What are some valuable bead types?

I know there are many types of beads, but not sure of the different values among them.

 

There is a bead collectors group on Facebook. They seem to be very enthusiastic about the old Venetian beads and old trade beads. I love beads but really struggle to understand how they identify the ancient ones.
It’s such a huge subject I just try to learn as I go along to start to identify what is old or new, average or special. EBay sold prices are a good place to start although I’m not convinced some of the really high sellers aren’t just money laundering in some way.
Quality always has value but telling the difference between a £100 coral/turquoise/amber/Venetian glass etc bead necklace and the £1000 + variety isn’t always straightforward to me.
Sorry I’ve rambled on and not really answered the question.

 

KSW's answer is great....I agree it is a HUGE subject with so many variables that can affect values.

Regarding bead "types" are you referring to bead necklaces, loose beads or both--or are you referring to the material such as glass, semi-precious gemstones, plastics/synthetic, etc? If you search each of those types that have sold on eBay you'll find Chanel and Miriam Haskell usually at the top for glass beads; amber, coral, jade and turquoise for semi-precious beads; and bakelite for plastic beads. If you scroll through all the bead necklaces that have sold on eBay in different categories (sorted from high to low), you'll get a general idea of what determines value, such as designer/maker, origin, age, design, color, size, weight, etc. If you make a list of key words that you see over and over, and then do searches that include those key words, you'll get a general idea of what can determine value....at least for items sold on eBay at that point in time. But like KSW said, some of the really high prices might be somehow manipulated. Also keep in mind that some high-priced items may have been returned and sold at a lower price, or not relisted at all.

 

Like others have said, it's a game of minutae. Values are all over the place and they fluctuate. For example: Italian wedding cake beads that are 60 or 70 years old sell for more than the same thing from the 80s. Chinese copies are a buck a string, yard sale price. Stone beads are one price for vintage top quality, another for mediocre, and rock bottom for dyed modern junk. Imperial egg yolk amber beads go for silly money, but plastic copies exist and you'd better know the difference if buying or selling. Which is which can take a real expert to suss out.

 

Wow, thank you two. I have some two necklaces of beads that I always thought were made of something like glass that had been treated to be like sea glass, but now I'm thinking they might be trade beads. They are fairly large beads, about 1/2" diameter. I will take a picture but using the phone for a phone conference right now.

 

I'm a big fan of opalite glass, aka sea opal glass. It's not worth a ton but it's pretty. Frosted "beach" glass beads are another beast entirely. Most are 80s and later lampwork from India, but we won't know for sure until we see them. They could be something else too.

 

They look a little like the blue hebron beads I've seen but many of those are antique, this look similar but newer.

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/193165472/antique-hebron-beads-rare-african-trade

 

I might have those....

bin a while since I held them..

 

Definitely lampwork, but who did them and if they're valuable antiques instead of the usual...no idea.

 

Neiger beads!

 

People are going mad over them at the moment. Sadly lots of fakes out there too.

 

Can anyone identify the beads that I posted a picture of in this thread? I've been studying up on beads and they do look like they could be old but I'm not sure.

 

https://www.thebeadchest.com/products/super-jumbo-blue-recycled-glass-beads-34mm?variant=28955540553&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Smart Shopping - Beads&utm_term=&view = googlecpc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIosLpq_aP-gIVxcDICh31zw16EAsYByABEgIQsPD_BwE

this guy don't know....but they're the same as yours...and that fiber rope is African...imo

 

there's tons of them out there;;;

dogon glass beads
african blue glass beads
recycled blue glass beads
Dutch blue glass beads

pick one...

 

Thanks.

This is an amazing video. There are some other good ones if you type in trade beads.

 

I think the problem is with age. These look just a little bit like older beads with my limited experience.

 

143059725633573820

they all look old......but most likely circa 1900....imho

 

I think the problem is with the word recycled. To newbies that might mean they were made in the last 50 years. But in reality maybe it could be older beads were also made from blue cobalt glass? Washed up bottles made into trade beads to get things from people who came to town....

 

no........... recycled is just a catch phrase used to sell the beads to a younger stupider crowd....... that's all..