4 most popular types of beads in Nigeria 

Why are beads so popular in Nigeria? Jewelry is a symbol of love, art and culture. Women all over the world like wearing beads to accentuate their beauty and uniqueness, especially on special occasions like weddings. In Nigeria, both men and women wear expensive beads on their wedding day. It is a very old tradition that has been passed on for many centuries. In this article, we are going to list different types of beads and their names in order to better understand their importance to the Nigerian people.

There are various kinds of beads in Nigeria. Every kind differs from the other and represents different meanings.

• Gold beads; • Glass beads; • Pearl beads; • Seed beads; • Vinyl beads; • Camel bone beads; Now let's talk about the most popular ones!

Coral beads

READ ALSO: Nigerian bead making tutorials Corals beads are made from red corals. The main feature of valuable corals is their red or bright pink skeleton colour. A precious coral is more popular than any other gem in Nigeria. It is preferred for its fantastic colour which suits any outfit. In some Nigerian states, coral beads are a symbol of royalty.

Coral beads are mostly imported from Italy and Singapore, which is why they are rather costly. To create a unique and individual design of beaded necklaces or earrings, gold or silver can be used too.

Pearl beads

The amulet of femininity, a symbol of elegance and a sign of good taste – all these things can be said about the pearl. How do you spot a real one? It is very easy to stumble upon a false pearl necklace due to its costliness and scarcity. A false pearl has uneven holes inside; in a real one, holes are more concave. A real pearl cannot be perfect, it is a well-known fact and the last and most effective way to test if the pearl is real is to roll it over your teeth, if you hear a squeak – it is not fake.

Glass beads

Glass beads used to be very expensive a few centuries ago due to the long and complicated manufacturing process. Today, there are lots of different ways to make glass beads. Glass beads are covered with various colours like gold, silver etc. The Nigerian style glass beads have caught on very fast and glass necklaces are all the rage now.

Seed beads

Seed beads are tiny beads of different sizes and shapes (triangles, squares, oblongs, tubes etc.). They are manufactured by cutting glass pipes. High-quality seed beads are made in Japan and India. They are the most affordable and have tons of various designs to satisfy everyone.

The bottom line is, no matter what type of beads you decide to choose for your necklace, they are all beautiful, unique and can go with any outfit.