- AB or Aurora Borealis: a rainbow effect that is applied to the surface of a bead
- Bronze lining: a bronze coating that reflects a brown light applied to the inside of the bead
- Ceylon: a pearl lustrous finish
- Colour lining (inside colour): a colour coating applied to the inside of the beads
- Coating (dyed beads): a bead that is placed in a pigment bath to create one or more colours on its surface
- Copper lining: a coppery coating reflecting a reddish light applied to the inside of the bead
- Iris (iridescent): an iridescent coating with multiple hues, which is often applied to the surface of a dark, opaque bead
- Lustre: a transparent ‘pearl’ effect applied to the surface of a bead
- Matt (USA: mat[te]): the bead is etched on a microscopic level to produce a matt (dull, frosty) finish
- Metallic (galvanised): a shiny, reflective coating on the outside of a bead that gives it the appearance of being made of metal
- Opaque: the bead is made from a solid colour that prevents light from passing through it
- Pearls: an alabaster white bead coated with a nitro-cellulose lacquer with pearl pigment to give an iridescent ‘pearl’ effect
- Rainbow: an iridescent coating on the outside of either an opaque or transparent bead
- Silver lining: a silvery coating that reflects light is applied to the inside of a bead
- Translucent: diffused light shines through the bead
- Transparent: the glass is see-through
Digital source of illustration (retrieved 8 July 2016).
GVE