How do amber prayer beads look in the light?

Amber is fossilised tree resin and often lets light pass through it. That is why the same strand of beads looks different from one light to another.

Light from behind and from the front

When light comes from behind the bead, the colour opens up and glows. When light falls on the front, you see more of the surface and the bead looks darker.

Cloudy amber

Amber that looks cloudy holds countless tiny air bubbles. The bubbles scatter light, so the bead lets less light through and looks milky.

Craftsmen often hold a bead up to the light to see its colour and what lies inside.

This video is a sample, made to show light passing through the beads.