Goldstone Gemstone Beads
Goldstone is a type of glittering glass made in a low-oxygen reducing atmosphere. An intriguing material, Goldstone is created through a process that involves the melting of glass with copper or copper salts, and it's this unique process that imparts the stone's signature sparkly, metallic luster. This glassy bead isn't a naturally occurring stone but an engineered one that beautifully mimics the aesthetics of natural minerals.
Facts: Goldstone has a fascinating history that dates back to the European Renaissance. Legend has it that it was accidentally discovered by Venetian monks while attempting to forge alchemical gold, hence its name. This historic background endows Goldstone with an extra layer of intrigue for anyone enchanted by the mysteries of old-world alchemy.
Metaphysical / Holistic: The metaphysical properties attributed to Goldstone make it a popular choice among healing and art circles. It's believed to generate positive energy, enhancing courage and confidence, making it ideal not just for designing stunning jewelry but also for offering a meaningful, energetic touch to every piece.
Goldstone 6mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$7.00
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$7.00
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$7.00
$7.00
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$7.00
Goldstone is a manmade material, consisting of opaque rust to red glass with tiny flecks of glittering copper suspended within it. Goldstone was fi...
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$7.00
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$7.00
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$7.00
$7.00
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$7.00
GoldStone 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$9.00
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$9.00
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$9.00
$9.00
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$9.00
Goldstone is a manmade material, consisting of opaque rust-red glass with tiny flecks of glittering copper suspended within it. Goldstone was first...
View full details
Original price
$9.00
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Original price
$9.00
Original price
$9.00
$9.00
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$9.00
Goldstone 4mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$6.00
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$6.00
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$6.00
$6.00
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$6.00
Goldstone is a manmade material, consisting of opaque rust to red glass with tiny flecks of glittering copper suspended within it. Goldstone was fi...
View full details
Original price
$6.00
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Original price
$6.00
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$6.00
$6.00
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$6.00
Goldstone 8mm Round Large Hole 8-Inch
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$12.00
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$12.00
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$12.00
$12.00
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$12.00
Goldstone is a manmade material, consisting of opaque rust to red glass with tiny flecks of glittering copper suspended within it. Goldstone was fi...
View full details
Original price
$12.00
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Original price
$12.00
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$12.00
$12.00
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$12.00
Blue Goldstone 12mm Guru Bead - CLEARANCE
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$5.00
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$5.00
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$5.00
$5.00
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$5.00
Blue Goldstone is an opaque, midnight blue glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and may ap...
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$5.00
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$5.00
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$5.00
$5.00
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$5.00
Blue Goldstone 40mm Donut Pendant
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$9.00
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$9.00
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$9.00
$9.00
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$9.00
Blue Goldstone is an opaque, midnight blue glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and may ap...
View full details
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$9.00
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$9.00
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$9.00
$9.00
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$9.00
Goldstone 12mm Guru Bead - CLEARANCE
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$5.00
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$5.00
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$5.00
$5.00
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$5.00
Goldstone is a manmade material, consisting of opaque rust-red glass with tiny flecks of glittering copper suspended within it. Goldstone was first...
View full details
Original price
$5.00
-
Original price
$5.00
Original price
$5.00
$5.00
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$5.00
Green Goldstone 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Green Goldstone is an opaque, almost black glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and appear...
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Blue Goldstone 4mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$8.00
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$8.00
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$8.00
$8.00
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$8.00
Blue Goldstone is an opaque, midnight blue glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and may ap...
View full details
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$8.00
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$8.00
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$8.00
$8.00
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$8.00
Green Goldstone 6mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$12.00
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$12.00
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$12.00
$12.00
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$12.00
Green Goldstone is an opaque, almost black glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and appear...
View full details
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$12.00
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$12.00
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$12.00
$12.00
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$12.00
Blue Goldstone 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$11.00
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$11.00
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$11.00
$11.00
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$11.00
Blue Goldstone is an opaque, midnight blue glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and may ap...
View full details
Original price
$11.00
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$11.00
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$11.00
$11.00
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$11.00
Green Goldstone 4mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$12.00
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$12.00
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$12.00
$12.00
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$12.00
Green Goldstone is an opaque, almost black glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and appear...
View full details
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$12.00
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Original price
$12.00
Original price
$12.00
$12.00
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$12.00
GoldStone 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$12.00
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$12.00
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$12.00
$12.00
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$12.00
Goldstone is a manmade material, consisting of opaque rust-red glass with tiny flecks of glittering copper suspended within it. Goldstone was first...
View full details
Original price
$12.00
-
Original price
$12.00
Original price
$12.00
$12.00
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$12.00
Blue Goldstone 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$16.00
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$16.00
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$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
Blue Goldstone is an opaque, midnight blue glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and may ap...
View full details
Original price
$16.00
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$16.00
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$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
Green Goldstone 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$19.00
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$19.00
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$19.00
$19.00
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$19.00
Green Goldstone is an opaque, almost black glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and appear...
View full details
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$19.00
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$19.00
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$19.00
$19.00
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$19.00
Blue Goldstone 1x2mm Square Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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$13.00
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$13.00
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$13.00
$13.00
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$13.00
Blue Goldstone is an opaque, midnight blue glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and may ap...
View full details
Original price
$13.00
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Original price
$13.00
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$13.00
$13.00
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$13.00
Goldstone 1x2mm Square Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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$13.00
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$13.00
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$13.00
$13.00
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$13.00
Goldstone is a manmade material, consisting of opaque rust to red glass with tiny flecks of glittering copper suspended within it. Goldstone was fi...
View full details
Original price
$13.00
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$13.00
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$13.00
$13.00
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$13.00
Blue Goldstone 4mm Microfaceted Round - 15-16 Inch
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$10.00
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$10.00
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$10.00
$10.00
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$10.00
Blue Goldstone is an opaque, midnight blue glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and may ap...
View full details
Original price
$10.00
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Original price
$10.00
Original price
$10.00
$10.00
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$10.00
Green Goldstone 4mm Microfaceted Round - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$10.00
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$10.00
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$10.00
$10.00
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$10.00
Green Goldstone is an opaque, almost black glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and appear...
View full details
Original price
$10.00
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Original price
$10.00
Original price
$10.00
$10.00
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$10.00
Goldstone 4mm Microfaceted Round - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$10.00
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Original price
$10.00
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$10.00
$10.00
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$10.00
Goldstone is a manmade material, consisting of opaque rust to red glass with tiny flecks of glittering copper suspended within it. Goldstone was fi...
View full details
Original price
$10.00
-
Original price
$10.00
Original price
$10.00
$10.00
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$10.00
About this stone
Color
Red-BrownBlueGreenPurple
Origin
ItalyChina
Mohs hardness
5.5
Treatment categories
Synthetic
Industry-standard treatment
Man-made — goldstone is copper-flecked glass, not a natural mineral. Trade name only.
Mineral chemistry
Glass with suspended copper or cobalt particles producing metallic sparkle
Crystal system
Amorphous
Stone family
Man-made glass
Common cuts
RoundFaceted Round
Common sizes
4mm6mm8mm10mm
Care notes
Glass — durable but can chip on hard impact. Mild soap and soft cloth.
Related stones
Aventurine, Sunstone, Glass
Frequently asked questions
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Is goldstone a real gemstone?
No — goldstone is manmade glass, not a naturally occurring mineral. It is copper-bearing silica glass cooled under low-oxygen conditions so that tiny copper crystals precipitate and stay suspended in the cooled glass, producing the characteristic metallic sparkle. It has been included in the gemstone-bead catalog by trade convention since the 17th century, but mineralogically it is glass. Designers buy it for the sparkle effect that natural stones rarely produce. -
What is goldstone made of?
Red / copper goldstone is silica glass with suspended copper crystals — the original recipe. Blue goldstone is silica glass with cobalt-and-manganese crystals. Green goldstone is silica glass with chromium-oxide crystals. Each color variant is a different glass chemistry rather than a tint or dye of a single base material. All three are manufactured under controlled low-oxygen conditions that let the metallic crystals form and remain suspended as the glass cools. -
Where does goldstone come from?
Goldstone was invented in the 17th century in Venice, traditionally attributed to the Miotti family working the Murano glassmaking tradition. Italian Murano-tradition goldstone is still made today and represents the historical provenance tier. Chinese mass-production goldstone is the contemporary commodity tier and accounts for most current market supply. Dakota's active catalog includes both Italian and Chinese-sourced material; origin should be disclosed — ask before buying if it isn't specified. -
What's the difference between goldstone, sunstone, and aventurine?
Goldstone is manmade glass with suspended metallic crystals. Sunstone is a natural feldspar with copper-platelet inclusions that produce a similar shimmer ("aventurescence"); it is harder (Mohs 6–6.5) and trades at a higher price tier. Aventurine is a natural quartzite (Mohs 6.5–7) with mica or fuchsite inclusions producing sparkle. All three share a glittering visual effect, but only goldstone is manufactured. "Blue sandstone" and "blue sunstone" labels on inexpensive strands are almost always blue goldstone sold under misleading nicknames. -
How durable is goldstone for daily wear?
Mohs ~5.5 — typical of glass. Suitable for necklaces, earrings, and low-impact bracelet designs; less suited to rings or high-wear bracelet contexts where impact and abrasion are likely. Store goldstone separately from harder quartz-family stones to avoid surface scratches. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaning; clean with soft cloth and mild soap. The drilled-hole edges can chip under hard stringing tension, so use spacers and avoid knotting directly against the bead.