Jasper Beads are common gemstones and can be a favorite among interior designers. In addition to being small and more affordable than diamonds, jasper comes in a large variety of colors. To form jewelry out of these stones, the rough stone must first be cut into many small pieces. Jasper was popular in ancient India and Egypt before being largely forgotten outside its native regions until Victorian jewelers brought it back into fashion during the 1800s as an alternative gemstone material. Jasper is a type of stone with a hardness similar to quartz, which means it has the capability to cut other stones when making jewelry while expanding on your investment.