16-Inch Gemstones
The 16-inch strand is the industry standard—and no one stocks more of them than Dakota Stones. Browse more than 200 stone types across every color and pattern, from everyday staples like Amethyst and Jasper to collector favorites such as Red Garnet and rare Turquoise mine-runs. Because the strands measure a full 15 – 16 inches, you get enough beads for matching earring pairs, stretch bracelets, or a necklace focal and still have extras for accents.
Need to drill down fast? Use the filter bar to sort by Stone Type when you know the gem you want, or by Color when you’re building a palette first. Shapes range from classic rounds and rondelles to cubes, heishi, chips, and rare designer cuts—each strand calibrated for even sizing and smooth stringing.
Whether you’re a hobbyist replenishing a bead board or a pro assembling a full production run, this category is the workhorse of our catalog: reliable lengths, vast variety, and new additions arriving every month. Dive in, filter your way to the perfect strand, and keep your design queue flowing with Dakota Stones’ biggest collection.
Aquamarine 8mm Round AAA Grade - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$77.00
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$77.00
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$77.00
$77.00
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$77.00
Aquamarine is a transparent to translucent stone ranging from cerulean blue to light blue in higher grades. In lower grades it can be transparent t...
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$77.00
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$77.00
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$77.00
$77.00
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$77.00
Aquamarine 6mm Round AAA Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$45.00
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$45.00
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$45.00
$45.00
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$45.00
Aquamarine is a transparent to translucent stone ranging from cerulean blue to light blue in higher grades. In lower grades it can be transparent t...
View full details
Original price
$45.00
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$45.00
Original price
$45.00
$45.00
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$45.00
Aquamarine 4mm Round AAA Grade - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$31.00
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$31.00
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$31.00
$31.00
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$31.00
Aquamarine is a transparent to translucent stone ranging from cerulean blue to light blue in higher grades. In lower grades it can be transparent t...
View full details
Original price
$31.00
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Original price
$31.00
Original price
$31.00
$31.00
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$31.00
Aquamarine 4mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Aquamarine is a transparent to translucent stone ranging from cerulean blue to light blue in higher grades. In lower grades it can be transparent t...
View full details
Original price
$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Ice Amazonite 8mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$31.00
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$31.00
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$31.00
$31.00
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$31.00
Brazilian Amazonite is an opaque blue to green to light green stone, often occurring with inclusions of white, yellow or gray and occasionally tran...
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$31.00
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$31.00
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$31.00
$31.00
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$31.00
Ice Amazonite 10mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$45.00
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$45.00
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$45.00
$45.00
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$45.00
Brazilian Amazonite is an opaque blue to green to light green stone, often occurring with inclusions of white, yellow or gray and occasionally tran...
View full details
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$45.00
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$45.00
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$45.00
$45.00
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$45.00
Amazonite 4mm Faceted Lantern - 15-16 Inch
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$27.00
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$27.00
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$27.00
$27.00
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$27.00
Brazilian Amazonite is an opaque blue to green to light green stone, often occurring with inclusions of white, yellow or gray and occasionally tran...
View full details
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$27.00
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$27.00
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$27.00
$27.00
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$27.00
Lapis 6mm Hexagon - 15-16 Inch
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$33.00
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$33.00
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$33.00
$33.00
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$33.00
Lapis is a semi to precious stone and one of the most sought after throughout history. It is highly regarded for its beautiful blue color flecked w...
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$33.00
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$33.00
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$33.00
$33.00
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$33.00
Blue and Yellow Tiger Eye 6mm Hexagon - 15-16 Inch
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$31.00
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$31.00
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$31.00
$31.00
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$31.00
Blue Tiger Eye is a naturally occurring dark stone with chatoyant layers that create a flash which seems to emanate from within the stone as they c...
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$31.00
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$31.00
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$31.00
$31.00
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$31.00
Blue Agate 6mm Hexagon - 15-16 Inch
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$33.00
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$33.00
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$33.00
$33.00
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$33.00
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$33.00
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$33.00
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$33.00
$33.00
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$33.00
Black Gold Amazonite 6mm Hexagon - 15-16 Inch
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$27.00
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$27.00
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$27.00
$27.00
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$27.00
Black Gold Amazonite is a member of the Feldspar family and varies in hue from robin’s egg blue to blue-green to black, occasionally mingled with r...
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$27.00
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$27.00
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$27.00
$27.00
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$27.00
Mixed Sapphire 2x4mm Thin Faceted Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
Regular Price
$27.00
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$27.00
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$27.00
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$27.00
$19.00
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$19.00
Sapphires are precious gemstones, but unlike rubies, they come in a rainbow of colors besides red! They are all varieties of the mineral corundum,...
View full details
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$27.00
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$27.00
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$27.00
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$27.00
$19.00
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$19.00
Sale
Sodalite 7x9-8x10mm Pebble A Grade - 15-16-Inch
Original price
$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Sodalite is named for its sodium content and may be classified as a feldspathoid. Blue Sodalite is sometimes referred to as “poor man’s lapis” beca...
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Original price
$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Russian Amazonite 7x9-8x10mm Pebble A Grade - 15-16-Inch
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Russian Amazonite is a translucent blue to green to green or light green stone, occurring with inclusions of white, black or yellow. It is named fo...
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Kyanite 7x9-8x10mm Pebble - 15-16-Inch
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Kyanite often occurs as long, bladed, striated crystals, transparent or translucent with a pearly luster. An aluminum silicate mineral, it may appe...
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Chrysocolla 7x9-8x10mm Pebble A Grade - 15-16-Inch
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$23.00
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$23.00
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$23.00
$23.00
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$23.00
Chrysocolla, a hydrous copper silicate, is often mistaken for turquoise due to its rich blues and blue to greens. It often also occurs with colors ...
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Original price
$23.00
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$23.00
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$23.00
$23.00
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$23.00
Blue Tiger Eye 7x9-8x10mm Pebble A Grade - 15-16-Inch
Original price
$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Blue Tiger Eye is a naturally occurring dark stone with chatoyant layers that create a flash which seems to emanate from within the stone as they c...
View full details
Original price
$14.00
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Original price
$14.00
Original price
$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Devil Aquamarine 7x9-8x10mm Pebble A Grade - 15-16-Inch
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
"Devil Aquamarine" (or "Devil Blue Aquamarine") is a market term for natural aquamarine characterized by deep blue, dark tones, and inclusions of b...
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Blue Apatite 7x9-8x10mm Pebble A Grade - 15-16-Inch
Original price
$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Blue Apatite ranges in color from light teal to blue to bright blue to dark blue to green. It can be easily confused with other minerals due to its...
View full details
Original price
$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Aquamarine 7x9-8x10mm Pebble A Grade - 15-16-Inch
Original price
$18.00
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Original price
$18.00
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$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Aquamarine is a transparent to translucent stone ranging from cerulean blue to light blue in higher grades. In lower grades it can be transparent t...
View full details
Original price
$18.00
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Original price
$18.00
Original price
$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Sodalite 7x8mm Faceted Round Nugget A Grade - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$27.00
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Original price
$27.00
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$27.00
$27.00
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$27.00
Sodalite is named for its sodium content and may be classified as a feldspathoid. Blue Sodalite is sometimes referred to as “poor man’s lapis” beca...
View full details
Original price
$27.00
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Original price
$27.00
Original price
$27.00
$27.00
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$27.00
Lapis 7x8mm Faceted Round Nugget - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$32.00
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Original price
$32.00
Original price
$32.00
$32.00
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$32.00
Lapis is a semi to precious stone and one of the most sought after throughout history. It is highly regarded for its beautiful blue color flecked w...
View full details
Original price
$32.00
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Original price
$32.00
Original price
$32.00
$32.00
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$32.00
Iolite 7x8mm Faceted Round Nugget - 15-16 Inch
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$32.00
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$32.00
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$32.00
$32.00
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$32.00
Iolite most commonly occurs in shades of blue to gray, violet or indigo. It displays a visual property called “pleochroism,” which means that it ca...
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Original price
$32.00
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$32.00
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$32.00
$32.00
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$32.00
Black Gold Amazonite 7x8mm Faceted Round Nugget - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$18.00
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Original price
$18.00
Original price
$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Black Gold Amazonite is a member of the Feldspar family and varies in hue from robin’s egg blue to blue-green to black, occasionally mingled with r...
View full details
Original price
$18.00
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Original price
$18.00
Original price
$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Brazilian Amazonite 7x8mm Faceted Round Nugget - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$27.00
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Original price
$27.00
Original price
$27.00
$27.00
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$27.00
Brazilian Amazonite is an opaque blue to green to light green stone, often occurring with inclusions of white, yellow or gray and occasionally tran...
View full details
Original price
$27.00
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Original price
$27.00
Original price
$27.00
$27.00
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$27.00
Aquamarine 7x8mm Faceted Round Nugget A Grade - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$36.00
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Original price
$36.00
Original price
$36.00
$36.00
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$36.00
Aquamarine is a transparent to translucent stone ranging from cerulean blue to light blue in higher grades. In lower grades it can be transparent t...
View full details
Original price
$36.00
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Original price
$36.00
Original price
$36.00
$36.00
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$36.00
Tanzanite 5x10-20mm Top Drill Teeth - 15-16-Inch
Original price
$21.00
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Original price
$21.00
Original price
$21.00
$21.00
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$21.00
Tanzanite is both extremely rare and extremely attractive, and we offer it when we can.
Original price
$21.00
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Original price
$21.00
Original price
$21.00
$21.00
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$21.00
Blue Apatite 5x10-20mm Top Drill Teeth - 15-16-Inch
Original price
$15.00
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Original price
$15.00
Original price
$15.00
$15.00
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$15.00
Blue Apatite ranges in color from light teal to blue to bright blue to dark blue to green. It can be easily confused with other minerals due to its...
View full details
Original price
$15.00
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Original price
$15.00
Original price
$15.00
$15.00
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$15.00
Blue Kyanite 5x8m Chip - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$15.00
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Original price
$15.00
Original price
$15.00
$15.00
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$15.00
Kyanite often occurs as long, bladed, striated crystals, transparent or translucent with a pearly luster. An aluminum silicate mineral, it may appe...
View full details
Original price
$15.00
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Original price
$15.00
Original price
$15.00
$15.00
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$15.00
Tanzanite 4mm Microfaceted Round - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$37.00
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Original price
$37.00
Original price
$37.00
$37.00
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$37.00
Tanzanite is both extremely rare and extremely attractive, and we offer it when we can.
Original price
$37.00
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Original price
$37.00
Original price
$37.00
$37.00
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$37.00
Peruvian Turquoise (Chrysocolla) 4mm Microfaceted Round - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$22.00
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Original price
$22.00
Original price
$22.00
$22.00
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$22.00
Peruvian Turquoise is also known as Turquoise Chrysocolla. It’s attractive blue-green provides a unique color to the mineral world. Peruvian Turquo...
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Original price
$22.00
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Original price
$22.00
Original price
$22.00
$22.00
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$22.00
Pietersite 4mm Microfaceted Round - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$14.00
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Original price
$14.00
Original price
$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Pietersite has been called the Tempest Stone for its colors of deep blue and gray with metallic gold and flashes of brilliant chatoyancy as it catc...
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$14.00
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Original price
$14.00
Original price
$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Blue Topaz 4mm Microfaceted Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$18.00
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Original price
$18.00
Original price
$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Topaz is a rare silicate mineral and obtains much of its popularity from its beautiful colors and its status as a birthstone. Topaz occurs in a wi...
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$18.00
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Original price
$18.00
Original price
$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Blue Goldstone 4mm Microfaceted Round - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$10.00
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Original price
$10.00
Original price
$10.00
$10.00
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$10.00
Blue Goldstone is an opaque, midnight blue glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and may ap...
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Original price
$10.00
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Original price
$10.00
Original price
$10.00
$10.00
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$10.00
Dark Blue Sapphire 4mm Microfaceted Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$37.00
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Original price
$37.00
Original price
$37.00
$37.00
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$37.00
Metaphysically, all sapphires are considered stones of wisdom, however different colors have additional attributes such as enhanced emotional resil...
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Original price
$37.00
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Original price
$37.00
Original price
$37.00
$37.00
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$37.00
Blue Tourmaline 4mm Microfaceted Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$33.00
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Original price
$33.00
Original price
$33.00
$33.00
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$33.00
Blue Tourmaline ranges in color from green to blue to yellow to green with black, milky white and clear, colorless inclusions. It is an aluminum bo...
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Original price
$33.00
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Original price
$33.00
Original price
$33.00
$33.00
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$33.00
Blue Opal 4mm Microfaceted Round - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$24.00
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Original price
$24.00
Original price
$24.00
$24.00
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$24.00
Blue Peruvian Opal naturally occurs with swirling patterns of deep blues, blue to greens and greens swirled with yellow to green, rust, brown and o...
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Original price
$24.00
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Original price
$24.00
Original price
$24.00
$24.00
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$24.00
Blue Lace Agate 4mm Microfaceted Round - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$18.00
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Original price
$18.00
Original price
$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Blue Lace Agate is a naturally occuring soft blue agate, laced with bands or swirls of brighter blue, periwinkle, white and occasionally gray or br...
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Original price
$18.00
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Original price
$18.00
Original price
$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Snowflake Sodalite 1x2mm Square Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$13.00
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Original price
$13.00
Original price
$13.00
$13.00
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$13.00
Sodalite is named for its sodium content and may be classified as a feldspathoid. Blue Sodalite is sometimes referred to as “poor man’s lapis” beca...
View full details
Original price
$13.00
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Original price
$13.00
Original price
$13.00
$13.00
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$13.00
Blue Goldstone 1x2mm Square Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$13.00
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Original price
$13.00
Original price
$13.00
$13.00
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$13.00
Blue Goldstone is an opaque, midnight blue glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and may ap...
View full details
Original price
$13.00
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Original price
$13.00
Original price
$13.00
$13.00
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$13.00
Brazilian Amazonite 1x2mm Square Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$13.00
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Original price
$13.00
Original price
$13.00
$13.00
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$13.00
Brazilian Amazonite is an opaque blue to green to light green stone, often occurring with inclusions of white, yellow or gray and occasionally tran...
View full details
Original price
$13.00
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Original price
$13.00
Original price
$13.00
$13.00
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$13.00
Brazilian Amazonite 8mm Cross - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$18.00
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Original price
$18.00
Original price
$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Brazilian Amazonite is an opaque blue to green to light green stone, often occurring with inclusions of white, yellow or gray and occasionally tran...
View full details
Original price
$18.00
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Original price
$18.00
Original price
$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Blue Aventurine 8mm Cross - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$18.00
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Original price
$18.00
Original price
$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
0
Original price
$18.00
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Original price
$18.00
Original price
$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Chrysocolla 7x8mm Faceted Swirl Oval - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$36.00
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Original price
$36.00
Original price
$36.00
$36.00
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$36.00
Chrysocolla, a hydrous copper silicate, is often mistaken for turquoise due to its rich blues and blue to greens. It often also occurs with colors ...
View full details
Original price
$36.00
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Original price
$36.00
Original price
$36.00
$36.00
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$36.00
Blue Apatite 7x8mm Faceted Swirl Oval - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$32.00
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Original price
$32.00
Original price
$32.00
$32.00
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$32.00
Blue Apatite ranges in color from light teal to blue to bright blue to dark blue to green. It can be easily confused with other minerals due to its...
View full details
Original price
$32.00
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Original price
$32.00
Original price
$32.00
$32.00
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$32.00
Aquamarine 7x8mm Faceted Rice Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$32.00
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Original price
$32.00
Original price
$32.00
$32.00
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$32.00
Aquamarine is a transparent to translucent stone ranging from cerulean blue to light blue in higher grades. In lower grades it can be transparent t...
View full details
Original price
$32.00
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Original price
$32.00
Original price
$32.00
$32.00
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$32.00
Blue Tourmaline 3mm Table Cut Cube A Grade - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$37.00
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Original price
$37.00
Original price
$37.00
$37.00
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$37.00
Blue Tourmaline ranges in color from green to blue to yellow to green with black, milky white and clear, colorless inclusions. It is an aluminum bo...
View full details
Original price
$37.00
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Original price
$37.00
Original price
$37.00
$37.00
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$37.00
Sapphire 3mm Table Cut Cube A Grade Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$32.00
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Original price
$32.00
Original price
$32.00
$32.00
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$32.00
Sapphires are precious gemstones, but unlike rubies, they come in a rainbow of colors besides red! They are all varieties of the mineral corundum,...
View full details
Original price
$32.00
-
Original price
$32.00
Original price
$32.00
$32.00
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$32.00
Frequently asked questions
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What is a 16-inch strand and why is it the trade standard?
A 16-inch strand is the working length most US jewelry designers buy for design-grade work — necklaces, multi-strand layouts, and bulk component sourcing. It gives enough beads to lay out a full 18–20 inch necklace with clasp and findings, or to cut down into shorter assemblies without running short. The 16-inch length has been the trade default for decades because it standardizes pricing and bead-count math across stones and cuts. Dakota's 16-inch hub covers the full catalog at this length, across rounds, rondelles, faceted cuts, cubes, coins, and shape work. The bracelet counterpart is the 8-inch strand. -
How many beads per 16-inch strand at common sizes?
Approximate bead counts per 16-inch strand assume snug-strung beads with no spacer drift. At 2mm you get roughly 200 beads, at 3mm about 135, at 4mm about 100, at 6mm about 66, at 8mm about 50, at 10mm about 40, and at 12mm about 33. Faceted cuts, rondelles, and irregular shapes (pebble, nugget, coin) vary — count is driven by the bead's drilled axis, not its widest dimension. Exact count should be disclosed; ask before buying if a piece-count is critical for your design and isn't specified. -
16-inch vs 8-inch — which length for which project?
16-inch is the necklace and design-strand length: enough material for an 18–20 inch finished necklace, multi-strand torsades, long earring drops, or component cutting. 8-inch is the bracelet length: pre-cut to the wrist standard, sized for stretch-cord bracelets and single-wrap pieces. Designers running production bracelet lines typically buy 8-inch to skip the cut-down step; designers doing necklace work, statement pieces, or mixed assemblies buy 16-inch for the bead count and pricing efficiency. Both lengths share the same stones and cuts where stocked — the choice is about finished-piece geometry, not material grade. -
What stones and cuts does Dakota carry in 16-inch?
The 16-inch hub spans the full catalog. Most-stocked stones include agate, turquoise, quartz, jasper, tourmaline, moonstone, garnet, labradorite, opal, and amazonite, with deeper coverage across feldspar, chalcedony, and silica varieties. Cut coverage runs from smooth round and faceted round (the largest categories) through rondelle, microfaceted round, pebble and nugget, cube, table-cut cube, faceted cube, and coin. Standard sizes are 4mm, 6mm, 8mm, and 10mm, with 2mm and 3mm in microfaceted work and 12mm in larger statement rounds. Filter by stone, cut, or size to narrow the grid. -
How does Dakota measure 16-inch strand lengths?
Strand length is measured end-to-end along the drilled axis, beads strung snug with no gaps. A 16-inch strand can run 15.5 to 16.5 inches depending on bead shape and how the cutter finished the temporary string — irregular shapes (nugget, pebble, raw-faceted) sit at the looser end because the drill points don't always center on the bead's midline. Bead count per strand reflects this variance. Length and approximate count should be disclosed; if you need a tight tolerance for a calibrated production run, ask before buying so the team can pull and measure before shipping.