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Miyuki Drop Beads

The Miyuki Drop beads, from Japan, are teardrop shaped and have the hole at the top of the bead. They are sometimes referred to as 'fringe beads' since they are often used as fringe on amulet bags or earrings.

You will find abbreviations following the color descriptions of most of the beads. Some of the beads may have two or more of these abbreviations.

 

 

 

T = Transparent (some light passes through the bead)
TL = Transparent Luster (light passes through the bead and it has a slight pearlized finish)
TR = Transparent Rainbow (light passes through the bead, with an Aurora Borealis rainbow finish)
TSL = Transparent Silver Lined (light passes through the bead, hole of bead is Silver Lined)
M = Metallic (has a metallic look)
MR = Metallic Rainbow (multiple color metallic, often called "Iris")
MA = Matte (frosted appearance, Opaque unless otherwise indicated, sometimes 2 or 3 tone)
S-MA = Semi-Matte (not as shiny as most beads, but not quite a matte finish either)
OP = Opaque (no light passes through the bead)
L = Luster (pearl-like finish)
OPL = Opaque Luster (opaque with a pearl-like luster finish)
R = Rainbow (Aurora Borealis rainbow finish - often multiple colors)
OPR = Opaque Rainbow (opaque with an Aurora Borealis rainbow finish - often multiple colors)
C = Ceylon (pearl-like finish, similar to Opaque Luster, but more subdued and the colors are often softer)
CR = Crystal (transparent, inside of the bead is darker than the outside)
F = Fancy (transparent with an Aurora Borealis finish)
ICL = Inside color Lined (transparent, inside of the bead is darker than the outside)

These beads are sold in 10 gram tubes, approximately 200 beads.