The labels on our tubes have an abbreviation following the color name. This chart explains the meaning of the abbreviation and the different finishes that are available on Japanese beads. Some of the beads may have two or more finishes on them, so a comma or space is used to clarify by separating the abbreviations.
AL:
Alabaster (translucent, marble like appearance)
C:
Ceylon (soft and subdued pearl-like finish)
CR:
Crystal (transparent, the inside of the bead is darker than the outside)
F:
Fancy (transparent, usually with an Aurora Borealis rainbow finish and Inside Color lined)
GA:
Galvanized (chemically plated-color finish, not very durable)
GA MA:
Galvanized Matte
GA S-MA:
Galvanized Semi-Matte
ICL:
Inside Color lined (bead is transparent. Inside of the bead is a different color than the outside. Colors are listed as --- Inside color/Outside color)
ICL*:
Inside Color lined w/ sparkle (bead is transparent. Inside of the bead sparkles with different color than the outside. Colors are listed as ---Inside color/Outside color)
L:
Luster (pearl-like finish)
M:
Metallic (has a metallic look)
M MA:
Metallic Matte
MA:
Matte (frosted appearance, opaque unless otherwise indicated, sometimes 2 or 3 tone)
MR:
Metallic Rainbow (multiple color metallic, often called Iris)
MR MA:
Metallica Rainbow Matte
OP:
Opaque (no light passes through the bead)
OP AL:
Opaque Alabaster
OP MA:
Opaque Matte
OP S-MA:
Opaque Semi Matte
OPL:
Opaque Luster (opaque with a pearl-like luster finish)
OPL R:
Opaque Luster Rainbow
OPR:
Opaque Rainbow (opaque with an Aurora Borealis rainbow finish-often multiple colors)