Do you want to connect to the ancient materials used by master artisans of the past? Wanting to ground yourself? Feeling the need to connect your inspired jewelry designs with mother earth? Well, our natural beads might be the best option for your newest jewelry designs and creations. At The Bead Chest we have a numerous assortment of natural beads for you to choose from. From our natural glass beads to our natural resin beads, from our shell and coral beads to our stone beads and from our wooden beads to our natural animal horn beads when it comes to organic and not artificial beads we got you covered. 

Since the dawn of time cultures from all over the world have utilized the natural world around them. When it comes to jewelry design, materials like natural stone, wood, shell, bone and clay beads have always been used to create iconic masterpieces. All over the planet evidence of natural wood being used in various jewelry designs has been found and some artifacts date all the way back to 500 BC. Ancient wooden rosaries and jewelry pieces can be seen in many museums around the world. The use of clay beads date back as far as 1000 BC and have been found in various regions across Africa. In West Africa clay beads were used as a form of currency in countries like Ghana and Mali. The oldest known jewelry in the world comes from natural seashell jewelry. Recently in the Skhul caves in Israel two shell beads were found and are believed to be 135,000 years old! Bone beads have been used to ornament clothes and jewelry designs for thousands of years. The creation and use of glass beads goes back almost 3,500 years. Glass beads are believed to first be created in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. All that being said, mixing in our natural jewelry beads into your designs will really help connect your design aesthetic with the artisan quality of long times past.

In the modern day, many new age communities treasure naturally occuring beads made from stone, wood, shell, resin and bone for their many metaphysical healing properties. It is said that wood beads are good at helping clear negative energy while grounding the wearer. Some say that natural stones like agate exude a healing energy of courage and strength. Many believe that seashell beads can help reduce stress, as well as, help open the third eye chakra. It is also believed that wearing resin jewelry will help protect the wearer from bad luck. Many also say that wearing glass jewelry will help amplify ones intentions.

So when it comes to incorporating natural bead strands into your jewelry design you really can’t go wrong. Implement the jewelry design techniques and style of the ancient times with our natural beads. We can’t wait to see what you do!