90.
Another fun way to string amber into a necklace design that is natural and tasteful is to use strands of hemp to create a network of knots and odd shaped amber nuggets, stones or beads. In Poland this is an ancient craft that is still very much alive, especially amongst young people who may not normally wear traditional beaded necklaces or large cabochon pendants. Hemp strung designs have become more popular than ever before and are fun to make…and are great as casual or beach jewelry. Try making one yourself by ordering an ounce or two of loose beads, or you can buy a ready to wear creation from Andzia’s. A golden pebble net, as Andzia’s calls it, has roughly 65 beads on 7 strands of hemp and costs about $89.
Amber is a great gemstone to work with even if you’re a novice because the gems are affordable, easy to drill if not purchased pre-drilled (because the stone is soft), versatile due to the many colors that amber beads come in, and elegant when completed.
When I started working with amber, I began by making a keychain and ended up with purple amber earrings for my sister’s birthday, a complete necklace and bracelet set for myself and lots of fun personal gifts for almost everyone on my Christmas list. But even if you don’t have the time or patience to undertake the art of jewelry making, beaded necklace designs with matching amber bracelets and earrings are very affordable and easy to shop for online. Places like Andzia’s have unique, one of a kind, artistic creations for much less than you might imagine.
For example….have a look at their Chelsea Girl amber bead set, that features golden amber beads, Swarovski crystals and…yes…purple feathers! The amber earrings and necklace are sold as a set for just $56.
For more information on fun amber jewelry designs from Poland, and Dominican blue amber earrings and rings, please see related topics that suggest where to buy amber, how much to pay, and tips on how to use amber jewelry to accent your modern wardrobe.
