phone: 866 775 7710
What you see on our website is only a limited amount of the vast array of items Silk Road Treasures has to offer. Please contact us to inquire about a specific item you're looking for, or if you have any questions. We're here to help you.
Beads are among the oldest form of decoration, and are found worldwide at sites settled thousands of years ago. We have a very rich collection of bead strands focusing on those from the area of Afghanistan. Most of our stone beads are made from gemstones native to this area. Afghanistan has a wealth of highly desired precious gemstones — tourmalines, aquamarine, and the world renowned lapis lazuli. The best quality of this stone is matched by no other in the world.
Afghan hand carved beads have a typical matte finish in contrast to the highly polished beads from elsewhere in the world. We also have other hand carved gemstones of Afghan jade (serpentine or “new jade”), kunzite, amber/copal, jasper, carnelian, onyx, chalcedony, diamond quartz (naturally formed diamond shaped clear quartz crystals), onyx, turquoise, fluorite, morganite,and agate in a wide selection of color, shape and sizes.
We have the typical bead shapes tubes, rondelles, discs, all made by hand. Some of the beads have etched decoration which contrasts with the body of the bead. Sometimes this is filled with gold colored or other material. We have also very tiny spacers and heishi and beads shaped as animals, birds, flowers, vase shapes, amulets, pendants.
We also carry a unique collection of hand carved wood beads, and glass beads made from old and even ancient Roman glass turned into beads.
Our metal beads include not only the typical hand crafted silver beads but also silver, solid copper, and solid brass beads. Some of these were beads made especially for us in copper and brass with iridescent patina, very unique and beautiful.