- When you see a bead that has multiple flat surfaces cut to create an almost twinkling effect, you have a faceted bead. The beads can be various sizes and shapes, but they always have the many facets regardless of the shape. You can purchase round, teardrop, pear-shape, flat and oval faceted beads. The rondell faceted beads are normally translucent, but the other shapes can be opaque or translucent.
- The tube-shape bead is a bugle bead. The length of these varies from 1/8 inch to 1 1/2 inches. These types of beads are in fringe but also find their place in jewelry. The fringe bead provides interest to a design with its unique shape. These beads come in a variety of colors and materials.
- There's nothing more versatile than a seed bead. You can use them on jewelry, clothing and craft projects. Seed beads are small and delicate. They come in various sizes. When you look for the size of seed beads, you'll notice a number, then a slash and a 0. This indicates the size of the bead. The number is the number of beads it takes to fill an inch. So, if you see 8/0, it means that 8 beads would be an inch. 11/0 would mean the beads are smaller because 11 of them would be in an inch.
- The rondell bead can be faceted. The rondell is a shape that is flatter than most of the other faceted beads and is often used as spacers. The rondell shape varies from donut style to almost round. The sizes are the same as the seed beads.
- Barrel beads are just as you imagine, shaped like a barrel. Some of the larger barrel beads made of wood are ideal for crafts such as macramé. Barrel beads come both faceted and smooth. Those made of crystal are normally faceted and are larger in the middle and tapered toward the ends.
- The material of the bead also dictates the name quite often. You might purchase a crystal bead or semi-precious stone. There are beads from wood, plastic, glass and metal. Cinnebar beads come from the wood of the cinnebar tree that grows in Southeast Asia. Wood is pressed into molds to create these beads. Often there are beads with specific styles of design, such as the Bali bead.
- Stones, shells and other natural material are the basis for beads. Special beads of semiprecious stones of odd shapes, all polished, create unique designs for jewelry. The number of different types of beads is limited only by the time you have to hunt for them. Pearls are also beads.
