Agate Jewelry, Reconsidered: Black-and-White Stone, Art Deco Lines, and Modern Tassels.

Agate is not the first stone that comes to mind when talking about gemstone jewelry. But in 2026, semiprecious stones are finding their way back into contemporary jewelry, and agate is part of that conversation. With its natural bands, shifting colors and almost graphic patterns, it can feel particularly modern in black and white—or used as a small point of color against metallic beadwork.

A stone with its own pattern

Agate is a banded variety of chalcedony, formed in layers over time. Those layers are what create the stripes, clouds and changes in tone that distinguish one piece of agate from another.

It is an ancient jewelry material, but perhaps not one we always think of as modern. Large polished slices and oversized pendants gave agate a distinctly bohemian reputation for a time. Used differently, however, the stone takes on another character entirely.

At Atelier Lirio, we are interested in the pattern rather than the size of the stone.

Black and white agate has an almost drawn quality: irregular lines held within a very limited palette. Brown and white agate is also contrasted, forming a brown edge around the edge of each bead. Both work naturally with the geometric language that runs through the collection.

Black and white agate

The Black & White Agate Drop Earrings with Black Beaded Round Top use the stone in one of its simplest forms.

The contrast is the important part. Black beads, white sections of agate and the natural markings of the stone create something graphic without relying on a complicated shape or an abundance of color.

This is also what makes black-and-white agate easy to wear. Against a white shirt, black dress, denim or other simple clothing, the stone adds pattern without introducing an entirely new palette.

No two agate beads carry exactly the same markings, so even within a repeated design there are small differences from one pair to the next.

Agate as an accent

In other pieces, agate plays a smaller role.

The Agate & Golden Glass Bead Tassel Earrings, Agate & Bronze Tassel Earrings and Agate & Metallic Purple Tassel Earrings combine agate with Czech glass and long strands of metallic beadwork.

Here, the stone is not the entire story. It acts as an accent above the tassel—a small piece of natural variation set against the repeated rhythm and shine of the beads below it.

We like this contrast: stone against glass, irregular markings against ordered beadwork, and a relatively still element above something designed to move with the wearer.

It is a different way of using agate from the large stone pendants traditionally associated with it, and one that makes the material easier to incorporate into everyday jewelry.

Agate and Art Deco geometry

The Brown & White Agate Art Deco Necklace brings out another side of the material.

Brown and white agate beads are combined with vintage Czech glass and a golden metal magnetic closure. The bands within the stone create their own geometry, which sits naturally beside the clean lines, repetition and structured forms that inform much of Atelier Lirio's work.

Our references to Art Deco are rarely about reproducing historical jewelry literally. We are more interested in its sense of proportion, rhythm and geometry—and in translating those ideas into pieces that can be worn now.

In the necklace, that comes through in repetition and structure. In the tassel earrings, the same thinking becomes movement.

Made by hand in Mexico City

Every Atelier Lirio agate piece is made by hand in our Mexico City studio.

A piece typically requires around 8–9 hours of hand-weaving, beading and finishing. Agate is combined with materials used throughout the collection, particularly vintage Czech glass beads and gold-finished metal components.

Unless a product description specifies otherwise, metal components are finished with 18K gold plating, while selected beads feature 24K gold plating.

The collection is produced in small batches, and most styles are available in quantities of only one to three pieces. This is partly a consequence of how we work, but it also suits a material such as agate: natural variations in the stone mean that a repeated design is never completely identical to the one before it.

These are not pieces intended only for occasions. Like the rest of the collection, our agate earrings and necklaces are designed to become part of what you wear regularly.

Caring for agate jewelry

Agate itself is durable, but an Atelier Lirio piece may also contain glass beads, plated metal and hand-woven beadwork. A few simple habits will help preserve all of those materials.

Wipe the jewelry gently with a clean, dry, soft cloth rather than scrubbing it. Keep it away from water, perfume, lotions and household chemicals. Handle the piece with clean, dry hands. Store it in its box when it is not being worn rather than leaving it loose with other jewelry.

Every piece arrives in an Atelier Lirio box with a velvet-lined interior and a jewelry care card with instructions appropriate to its materials.

Questions about agate jewelry

What is agate? Agate is a variety of chalcedony known for natural banding, variations in color and patterns that differ from stone to stone.

What colors of agate does Atelier Lirio use? The current collection includes black and white agate and brown and white agate, as well as agate used as an accent in beaded tassel earrings.

What materials are paired with agate? Atelier Lirio combines agate with vintage Czech glass beads, hand-woven beadwork and gold-finished metal components, depending on the design.

Where is Atelier Lirio agate jewelry made? The pieces are handcrafted in the Atelier Lirio studio in Mexico City and produced in small batches.