Aurora's Beads & Jewelry

Aurora's Beads & Jewelry is a long-running bead and gemstone shop in Kips Bay, Manhattan, on East 28th Street. The store sells semi-precious stone beads, sterling silver and marcasite jewelry, and beading supplies for hobbyists and professional designers.

The owner began collecting stones as a child, trained in silversmithing and goldsmithing after moving to New York in 1979, and has spent decades sourcing semi-precious and precious beads from around the world. Today the shop offers retail and wholesale stones along with pearl stringing, restringing and jewelry repair.

It's a good stop if you want gemstone beads to make your own crystal bracelet or need a favorite stone necklace restrung. The shop is open weekday afternoons and Saturdays and closed on Sundays.