I spotted these beads in my local supply store on a rather mad and bad stock run when I went crazy with the amount of wonderful stuff I hauled home. Agates are usually characterised by striped and mottled patterning. These agates are dyed, as they do not naturally come in these particular lovely colours, and the applied colouring enhances the pattern of the beads bringing out the banded and the swirly designs in all their light and dark variegated shadings. It was easy to match these beads, their slightly different shapes complementing rather than awfully clashing. The pale pink bicone beads, acquired during the same run, adds a bit of fashion edginess.... well, in truth I got the pink bicones for the pink agates and some turquoise bicones for the turquoise. However, on mixing it up I discarded the turquoise bicones in favour of just the pink ones and, yeah, it works. I like it. I hope you do too ;-).