White Beads

Frequently asked questions

• What white gemstone beads do you carry?

  Moonstone leads volume with its adularescent flash. Howlite is the budget white workhorse — uniform pure white with gray veining. Pearl covers organic-surface material; Selenite (a translucent gypsum) adds a satin sheen. Opalite is glass, not stone, and is useful to disclose when matching to genuine Opal. River Stone, Quartz, and Wood Beads round out the natural-material range.
• How do I tell real pearls from imitation?

  Tooth test: real pearls (natural or cultured) feel slightly gritty when rubbed gently against a tooth edge, while plastic and glass imitations feel perfectly smooth. Real pearls are also typically warm to the touch, slightly heavier than plastic, and show subtle surface irregularities under magnification. Freshwater cultured pearls dominate the bead-trade market today; the distinction between natural and cultured matters for jewelry valuation but both are real pearl material.
• Is howlite real and what is it?

  Howlite is a real natural mineral — a calcium borosilicate hydroxide, white with characteristic gray veining. It's commonly dyed (often to imitate turquoise, lapis, or coral) because of its uniform porosity and pale natural color. White howlite sold as howlite is undyed and is the natural state of the stone.
• Which white gemstones are birthstones?

  April: Diamond, often substituted with Crystal Quartz or Clear Topaz at bead-strand prices. June: Pearl and Moonstone are both modern June birthstones (Alexandrite is the third). White Opal can serve as an alternate October birthstone alongside Tourmaline.
• Is it safe to wear selenite in water?

  No. Selenite is a soft gypsum (Mohs 2) and is water-soluble over time — it will dissolve or surface-degrade in repeated water contact. Wipe clean with a dry cloth; remove before showering, swimming, or washing hands. The same caution applies to Calcite, Halite, and other soft soluble minerals occasionally found in the bead market.