Aurora borealis is a coating, not a color. It is applied to the surface of a finished stone and produces an iridescent shift through pink, blue, green, and gold as the angle changes. Because it is a finish, it can go over any base color, which is why this is the largest range we stock.

The coating takes on the color of the stone beneath it and picks up color from the stones and fabric around it. A Light Siam AB stone still reads red, with an iridescent flash over it. An Aquamarine AB stone still reads pale blue. The base color stays dominant, and the coating adds movement on top. For a colorless base, see crystal AB, where the coating does all the work.

Colored AB spans most of the catalog. On the warm end there is Light Siam AB, Hyacinth AB, Citrine AB, and Sun AB. On the cool end, Aquamarine AB, Blue Zircon AB, Bermuda Blue AB, and Emerald AB. Black Diamond AB and Light Colorado Topaz AB cover the neutrals, and White Opal AB adds the coating over a semi-opaque base.

Many shades also come as Shimmer AB, which adds a softer pearlized surface over the AB coating for a subtler effect. See the full shimmer range. AB stones are stocked in flatback across MAXIMA Crystals by Preciosa^®, LUX European Crystal^®, Starcut Crystal^™, and PriceLess Crystal^™.

Frequently asked questions

What does AB mean on a rhinestone?

AB stands for aurora borealis, an iridescent coating applied to the surface of the stone and named for the northern lights. It shifts through several colors as the angle changes. AB is a finish rather than a color, which is why it appears across every color family we carry.

What is the difference between colored AB and crystal AB?

Colored AB starts with a colored crystal, so the base color stays dominant and the coating adds a shift over it. Crystal AB starts with a colorless stone, so the coating is the only source of color. Choose colored AB when the design needs a specific color with movement. Choose crystal AB when you want the shift itself to be the effect.

What is the difference between AB and Shimmer AB?

Shimmer AB carries a softer pearlized surface over the AB coating, which mutes the rainbow flash and lets the base color read more clearly. Plain AB is the stronger effect. Use Shimmer AB where a full AB would compete with a busy costume, and plain AB where the design needs maximum movement.

Do AB rhinestones come in every color?

Not every shade has an AB version, but most color families have at least one. Use the color filter above to see the current AB options, or check the color family page for the shade you need. AB availability also varies by brand, so a color offered in AB by one brand may not be offered by another.

Does the AB coating wear off?

The coating is bonded to the stone during manufacturing and is not a surface film that peels. Handle AB stones the same way you would any rhinestone: avoid solvents, avoid scrubbing the face of the stone, and store finished pieces away from abrasion.

How do I choose an AB shade?
Order a rhinestone color chart and tilt the stones under the lighting the piece will be worn in. AB is the finish a photograph captures worst, because a still image freezes one angle and the entire effect lives in the change between angles.