I-Agateware iwuhlobo lobumba olwenziwa ngokuxuba ubumba olunemibala ehlukene ndawonye ukuze kwakhe umthelela wemabula noma ojikajikayo. Izitsha zobumba eziphumayo zivame ukufana nokuhlanganisa kanye nephethini yamatshe ayigugu e-agate, yingakho igama elithi "agateware." Le nqubo isetshenziswe amakhulu eminyaka futhi ihlotshaniswa ikakhulukazi namasiko ezinto zobumba zaseBrithani nezaseMelika.