Charoite (Russia) 7mm Rondelle Beads, (16 inch strand)
Beads measure 7mm width, 4mm Length...These are beautiful purple with quite a bit of black (See pictures).
Charoite, also known as lilac stone, is a rare potassium, barium, calcium strontium, sodium, hydrogen-rich silicate mineral. This crystal was discovered in the late 1940's and was named after the Chara River in Eastern Siberia, Russia. Although it was faintly talked about during that time, it did not explode into the market until 1978 with the help of Russian geologists. One of the main reasons we believe this stunning stone wasn't fully recognized until recently was due to its lackluster raw appearance.
When Charoite appears in raw form, it is opaque and does not give the milky fibrous sheen that takes a jewelers hand to bring to life. Its color ranges from a deep purple to a lilac pink and is commonly found with inclusions of Quartz (white) and Manganese (black). This is one of the very few stones that at first glance, may seem heat-treated or dyed. It's nearly impossible to fake the natural violet waves of Charoite, so have no fear when purchasing this stone!
