Click picture to see entire image:

Cost per bead:

9 cents

Bead material:

Glass

Country of origin:

Czech Republic

Size/shape:

4mm (from hole to hole) x 7mm (wide) faceted rondels.  A rondel is any round bead which is wider than it is long.

Colors/description:

Opaque dark brown (almost black) with medium-brown "tiger" stripes.

Hole size:

1mm (estimated).

Defects:

I haven't noticed any significant defects.  However, 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:

These beads are so dark that I wasn't sure whether to put them on the Black page or the Brown page.  The supplier did a sneaky thing:  whoever took the picture lightened it considerably, making the beads appear medium dark brown.  In fact, they are almost black with random brown stripes running through them.

I had a great deal of difficulty photographing the beads.  They came out of the camera looking almost completely black, and I had to lighten the photograph considerably (but I may not have lightened it enough).  In addition, the light reflections from the window obscure the fine stripes.  I would post the supplier's picture here, but it is completely inaccurate.

I would say that the actual beads look better than my picture.  When you look at them close up, you can see that they are dark brown and not black (dark dark brown).  If you are dissatisfied with them, I will pay your return shipping.