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.
Chiastolite 16mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$52.00
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$52.00
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$52.00
Chiastolite is also known as the Cross Stone for the cross matrices of browns, blacks, tans and golden tones that occur naturally within the stone....
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$52.00
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$52.00
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$52.00
Red Creek Jasper 2x4mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
Red Creek Jasper is named for the Red River in china where the stone was recently discovered. Its colors include burnt red, mustard yellow, olive g...
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$14.00
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$14.00
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Red Jasper 2x4mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch
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$14.00
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$14.00
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Red Jasper is an aggregate of microcrystalline quartz and/or chalcedony and other minerals. The opaque stone’s red color is due to high iron conten...
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$14.00
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$14.00
Black Gold Amazonite 6mm Faceted Round Banded - 15-16 Inch
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$18.00
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$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...
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$18.00
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$18.00
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Red Jasper 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
Red Jasper is an aggregate of microcrystalline quartz and/or chalcedony and other minerals. The opaque stone’s red color is due to high iron conten...
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
Black Obsidian 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$10.00
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$10.00
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$10.00
$10.00
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$10.00
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$10.00
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Black Obsidian 4mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$9.00
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$9.00
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$9.00
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$9.00
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$9.00
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$9.00
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$9.00
Black Obsidian 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$14.00
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Purple Flower Fluorite 8mm Round A Grade - 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
Fluorite is a luminous, soft and glassy stone, sometimes referred to as “the most colorful mineral in the world.” It is one of the most sought to a...
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$27.00
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Purple Flower Fluorite 10mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$36.00
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$36.00
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$36.00
$36.00
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$36.00
Fluorite is a luminous, soft and glassy stone, sometimes referred to as “the most colorful mineral in the world.” It is one of the most sought to a...
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$36.00
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$36.00
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Purple Fluorite 10mm Round A Grade - 16-Inch Strands
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$45.00
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$45.00
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$45.00
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$45.00
Fluorite is a luminous, soft and glassy stone, sometimes referred to as “the most colorful mineral in the world.” It is one of the most sought to a...
View full details
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$45.00
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$45.00
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$45.00
Yellow and Green Aqua Impression Jasper 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$22.00
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$22.00
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$22.00
$22.00
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$22.00
Impression Jasper naturally occurs in colors of tan, pale blue to green and crimson, in striking patterns. It is often color to enhanced to bring o...
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$22.00
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$22.00
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$22.00
Yellow and Green Aqua Impression Jasper 6mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
Impression Jasper naturally occurs in colors of tan, pale blue to green and crimson, in striking patterns. It is often color to enhanced to bring o...
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$18.00
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$18.00
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Yellow and Green Aqua Impression Jasper 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$22.00
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$22.00
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$22.00
$22.00
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$22.00
Impression Jasper naturally occurs in colors of tan, pale blue to green and crimson, in striking patterns. It is often color to enhanced to bring o...
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$22.00
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$22.00
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Yellow Jade 6mm Hexagon - 15-16 Inch
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$27.00
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$27.00
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$27.00
Yellow Jade is not actually Jade, but a form of natural Serpentine which is commonly referred to as Yellow Jade in the stone industry. This semi to...
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$27.00
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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
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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Lemon Jade (Serpentine) 7x8mm Faceted Round Nugget - 15-16 Inch
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$18.00
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Black Gold Amazonite 7x8mm Faceted Round Nugget - 15-16 Inch
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$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...
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$18.00
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Wood Rhodonite 4mm Microfaceted Round - 15-16 Inch
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$12.00
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$12.00
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$12.00
$12.00
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$12.00
Rhodonite, whose name is derived from the Greek word for Rose, “rhodon,” is known for its pink, red and magenta hues. A Manganese inosilicate (or c...
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$12.00
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$12.00
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Crystal Quartz 1x2mm Square Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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$13.00
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$13.00
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$13.00
Crystal Quartz is a naturally occurring clear and colorless Quartz. It is a crystalline form of Quartz said to have many divine properties includin...
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Purple Fluorite 1x2mm Square Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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$13.00
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$13.00
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$13.00
$13.00
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$13.00
Fluorite is a luminous, soft and glassy stone, sometimes referred to as “the most colorful mineral in the world.” It is one of the most sought to a...
View full details
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$13.00
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$13.00
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$13.00
Yellow Jade 8mm Cross - 15-16 Inch
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
Yellow Jade is not actually Jade, but a form of natural Serpentine which is commonly referred to as Yellow Jade in the stone industry. This semi to...
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$18.00
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$18.00
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Rhodonite 8mm Cross - 15-16 Inch
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$18.00
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$18.00
Rhodonite, whose name is derived from the Greek word for Rose, “rhodon,” is known for its pink, red and magenta hues. A Manganese inosilicate (or c...
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
Blue Aventurine 8mm Cross - 15-16 Inch
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$18.00
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Hubei Turquoise 4-8mm Light Blue Nugget AA Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$105.00
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$105.00
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$105.00
$105.00
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$105.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
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$105.00
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$105.00
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$105.00
$105.00
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$105.00
Hubei Turquoise 6mm Blue Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$152.00
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$152.00
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$152.00
$152.00
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$152.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
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$152.00
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$152.00
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$152.00
$152.00
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$152.00
Hubei Turquoise 9-10mm Blue Irregular Rondelle A Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$183.00
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$183.00
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$183.00
$183.00
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$183.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
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$183.00
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$183.00
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$183.00
$183.00
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$183.00
Hubei Turquoise 2-3x7mm Blue Heishi - 15-16 Inch
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$116.00
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$116.00
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$116.00
$116.00
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$116.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
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$116.00
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$116.00
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$116.00
$116.00
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$116.00
Hubei Turquoise 8-9x10-13mm Blue Nugget - 15-16 Inch
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$68.00
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$68.00
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$68.00
$68.00
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$68.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
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$68.00
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$68.00
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$68.00
$68.00
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$68.00
Hubei Turquoise 5x7mm Flat Oval Blue AA Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$74.00
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$74.00
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$74.00
$74.00
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$74.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
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$74.00
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$74.00
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$74.00
$74.00
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$74.00
Hubei Turquoise 4x6mm Flat Oval Blue AA Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$68.00
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$68.00
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$68.00
$68.00
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$68.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
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$68.00
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$68.00
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$68.00
$68.00
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$68.00
Hubei Turquoise 4-8mm Graduated Heishi - 15-16-Inch
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$72.00
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$72.00
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$72.00
$72.00
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$72.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
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$72.00
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$72.00
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$72.00
$72.00
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$72.00
Rhodonite 2x6mm Thin Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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$16.00
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$16.00
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$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
Rhodonite, whose name is derived from the Greek word for Rose, “rhodon,” is known for its pink, red and magenta hues. A Manganese inosilicate (or c...
View full details
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$16.00
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$16.00
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$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
Black Web Jasper 2x6mm Thin Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Jasper has a long and illustrious history, having been worn by shamans, priests and kings and believed to be a powerful protection stone. Ancient E...
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
Black Gold Amazonite 2x6mm Thin Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
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
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Red Aventurine 2x6mm Thin Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Red Aventurine is a peach to orange colored translucent Quartz with inclusions of Mica or other minerals. These inclusions give it a glistening eff...
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Black Obsidian 13x15mm Faceted Top Drilled Irregular Tear Drop - 15-16 Inch
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$28.00
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$28.00
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$28.00
$28.00
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$28.00
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$28.00
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$28.00
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$28.00
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$28.00
Black Obsidian 8mm Faceted Puff Heart - 15-16 Inch
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$26.00
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$26.00
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$26.00
$26.00
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$26.00
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$26.00
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$26.00
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$26.00
$26.00
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$26.00
Fluorite 8x16mm Faceted Tube - 17-18 Inch
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$54.00
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$54.00
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$54.00
$54.00
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$54.00
Fluorite is a luminous, soft and glassy stone, sometimes referred to as “the most colorful mineral in the world.” It is one of the most sought to a...
View full details
Original price
$54.00
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$54.00
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$54.00
$54.00
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$54.00
White Jade 6mm Star - 15-16 Inch
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$12.00
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$12.00
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$12.00
$12.00
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$12.00
White Jade is a form of Nephrite Jade, and a valuable version, at that. Sometimes referred to as "Mutton Fat Jade" when a translucent white to ligh...
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$12.00
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$12.00
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$12.00
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$12.00
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.