Handmade gemstone jewelry - bead shapes - a primer - rondelles and barrel shapes

Turquoise necklace with flower sugilite
and gaspeite rondelles

Rondelle is another basic gemstone bead shape. Basically a rondelle is saucer shaped. Rondelles can be flat or plump (the rondelles above are plump), faceted or unfaceted. They're nice to use because they're quite versatile and blend nicely with other bead shapes. They of course can be used as the only shape in a piece of jewelry as well.

Snake River agate and barrel
shaped coral-necklace

Barrel shaped beads are, - ta da - shaped like a barrel. The term also refers to beads that are cylindrical and not tapered at the ends. Like all shapes, barrel shaped beads are great as the only shape bead in a piece, as in the above necklace, or to add variety in pieces of jewelry that have many gemstone shapes.