String beads faceted stone Agate red painted bead 10 mm ~ 37 pieces

A string of colored, faceted beads of semi-precious stone AHAT in the shape of a ball

Agate is a porous mineral that easily absorbs various pigments. The composition and structure of the individual layers of the stone varies, therefore they absorb differently. This leads to surprisingly beautiful results when the gemstones are dyed. Another trait of agate is to change its color when heated. Put together these properties create a huge field for creative expression. Today there is an entire industry for the production of chemically colored stones. The art of dyeing agate was well known since Roman times. It is permanent, irreversible and has been accepted as a normal practice to improve the characteristics of the stones.