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.
Blue Apatite 10mm A Grade Round - 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
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...
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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 Apatite 4mm A Grade Round 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
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
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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 6mm A Grade Round 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
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
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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 8mm A Grade Round 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
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
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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
Sodalite 10mm Round AAA Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$44.00
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$44.00
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$44.00
$44.00
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$44.00
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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$44.00
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$44.00
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$44.00
$44.00
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$44.00
Sodalite 6mm Round AAA Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$25.00
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$25.00
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$25.00
$25.00
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$25.00
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
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$25.00
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$25.00
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$25.00
$25.00
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$25.00
Sodalite 8mm Round AAA 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
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
$36.00
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$36.00
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$36.00
$36.00
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$36.00
African Jade (A) 10mm Round 15-16 Inch
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$19.00
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$19.00
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$19.00
$19.00
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$19.00
African Jade is a complex Calcium Aluminum Silicate and is a Nephrite Jade. Its bright green coloration is due to traces of chromium. Metaphysicall...
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$19.00
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$19.00
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$19.00
$19.00
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$19.00
African Jade (A) 6mm 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
African Jade is a complex Calcium Aluminum Silicate and is a Nephrite Jade. Its bright green coloration is due to traces of chromium. Metaphysicall...
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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
African Petrified Wood Agate 6mm 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
Petrified Wood Agate is formed from the petrifaction process of primeval trees over the course of many years. Petrification occurs when the wood is...
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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
African Petrified Wood Agate 8mm Round - 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
Petrified Wood Agate is formed from the petrifaction process of primeval trees over the course of many years. Petrification occurs when the wood is...
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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
African Turquoise (AAA) 6mm Round 15-16 Inch
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$24.00
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$24.00
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$24.00
$24.00
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$24.00
African Turquoise is not actually Turquoise, but rather a speckled teal Jasper found in Africa and often treated to simulate the beautiful blue to ...
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$24.00
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$24.00
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$24.00
$24.00
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$24.00
African Turquoise (AAA) 8mm Round 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
African Turquoise is not actually Turquoise, but rather a speckled teal Jasper found in Africa and often treated to simulate the beautiful blue to ...
View full details
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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
Amethyst 10mm Round Faceted - 15-16 Inch
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$37.00
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$37.00
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$37.00
$37.00
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$37.00
Amethyst is a beautiful purple stone, known as a “Gem of Fire” by ancient cultures. It has been greatly sought after throughout history and was at ...
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$37.00
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$37.00
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$37.00
$37.00
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$37.00
Amethyst 12mm Round 15-16 Inch
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$38.00
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$38.00
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$38.00
$38.00
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$38.00
Amethyst is a beautiful purple stone, known as a “Gem of Fire” by ancient cultures. It has been greatly sought after throughout history and was at ...
View full details
Original price
$38.00
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$38.00
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$38.00
$38.00
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$38.00
Amethyst 4mm Round Faceted A Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$19.00
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$19.00
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$19.00
$19.00
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$19.00
Amethyst is a beautiful purple stone, known as a “Gem of Fire” by ancient cultures. It has been greatly sought after throughout history and was at ...
View full details
Original price
$19.00
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$19.00
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$19.00
$19.00
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$19.00
Amethyst 6mm 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
Amethyst is a beautiful purple stone, known as a “Gem of Fire” by ancient cultures. It has been greatly sought after throughout history and was at ...
View full details
Original price
$22.00
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$22.00
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$22.00
$22.00
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$22.00
Amethyst Plated 10mm Round Faceted - 15-16 Inch - CLEARANCE
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$34.00
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$34.00
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$34.00
$34.00
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$34.00
Amethyst is a beautiful purple stone, known as a “Gem of Fire” by ancient cultures. It has been greatly sought after throughout history and was at ...
View full details
Original price
$34.00
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$34.00
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$34.00
$34.00
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$34.00
Ancient Cellar Red Agate 10mm Round - 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
Ancient Cellar Red Agate is a natural agate that is dyed and heated to give it the unique color and pattern we call Ancient Cellar.
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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
Ancient Cellar Red Agate 6mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$11.00
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$11.00
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$11.00
$11.00
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$11.00
Ancient Cellar Red Agate is a natural agate that is dyed and heated to give it the unique color and pattern we call Ancient Cellar.
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$11.00
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$11.00
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$11.00
$11.00
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$11.00
Angelite 10mm Round - 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
A natural blue form of calcium sulfate, it raises the state of conscious awareness and facilitates contact with your angels. It is mined in Peru. I...
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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
Angelite 4mm Round 15-16 Inch
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$19.00
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$19.00
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$19.00
$19.00
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$19.00
A natural blue form of calcium sulfate, it raises the state of conscious awareness and facilitates contact with your angels. It is mined in Peru. I...
View full details
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$19.00
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$19.00
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$19.00
$19.00
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$19.00
Angelite 6mm Round 15-16 Inch
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$19.00
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$19.00
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$19.00
$19.00
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$19.00
A natural blue form of calcium sulfate, it raises the state of conscious awareness and facilitates contact with your angels. It is mined in Peru. I...
View full details
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$19.00
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$19.00
Original price
$19.00
$19.00
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$19.00
Australian Green Opal 10mm Round Faceted - 15-16 Inch - CLEARANCE
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$59.00
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$59.00
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$59.00
$59.00
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$59.00
Australian Green Opal is a variety of Common Opal which is a mixture of Opal and nontronite. Common Opal is generally opaque, without the play of c...
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$59.00
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$59.00
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$59.00
$59.00
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$59.00
Australian Green Opal 8mm Round Faceted - 15-16 Inch - CLEARANCE
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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
Australian Green Opal is a variety of Common Opal which is a mixture of Opal and nontronite. Common Opal is generally opaque, without the play of c...
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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 (multi) 6mm Star Cut 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
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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$22.00
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$22.00
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$22.00
$22.00
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$22.00
Aquamarine (multi) 8mm Star Cut Round - 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
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
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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
Aquamarine 3.5mm Faceted Round - 15-16 Inch
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$24.00
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$24.00
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$24.00
$24.00
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$24.00
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
$24.00
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Original price
$24.00
Original price
$24.00
$24.00
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$24.00
Aquamarine 3mm Round Faceted - 15-16 Inch
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$15.00
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$15.00
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$15.00
$15.00
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$15.00
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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Original price
$15.00
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Original price
$15.00
Original price
$15.00
$15.00
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$15.00
Aquamarine 4mm Faceted Round 15-16
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$21.00
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Original price
$21.00
Original price
$21.00
$21.00
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$21.00
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
$21.00
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Original price
$21.00
Original price
$21.00
$21.00
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$21.00
Aquamarine 4mm Round Faceted A Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$21.00
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Original price
$21.00
Original price
$21.00
$21.00
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$21.00
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
$21.00
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Original price
$21.00
Original price
$21.00
$21.00
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$21.00
Aquamarine 8mm Round Faceted A Grade - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$47.00
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Original price
$47.00
Original price
$47.00
$47.00
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$47.00
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
$47.00
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Original price
$47.00
Original price
$47.00
$47.00
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$47.00
Aquamarine Green Yellow Mix Natural 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch - CLEARANCE
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$53.00
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$53.00
Original price
$53.00
$53.00
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$53.00
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
$53.00
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Original price
$53.00
Original price
$53.00
$53.00
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$53.00
Aquamarine Green Yellow Mix Natural 12mm Round - 15-16 Inch - CLEARANCE
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$69.00
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Original price
$69.00
Original price
$69.00
$69.00
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$69.00
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
$69.00
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Original price
$69.00
Original price
$69.00
$69.00
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$69.00
Aquamarine Multi Natural 10mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$40.00
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Original price
$40.00
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$40.00
$40.00
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$40.00
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
$40.00
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Original price
$40.00
Original price
$40.00
$40.00
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$40.00
Aquamarine Multi Natural 8mm Round A Grade - 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
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
$27.00
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Original price
$27.00
Original price
$27.00
$27.00
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$27.00
Aquamarine Natural 3mm Faceted Round AAA Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$17.00
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Original price
$17.00
Original price
$17.00
$17.00
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$17.00
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
$17.00
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Original price
$17.00
Original price
$17.00
$17.00
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$17.00
Aquamarine Natural 4mm Faceted Round AAA Grade - 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
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
$24.00
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Original price
$24.00
Original price
$24.00
$24.00
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$24.00
Aquamarine 10mm Round Step Cut - 15-16 Inch
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$28.00
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Original price
$28.00
Original price
$28.00
$28.00
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$28.00
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
$28.00
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Original price
$28.00
Original price
$28.00
$28.00
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$28.00
Artistic Jasper 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$16.00
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Original price
$16.00
Original price
$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
Artistic Stone has beautiful, intricate patterns of minute black flecks, bands, and veins within the tan, cream, gray and mauve stone. It is made u...
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Original price
$16.00
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Original price
$16.00
Original price
$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
Artistic Jasper 4mm 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
Artistic Stone has beautiful, intricate patterns of minute black flecks, bands, and veins within the tan, cream, gray and mauve stone. It is made u...
View full details
Original price
$10.00
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Original price
$10.00
Original price
$10.00
$10.00
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$10.00
Artistic Jasper 8mm 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
Artistic Stone has beautiful, intricate patterns of minute black flecks, bands, and veins within the tan, cream, gray and mauve stone. It is made u...
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
Arusha Sunstone 3mm Round Faceted - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$16.00
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Original price
$16.00
Original price
$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
Arusha Sunstone is a combination of Feldspar and Beryl.
Original price
$16.00
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Original price
$16.00
Original price
$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
Arusha Sunstone 4mm Microfaceted Round - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$16.00
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Original price
$16.00
Original price
$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
Arusha Sunstone is a combination of Feldspar and Beryl.
Original price
$16.00
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Original price
$16.00
Original price
$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
Australian Boulder Opal 4mm Faceted Round - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$28.00
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Original price
$28.00
Original price
$28.00
$28.00
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$28.00
Boulder Opal is a golden-brown to dark brown stone, displaying these colors in patterns of parallel bands. It is considered a precious Opal, and fo...
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Original price
$28.00
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Original price
$28.00
Original price
$28.00
$28.00
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$28.00
Australian Boulder Opal Faceted 3mm Round - 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
Boulder Opal is a golden-brown to dark brown stone, displaying these colors in patterns of parallel bands. It is considered a precious Opal, and fo...
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
Australian Boulder Opal Faceted 5mm Round - 15-16 inch
Original price
$52.00
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Original price
$52.00
Original price
$52.00
$52.00
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$52.00
Boulder Opal is a golden-brown to dark brown stone, displaying these colors in patterns of parallel bands. It is considered a precious Opal, and fo...
View full details
Original price
$52.00
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Original price
$52.00
Original price
$52.00
$52.00
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$52.00
Australian Butter Jasper 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$16.00
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Original price
$16.00
Original price
$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
The description, “buttery,” has been often applied to unlikely products, and it might be easy to understand why. “Butter” suggests qualities of smo...
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$16.00
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$16.00
Original price
$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
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.