Iridescent (or Iris, Aurora Borealis (AB) or rainbow) beads are transparent, opal or opaque beads with durable multicoloured shiny finishes applied by fuming metal salts onto the hot glass for a permanent bond.

Lustre beads (known as luster in the US) are transparent, opal, or opaque beads with transparent, uniform shiny finishes that are usually permanent. Opaque lustre beads are often called pearl and opal lustre beads are sometimes called Ceylon.

Matt (known as matte in the US) have flat, dull or frosted finishes.

Metallic (or galvanised) beads are glass beads that have a shiny, metal-like surface coating which is usually a baked-on paint. The coating may wear off over time.

Opal beads transmit light but are milky or translucent. Good opal glass glows like an opal gemstone.

Opaque beads transmit no light and you cannot see through them.

Painted or Dyed beads have bright or unusual colours achieved by applying dye or paint to the finished beads with heat and solvents. These dyes can wear off.

Satin beads look striated or layered because of the many minute air bubbles pulled through while the molten glass is formed. The apparent shade varies with viewing angle.

Silver-lined (or silverlined or SL) beads are made with transparent or opal glass and have a mirror like reflective lining in their holes. Usually, but not always, the hole is square to enhance the bead’s reflectiveness.

Translucent beads transmit light and you can see through them though not clearly.

Transparent beads transmit light and you can see clearly through them.