If you have ever worked with wooden beads, you know that they have a special charm that other types of materials can’t match. Of course, they often come in earth tones warm and classic to the eyes and the touch. Wooden Mala beads are certainly the best known, but did you know that you have many more choices for wooden beads? It’s the best day to know how to choose wooden beads for jewelry.
Table of Contents
11 Best Types of Natural Wooden Beads for DIY Jewelry Sorted by Colors
1.Rosewood Beads
Rosewood beads are sourced from the Philippines. They are so-called because the wood has distinct, special overtones that are undeniably reddish and pink. The color palette of Rosewood beads works in the opposite direction – they are generally pale, going even paler in some cases. The dusty pink color is best if you want to deviate from the usual look of wooden bead craft. Rosewood beads are durable, and the wood grain is looser, with delicate lines emanating from the grain’s core.
2.Jackfruit Beads
As the name implies, Jackfruit beads are carved and processed from the wood of the jackfruit tree. Jackfruit wood is durable, and it is used in constructing houses in some parts of Asia. Another great use for this wood is making musical instruments. The color of Jackfruit beads is somewhere between Rosewood beads and Palmwood beads. Jackfruit beads are unmistakably yellow, with just the right brown/earthy overtones and variable wood grain tightness. The wood grain is easily visible because of the lightness of the color.
3.Palmwood Beads
Palmwood beads are crafted from either coconut tree wood or palm date wood. What makes these beads special is the wooden grain. Normally wooden grains are just a hue or two darker than the rest of the wood. This is not the case for Palmwood. Palmwood beads have dark streaks (parallel) in the wooden grain. This makes the beads look like they were manually painted. The spectrum of streaks also varies, from warm caramel to black. Palmwood beads are a good choice if you want to emphasize the tropical vibe of your design.
Â
4.Sibucao Beads
If you are simply in love with deep red and orange tones mixed with fiery yellows and browns, then pick Sibucao beads for your next wooden bead project. Sibucao beads are fantastic with their red and orange colors – it’s as if they’ve captured the essence of the Sun and fire and reproduced it organically. When Sibucao beads are made into beads and worn as jewelry, the wearer’s natural skin oils will classically darken the beads. As the Sibucao beads age, they become even more beautiful. Nothing compares to the look of vintage or aged Sibucao jewelry. Certainly, something to try this season!
5.Graywood beads
With Graywood beads, the smokiness is the name of the game. Not everyone likes the super dark color of ebony beads or the fire of Sibucao beads. If your aesthetic for wooden jewelry is somewhere in between and you prefer muted or more subdued color, then you are thinking of Graywood beads. Botanically speaking, “graywood” refers to a particular species of tree. Still, nowadays, those who market wooden beads may use it loosely to describe any softwood or hardwood that is smoky and grayish.
6.Bayong Beads
Bayong beads are manufactured from a type of hardwood of the same name. The hardwood originates from Southeast Asia, in the Philippines. Since buying is a hardwood, it is a very hardwearing accessory when formed into beads and added to any jewelry. Bayong beads are most notable for their reddish-brown color. If you are a fan of warm and earthy colors, nothing quite comes close to the warm tones of beyond beads.
7.Magkuno Beads
Another contender from the Philippines, Magkuno beads are made from an ironwood wood species. As the name implies, Magkuno is incredibly hard and strong. It is the hardest wood species currently in the world. Bead-making enthusiasts are quick to recommend Magkuno because of the depth and richness of its color. If you need wooden chocolate beads, try to get Magkuno. The wood grain is exquisite, and the surface of the wood is very smooth indeed. It has a great, premium look that works best with wooden jewelry for commercial use.
Â
8.Teak Wood Beads
Teak wood beads are considered the Lamborghini of wooden beads. Why? Because teak wood possesses a characteristic that other kinds of wood don’t possess. Think about it: why is teak furniture always more expensive than, say, pinewood furniture or maple wood furniture? The answer is the teak wood’s condition after it has been felled. Normally, wood loses nearly all its natural gum and oils after being cut down. That’s not the case for teak wood. Teak wood beads are still abundant in essential wood oils. The sap, essentially, is retained in the teak wood after processing. When the teak wood is ready for commercial use (this is usually after being dehydrated to about ten percent of its original moisture content), the remaining oils and wood gum waterproofs the wood as well.
Â
9.Robles Beads
Robles beads are derived from a very tall tropical hardwood from Asia. Robles beads are known for being very lightweight and durable at the same time. This type of wood is so dependable that it is routinely used for crafting boats, too. Robles beads are well-known for having tight wood grain that resembles human fingerprints.
10.Patikan Beads
Patikan beads are taken from a type of Palmwood present in the Philippines. The wood is hard and naturally dark, with excellent streaks that make the design so attractive. As Patikan wood ages, the wooden grain becomes even more attractive.
Â
11.Ebony Beads
“Ebony beads” is a collective term used to refer to several types of hardwoods used for making various bead types. Suppose the hardwood has a dense structure and has a very dark color. Ebony hardwoods typically have tightknit grains, and they polish very well. Wood shine is much more admirable when the color is darker, but there will also be variations depending on the wood species. The natural variations make ebony bead jewelry notable and unique.
More articles you may interest:
How Many Types of Strings and How to Choose for DIY Bracelet?
Great article!
This article helped me in choosing best Wooden Mala beads. The natural variations make ebony bead jewelry notable and unique.
Thanks for sharing informative article.
Wow! These are so cute DIY’s. I am really impressed with your creativity. I am so excited to try this. Thanks for sharing.