AUNTIE’S BEADS · EST. 2000
Ever wonder why the exact color of tiny glass beads have numbers or skus that are different in some way? While we and our manufacturers do our best to keep names and identifications the same across sizes, it can be confusing for the bead weaving initiate. Here we will go through all of the different types of finishes of Miyuki seed beads and demystify the bead jargon. 
AB/Rainbow:
The Aurora Borealis effect covers the base glass with a rainbow of color. How visible the effect is generally depends on how dark the bead is. Look for "AB" or "Rainbow" in the description, and occasionally, Miyuki seed beads will have an "R" at the end of the item number.
Baroque: A textured coating gives the surface a wrinkled, pearl-like appearance. Check the individual product for dimensions and available sizes.
Ceylon: A luster coating which gives a whitish shine to the base glass. Think of a beaded wedding gown or veil embellished with a pearly white luster bead. Usually found on white, off-white, pale yellow and pink, the Ceylon finish is most often added to other medium to light pastels.
Color-lined: Color is applied around the bead hole, creating a contrasting center beneath the outer glass. Durability depends on the individual color and finish.
Dyed: Dye adds color to the bead. Some dyed colors need extra care against light, perspiration, or friction. Choose for the intended use and check the individual color’s durability guidance.
Duracoat: Miyuki’s protective coating improves resistance to friction-related peeling and color loss on galvanized and outside-dyed beads. It does not make the finish immune to wear.
Frosted/Matte: Matte seed beads are tumbled or treated with acid to create a frosted sea-glass exterior finish. Look for "Matte" or "Frosted" in the description, and Miyuki seed beads will usually have an "F" at the end of the item number.
Frosted Rainbow (FR): A combination of the frosted/matte finish and the AB/Rainbow finish, The description will contain "Matte AB" and the seed bead will usually have an "FR" at the end of the item number.
Galvanized: An outer metal coating creates a metallic look. Friction and perspiration can affect it; Duracoat versions have added protection. Compare the care guidance for the exact color.
Luminous: A bright color-lined effect, with vivid color at the center and clear glass around it. Check current product listings for the available colors and sizes.
Luster: An extra shiny golden glow over the surface of the seed bead. Usually a golden luster, the coating is added to a transparent bead to enhance the color with warm golden highlights.
Magic: A scintillating silver sparkle inside a rich colored center that evokes dichroic glass or a similar metal foil effect. The exterior of the bead is clear crystal to magnify the glow of the interior.
Matte Metallic: A subdued metallic effect with less shine. Colors may suggest steel, bronze, or an oil-slick sheen. Check durability for the specific color instead of assuming every metallic finish behaves alike.
Metallic: Shiny metal tones like steel, copper, gold and bronze are some of our most popular finishes as they combine the inexpensive price of glass with the look of silver, gold and other metals. Metallic finish is applied over an opaque glass bead to create the appearance of a metallic surface.
Opaque: Seed beads made with glass that does not allow light to pass through it. Think of a brightly colored child's toy like a red fire truck. Opaque beads are shiny unless they have an additional matte coating added as well. “Op” is a common abbreviation for opaque.
Picasso: A finish that originally was developed for Czech glass beads, it resembles tiny flecks of paint applied to the surface of the bead. The picasso finish is applied over opaque and transparent beads, and may appear slightly differently on different colors.
Plated: A metal coating creates the surface color and shine. Metal type and finish affect care; consult the guidance for the exact bead rather than ranking every plated finish together.
Semi-Frosted: A frosted (matte) finish that is about half as strong as the usual frosted finish, and still retains some of the brightness of a transparent or opaque bead.
Silk Satin: Like mica, this Delica Bead finish has a glittering faceted surface which is semi-opaque but slightly mirrored and scored on each face. This is a very unusual but interesting finish, and the beads are slightly larger than the other Delica Beads. The silk satin beads are also notable for being extremely lightweight.
Silver-lined: A mirror-like metal center reflects up through the color of the bead. Silver-lined (S/L) beads are one of the most popular traditional finishes. Some of the silver-lined seed bead numbers will end with "S", but most use S/L in the description.
Transparent: Seed beads made with glass that allows light to pass through it, colors range from completely clear to deep jewel tones. “Tr” is a common abbreviation for transparent. Transparent beads are usually inexpensive as they do not have any coatings applied over the base glass.
A finish name describes an effect; care can vary by color. See our Seed Bead Design Guide for help with shape and size, then browse seed beads for your next project.