Oriental Direct Craft Supplies

Name: Oriental Direct Craft Supplies
Address: Marshall Hall Mills, Elland Lane, Brighouse, HX59DU, GB
Telephone: +441484961616
Price range: $$

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Oriental Direct Craft Supplies

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We are a family run business based in Yorkshire, UK. We specialise in supplying high quality gemstone and pearl beads and 100% wool felt products.

For cost effective trade prices, please visit our dedicated wholesale website at trade.orientaldirect.co.uk

29/09/2026

MALACHITE 💚 Real or imitation? Can you spot the difference?

One of the most fascinating things about natural Malachite is its incredible variety of patterns!

From delicate flowing bands and concentric circles to rich, deep greens and intricate formations, every piece has its own unique character. ✨

But did you know that Malachite is also commonly imitated?

So, what should you look for?

💚 Natural Malachite: Beautiful variations of green, intricate banding and flowing layers that vary from piece to piece. Some reveal delicate lines, while others have stunning concentric patterns.

💚 Common imitations: Often feature exaggerated green and very dark stripes, repeated circular patterns and a more uniform appearance.

Of course, natural Malachite can have very dark green bands too, so colour alone isn't enough to determine authenticity!

Swipe through to see our beautiful natural Malachite specimens, polished pieces and gemstone beads, followed by an example of imitation Malachite beads.

📸 The imitation bead photograph is kindly provided by our supplier for educational purposes. We do not stock these imitation beads.

Once you know, you know! The more natural Malachite you see, the easier it becomes to recognise common imitations. 💚

We love sharing a little gemstone knowledge with our jewellery-making community!

💜💛

26/09/2026

MOOKAITE JASPER 🤎💛
Nature's beautiful earthy palette!

From rich burgundy and warm mustard yellow to soft pink, purple and creamy tones, Mookaite brings together some of the most beautiful colours in one gemstone.

But did you know that genuine Mookaite comes from a particular part of Western Australia? 🇦🇺

Named after Mooka Creek near the Kennedy Range, this beautiful Australian stone is loved for its rich natural colours and wonderfully varied patterns.

Every strand has its own personality, making it a lovely choice for earthy, colourful jewellery designs. ✨

We're loving these beautiful autumnal shades at the moment!

Which colour catches your eye first — burgundy, mustard yellow or cream? 🤎💛

Available at Oriental Direct Craft Supplies.

23/09/2026

BLUE TOURMALINE 💙 Tiny beads, beautiful blues!

There's something so captivating about blue tourmaline.

From soft ocean blues to deeper, moodier tones, every strand has its own natural beauty. 🌊

These delicate 3 × 2mm faceted rondelle beads catch the light beautifully, making them perfect for dainty jewellery designs, delicate layering and adding a little sparkle to your creations.

Sometimes the smallest gemstones make the biggest impression. ✨

What would you create with these beautiful blues?

Available at Oriental Direct Craft Supplies

21/09/2026

Watch the colour transformation!

From fiery orange to magical purple, this beautiful Labradorite reveals a different side of itself with every movement.

The mesmerising flashes of colour are known as labradorescence — one of nature’s most captivating optical effects.

Set in sterling silver, each pendant is beautifully unique, with hidden colours waiting for the light to find them. ✨

Freshly arrived and we have lots of beautiful, one-of-a-kind gemstone pendants to work through! It will take us a little while to photograph and list them all.

If you’re a trade customer and would like one — or a selection — before they’re listed, please get in touch. 💜

Which flash do you prefer — orange or purple? 🧡💜

19/09/2026

💙 BLUE TOPAZ — Three beautiful shades!

Sky Blue 🩵 Soft, pale and delicate.

Swiss Blue 💎 Bright, vibrant and beautifully saturated.

London Blue 💙 Deep, rich and sophisticated.

Did you know that natural blue topaz is actually rare and usually very pale?

Most blue topaz available today is genuine natural topaz that has usually undergone heat treatment to create its beautiful blue colour.

It's not generally dyed — the gemstone is natural, but its colour is enhanced. ✨

Our beautiful 4 x 3mm and 3 × 2mm faceted Blue Topaz rondelle beads are available online.

Which blue is your favourite? 💙

16/09/2026

Some gemstones catch your eye with colour… pearls do it with lustre. 🤍✨

These beautiful quality approx. 8mm round freshwater pearl beads have such a lovely natural glow, with subtle overtones that reveal themselves as they move in the light.

Classic enough for a timeless strand, but equally beautiful mixed with gemstones, gold or silver for something more contemporary.

And of course, no two natural pearls are ever completely identical — that little individuality is part of their beauty. 🤍

What would you create with these?

09/09/2026

PHOSPHOSIDERITE 💜💛
Purple with touches of golden yellow ✨

One of those gemstones where the natural colour combinations do all the work. 💜

Phosphosiderite is best known for its soft lilac and purple shades, but some beads can also show creamy, golden-yellow and earthy tones — and I love how beautifully they sit together.

The combination of purple + golden yellow is especially lovely for jewellery making. They are opposite sides of the colour wheel, so the warmth of yellow really brings out the cooler purple tones. 💜💛

Try pairing phosphosiderite with amethyst, citrine, golden quartz, pearls or gold-filled findings for a beautiful complementary palette.

In crystal traditions, phosphosiderite is often associated with calm, reflection and inner peace — a gentle little reminder to slow down and enjoy the colours along the way. ✨

Crystal meanings are traditional beliefs rather than scientifically proven effects.

Available from Oriental Direct for jewellery making. 💎

07/09/2026

Soft green, beautifully translucent and full of natural character — Prehnite 💚

One gemstone, so many possibilities.

From classic rounds and tiny faceted rondelles to chips, raw nuggets, coins, cubes and statement cuts, Prehnite is one of those stones that can look completely different depending on how it is cut.

You may also notice the dark needle-like inclusions in some of our strands. These are part of the natural character of the material and can create some really striking patterns within the soft green stone. 🌿

In crystal traditions, Prehnite is often associated with peace, intuition and a calm heart — a lovely sentiment for a stone with such a gentle colour.

For us, though, its natural variations are what make it particularly interesting for jewellery making. No two beads are quite the same.

Which Prehnite cut would you create with? 💚

05/09/2026

One gemstone, an incredible palette of colours 🌈✨

Tourmaline is one of those gemstones that never stops surprising us. From soft pinks and greens to deeper blues, golden tones and almost-black shades, its natural colour range is extraordinary.

And sometimes, more than one colour can even appear within the same crystal — giving us the beautiful bi-colour and multicolour tourmalines that make this gemstone so distinctive.

These little round beads show just how varied tourmaline can be. 💎

In crystal traditions, tourmaline is often associated with grounding, protection and balance, with the different colours carrying their own traditional meanings.

But sometimes you don't need a meaning — you can simply choose the colour that speaks to you. ❤️

Which tourmaline colour would you choose?

02/09/2026

Rhodonite or Rhodochrosite? 🌸💎

Their names sound remarkably similar, they're both famous for their beautiful shades of pink — and it's easy to see why these two gemstones can sometimes be confused.

But they're actually different minerals.

🌸 Rhodonite is a manganese silicate mineral. Its colour can range from soft dusty pink and rose pink to deeper reddish tones, often with beautiful natural mottling and dramatic dark markings.

And that's part of what makes natural gemstones so fascinating — even within the same mineral, colour and pattern can vary enormously from one piece to another.

💕 Rhodochrosite, on the other hand, is a manganese carbonate mineral. It is known for its beautiful pink colouring, and some material displays distinctive pale or creamy banding.

And here's the interesting connection between them...

Manganese plays an important role in giving both gemstones their characteristic pink colours. 🌸

Two different minerals, connected by one beautiful element.

🔮 In crystal traditions, Rhodonite is associated with compassion, emotional balance and forgiveness, while Rhodochrosite is associated with love, joy and emotional healing.

Perhaps that's rather fitting for two stones that share the colour of the heart while remaining completely individual. 💕

Which would you choose — Rhodonite or Rhodochrosite?

Address

Marshall Hall Mills, Elland Lane
Brighouse
HX59DU

Telephone

+441484961616

Website

http://www.orientaldirect.co.uk/, http://trade.orientaldirect.co.uk/

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