Gray Beads

Frequently asked questions

• What gray gemstone beads do you carry?

  Labradorite dominates by volume — its blue-green flash on a gray base is the signature look. Botswana Agate provides banded gray variety; Gray Moonstone offers softer adularescent flash. Meteorite and Eagle Eye are the specialty stones at the higher end. Hematite and natural Wood Beads cover the metallic-gray and organic-gray ranges respectively.
• What makes labradorite flash?

  Labradorescence — an optical effect caused by light reflecting off internal twinning layers within the crystal structure of labradorite feldspar. The effect appears as moving blue, green, gold, or rainbow flashes that shift with viewing angle. The base body color is typically gray to gray-green; the flash is the defining feature. Stones without flash are technically labradorite but are usually called 'feldspar' in the trade.
• Is meteorite real, and what kind do you sell?

  Real meteorite beads exist on the market and Dakota carries them in limited quantities. The most common bead-trade meteorite is Muonionalusta (an iron-nickel meteorite from northern Sweden, ~1 million years old) cut and polished to reveal the characteristic Widmanstätten pattern — a crystalline lattice that forms only in slow-cooling space environments and cannot be replicated synthetically. Treatment for stability against rust is standard.
• Are any gray gemstones birthstones?

  Gray Moonstone is a June birthstone variety alongside white Moonstone and Pearl. No other gray stones are on the official modern list, though Labradorite is sometimes used as an alternate stone in birthstone designs for its versatility.
• How do I clean labradorite without damaging the flash?

  Wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners (the cleavage planes in labradorite are sensitive to vibration), harsh solvents, and abrasive cleaning compounds. The flash is an internal optical effect, not a surface coating, so it cannot be cleaned off — but the polish that allows the flash to read clearly can be dulled by improper cleaning. Mohs 6–6.5; harder than glass but softer than quartz.