Click picture to see entire image:

Cost per bead:

9.6 cents

Bead material:

Glass

Country of origin:

Czech Republic

Size/shape:

8mm round, faceted.

Colors/description:

Clear glass with a cloud of opaque dark gray in the center.  The bead also has a seam in the center.

Hole size:

1mm (estimated).

Defects:

The cloud of gray in each bead is not uniform or even from one beads to the next.  Some beads have very little gray in them.  Fire-polished beads always have some imperfect facets.  To read about the fire-polishing process, click here.

How photographed:

At the window in natural daylight.

Comments:

I carried these beads once before, but the gray was much lighter.  Here is the supplier's picture, which in some ways is a little better: