These agate beads are NIFTY. They remind me a little of evil-eye beads, but they also have fantastic banding/striping. They’re set loosely enough that they can spin around in the wirework. 

(I use sterling silver french hooks by default, but I also stock titanium and surgical steel french hooks, high-quality silver-plated leverback findings, and two kinds of clip-on earring thingies, and you can upgrade to any of those right over here.)