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Shopping Cart8mm Unakite Beads [48-49] (see Defects)
![8mm Unakite Beads [48-49] (see Defects)](http://www.purebeads.com/catalogue/image/cache/data/S000-new/S027t-525x400.jpg "8mm Unakite Beads [48-49] (see Defects)") Click to enlarge |
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| Style no.: | S027 |
| Beads per lot: |
One 15" strand, or 48 to 49 beads |
| Cost per bead: | 12.3 to 12.5 cents |
| Bead material: | Semiprecious stone (unakite) |
| Country of origin: | China |
| Size/shape: |
8mm round (spherical) |
| Colors/description: |
A mixture of olive green and reddish orange. Unakite is a porous stone, and isn't as hard and perfect as most glassier stones, such as agate. |
| Hole size: | 1mm (estimated). |
| Defects: |
I estimate that 2 to 6 beads per 15" strand are imperfect enough that you may not want to use them. A few of the imperfect beads are malformed, but many more have defects on the surface (pits, fissures) which are a result of the porosity of the stone. Most beads have small defects that can be seen under a magnifying glass, but to the naked eye they look fine, and you'll be able to use them. I took a smaller markup than usual on these beads because of the defects. When I was making jewelry in the 1980's, I purchased unakite that was better than this. I won't be purchasing from this supplier again. |
| How photographed: | At the window in natural daylight. |
| Comments: |
If you have looked at the home page of this site, you may have seen the article about the silicosis that Chinese workers suffer from making semiprecious beads. However, the article is now many years old, and the conditions in Chinese factories may have improved (hopefully). I never made a commitment to carry no semiprecious beads, just less of them. The picture isn't entirely accurate. Areas that look almost red in the picture look more like orange to the naked eye. However, the picture is close. I have found that you can buy similar beads on eBay at a lower price than what I am selling these for. Having purchased these beads from a supplier, the supplier is naturally taking a substantial cut. Prices on eBay are often so low that I am tempted to buy from eBay myself -- but what sense does that make when you can go there and buy the beads yourself? I'll have to decide whether it is worthwhile for me to carry semiprecious beads in the future. |
| Date first posted: |
August 19, 2013 |
| Supplier: | M |
| Caleb's notes: |
![8mm Unakite Beads [48-49] (see Defects)](http://www.purebeads.com/catalogue/image/cache/data/S000-new/S027-525x400.jpg "8mm Unakite Beads [48-49] (see Defects)")
Click to enlarge
