Bead, charoite (stabilized), 10mm round, C grade, Mohs hardness 5 to 6. Sold per 15-1/2" to 16" strand.

Charoite, one of a small number of the purple gemstones, is a rare mineral that has only been available to the jewelry industry since the late 1970s. Reportedly first discovered in the 1940s in Russia, its only known location to date, Charoite is named for the Charo River in Siberia. The remarkable color of charoite ranges from pale creamy lavender to a decadent array of deep purple hues-sometimes all within the same bead! Smooth charoite beads contain swirling patterns with a marbled, fibrous appearance and veins of white, grey and black. Some charoite beads can have a hint of chatoyancy. Charoite is commonly believed to help release fear and negative energies. Machine-cut from natural charoite rough, then stabilized to improve hardness and polish.