| AL | Alabaster (translucent, marble like appearance) |
| C | Ceylon (pearl-like finish, similar to Opaque Luster, but more subdued and the colors are often softer) |
| CR | Crystal (transparent, the inside of the bead is darker than the outside-similar to Inside Color Lined) |
| F | Fancy (transparent, usually with an Aurora Borealis finish and inside Color Lined) |
| GA | Galvanized (chemically plated – Color not very durable) |
| ICL | Inside Color Lined (transparent bead, inside of the bead is different color than the outside) |
| ICL* | Same as above, but the inside Color sparkles |
| L | Luster (pearl-like finish) |
| M | Metallic (has a Metallic look) |
| MA | Matte (frost ed appearance, very popular – opaque unless otherwise indicated, sometimes 2 or 3 tone) |
| MR | Metallic Rainbow (multiple Color Metallic, often called “Iris”) |
| OP | Opaque (no light passes through the bead) |
| OPL | Opaque Luster (opaque with a pearl-like luster finish) |
| OPR | Opaque Rainbow (opaque with an Aurora Borealis Rainbow finish – often multiple colors) |
| R | Rainbow (Aurora Borealis Rainbow finish – often multiple colors) |
| S | Satin (silky appearance – very pretty, but edges then to be sharp) |
| S-MA | Semi-Matte (not as shiny as most beads, but not quite a Matte finish either) |
| T | Transparent (some light passes through the bead) |
| TL | Transparent Luster (light passes through the bead and it has a slight pearlized finish) |
| T MA | Transparent Matte (some light passes through the bead, frosted finish) |
| TR | Transparent Rainbow (light passes through the bead, with an Aurora Borealis Rainbow finish) |
| TSL | Transparent Silver Lined (light passes through the bead, hole of bead is Silver Lined) |