Beaded jewelry is back – and how! This spring and summer are seeing the comeback of the beaded necklace, which is the epitome of feminity when it comes to jewelry. In fact, they have a long and illustrious history, too, and are famed for their healing properties that can cleanse one’s soul. Everybody from the Romans and Greeks to the Egyptians widely valued them right up until the early Renaissance era, when they were a symbol of wealth and affluence. Today is the era of the Etsy bead necklace, which is more than just an accessory. It’s a statement of grace, elegance, style, and, most importantly, individuality. When we went hunting for them on Etsy, the candy-colored beaded pieces that re-entered the accessory world via Zoom meetings in 2020 are back – and they’re bigger, better, and brighter.
So, we’re here to give you the lowdown on the best-beaded necklaces on Etsy, from minimalist, single-colored layered necklaces to chunky, rainbow-colored pieces.
Meanwhile, you could start by checking out the best vintage jewelry on Etsy for travel.
Caitlyn Minimalist Boho Beaded Necklace
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We start with our favorite jewelry shop on Etsy, Caitlyn Minimalist, and one of her bestselling pieces, the Caitlyn Minimalist Boho Beaded Necklace. This necklace reminded us of the beaded necklaces we wore as kids but with a trendy, modern, and classy new upgrade. Firstly, this playful and fun necklace is made from high-quality and solid 925 sterling silver, with two options for finishes – 18K gold and sterling silver. So, even those with sensitive skin needn’t worry about wearing them. Secondly, we had the choice of seven bead colors: peach, pink, black, white, green, rainbow, and the turquoise one below. The beads are spaced apart well, making it minimalist and yet a standout piece of jewelry. Moreover, the necklace was even adjustable for the beads between 16-18 inches, making it the perfect addition to our trendy jewelry collection.
Pros
- We had the option of two finishes.
- The necklace is made from high-quality silver.
- The beads are well-placed and spaced about.
Cons
- It might be too small and dainty for some.
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Mermaid Beads Jewelry Gold Beaded Necklace
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There’s something innately classic, iconic, and timeless about gold-beaded jewelry, harking back to the Egyptian and Roman eras when gorgeous gold jewelry indicated affluence and royalty. The Mermaid Beads Jewelry Gold Beaded Necklace seemed to take us back to that time but in a modern version. This precious beaded necklace is handcrafted using beads of our choice, namely sterling silver, 14K rose gold or 14k gold-filled ones. What’s more, they were hand-strung on a high-quality jeweler’s wire, ensuring that they didn’t bunch together, beautifully retaining their shape as a necklace when we wore them.
“Besides the fact that this gold beaded necklace was aboslutely gorgeous, they even offered us a discount for buying more than two necklaces. So, we could actually layer them together, and we got a ton of compliments!”
WOW Travel
Not only were the beads water-resistant, but they were also tarnish-resistant, so we could even wear them to a beach. We even had the choice of the bead size, ranging from 2mm to 6mm. Rounding up the features was the Italian-made spring ring clasp for a secure closure, complete with our choice of extender chain with a signature Mermaid Beads charm.
Pros
- We could buy more than one necklace to layer them together for a unique look.
- We had the choices of bead size and make both.
- It’s one of the most beautiful handmade pieces of jewelry we’ve come across.
Cons
- It’s expensive.
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Kurafuchi Delicate Tiny Bead Necklace
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We’re fans of minimalist but vibrant styles of jewelry, so what better than the Kurafuchi Delicate Tiny Bead Necklace to adorn our necks? This dainty double-strand necklace is handcrafted from a high-quality brass chain plated with 24k gold. The highlight was the colorful beaded accents, for which three color options were used. So, we could choose from peach, purple, and a multi-colored one, depending on what we wanted. Since the necklace has been crafted and plated in France, it’s also guaranteed to be lead- and nickel-free, making it hypoallergenic and perfect to wear for people with sensitive skin. But what we loved the most was that this necklace came as a set of two chains, each with its own clasp to prevent them from tangling. Hence, we had the option to wear the beaded chain by itself and could even layer it with other pendant necklaces.
Pros
- We could wear both individually for a lovely minimalist style.
- The necklace is elegant and simple.
- We had various length options from 15 to 22 inches.
Cons
- Shipping times are too high.
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Ganesham Gems N Beads Emerald Rondelle Bead Necklace
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There’s something about emerald jewelry that quiet-screams royalty and elegance, doesn’t it? That’s why we loved the Ganesham Gems N Beads Emerald Rondelle Bead Necklace. This wonderful AAA+ natural green emerald necklace features rondelle, micro-cut emerald corundum gemstone beads. Thanks to the size of the beads, 4-5mm, the necklace really stood out on our necks. Moreover, the Victorian style of the necklace ensured that we could pair it with and elevate all sorts of outfits and ensembles. What’s more, we could choose between five and six layers of strands, which only enhanced the beauty of the piece. Thanks to the adjustable length, we could wear it low or high on our necks. A tie closure wraps up the features of this gorgeous statement piece of jewelry.
Pros
- We could choose between five and six layers of strands.
- The rondelle, micro-cut emerald corundum gemstone beads are utterly gorgeous.
- The Victorian style is elegant and regal at the same time.
Cons
- The statement style might not be to everyone’s taste.
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Mad Jewelry Co. Freshwater Pearl Necklace
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There’s nothing more classic, iconic, and timeless than a pearl necklace like the Mad Jewelry Co. Freshwater Pearl Necklace. We could wear this choker-style minimalist necklace every day and for special occasions; that’s how versatile it is. What’s more, it’s handcrafted from sterling silver and plated with 18K gold, making it a special and unique piece of precious jewelry. Plus, the chain length is adjustable as it can be extended up to 5 cm, allowing us to wear the necklace high or low on our necks. If that wasn’t enough, we could order the necklace in any quantity from 1 to 20, allowing us even to layer them. All in all, this simple but minimalist style necklace makes for a very elegant piece of jewelry.
Pros
- The lobster claw closure ensured we could wear it all day without worrying about it falling off.
- The necklace is minimalist and elegant.
- It’s adjustable.
- It’s very affordable.
Cons
- Not everybody will like the minimalist style.
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Born To Rock Jewelry Tiny Beaded Layering Necklaces
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The Born To Rock Jewelry Tiny Beaded Layering Necklaces sits at the top of the beaded necklaces list for more reasons than one. Firstly, the necklaces are crafted by hand using resin and plastic with golden and multi-colored beads. What’s more, they’re strung onto a high-quality stainless steel chain, making it hypoallergenic. So, even people with sensitive skin could wear these necklaces without any worry about their skin. Thanks to the adjustable length of the chain from 16 to 18 inches, we could decide how high or low we wanted to wear the necklace on our necks, especially since it also came with a chain extension. Wrapping things up was the secure lobster claw closure, which ensured that we could wear it around our necks without worrying about it coming off during any activities when we were traveling.
Pros
- The multi-colored beads add character and beauty to the neckpiece.
- We could layer them together.
- The chain is adjustable.
- It’s very inexpensive.
Cons
- None.
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How To Choose The Best Beaded Necklaces on Etsy?
Types
The world of bead necklaces is as deep as you want it to be – and it can be quite the rabbit hole. There are single and multi-layered necklaces, single and multi-colored ones, pearl bead necklaces, sterling silver ones, gold bead necklaces, long and short bead neckpieces – the list is endless. So, you need to first decide what kind of necklace you’re looking for.
Neckline
Usually, a beaded necklace is a statement piece, so it would look best when paired with a simple, minimalistic neckline. So, we’d choose longer necklaces for high-collared shirts and turtleneck outfits and shorter ones for low-necklines and open-collar ones.
Textures
One of the best things about beaded necklaces is that they add visual interest to the neckline. So, we would mix and match different textures of beads and our outfits. For instance, we could pair a flowy travel dress with layered single-colored necklaces or a multi-colored chunky bead one if the dress was of a single color.
Less is more
Finally, you need to know when to not go overboard and look like Lil Yachty when it comes to bead necklaces. We usually limit bead necklaces to two on our neck, and if it’s a statement piece, then we keep other accessories to the minimum.
You might also want to have a look at the best Etsy travel jewelry.
Why is beaded jewelry popular?
They’re versatile and can be easily personalized to match personal styles and individuality. And since they come in a variety of designs, colors, and materials, they can be worn anytime, anywhere.
What type of beads are best?
Metal and gemstone beads are the most popular, but there are also enamel, crystal, porcelain, ceramic, and glass ones.
What kind of beads don’t fade?
Sol-Gel clear beads have a specialized coating treatment that ensures their long-lasting color. It basically protects the beads from exposure to acids, body oils, cosmetics, washing, and sunlight, making them fade-resistant.
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