Handmade gemstone jewelry bead shapes - briolettes

C

A while ago I wrote a series of blogs on bead shapes. There are round beads, faceted beads of all shapes, flat beads - including squares, diamond shape, coin shaped beads, etc. - rondelles and many more.

One major shape I didn't write about is briolette. Simply put, a briolette is a bead that is pear shaped. The bead hole is usually drilled sideways at the top. Beads of this shape may be drilled from top to bottom or from front to back. Technically these may not be considered briolettes, but instead teardrop or pear shaped, however most people refer to them as briolettes anyway.

Briolettes are often used as pendants on necklaces and on chains, or in earrings. I think they are very pretty when several of them are gathered into a cluster to create a very feminine ruffled look that gives great texture to a bracelet or necklace. They are often clusterred in earrings as well.

Briolettes can be flat or rounded, faceted or smooth, some are concave. Almost any gemstone is cut into briolettes, from earthy jaspers to fine rubies and sapphires. Generally speaking briolettes are more expensive than other cuts.

Whether you are wearing earthy turquoise or jasper, or fine and rare rubies and sapphires, all of these various bead shapes and gemstones combine to give you deliciously beautiful wearable art!