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.
Australian Butter Jasper 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$11.00
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$11.00
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$11.00
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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$11.00
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$11.00
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$11.00
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$11.00
Australian Chrysoprase 3mm Round Faceted - 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
Chrysoprase is a bright apple green, translucent stone, whose color often caused ancient jewelers to confuse it with Emerald. A cryptocrystalline C...
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
Australian Chrysoprase 3mm Round Faceted A Grade Banded - 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
Chrysoprase is a bright apple green, translucent stone, whose color often caused ancient jewelers to confuse it with Emerald. A cryptocrystalline C...
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
Australian Chrysoprase A-Grade 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$39.00
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$39.00
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$39.00
$39.00
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$39.00
Chrysoprase is a bright apple green, translucent stone, whose color often caused ancient jewelers to confuse it with Emerald. A cryptocrystalline C...
View full details
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$39.00
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$39.00
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$39.00
$39.00
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$39.00
Australian Chrysoprase AA 6mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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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
Chrysoprase is a bright apple green, translucent stone, whose color often caused ancient jewelers to confuse it with Emerald. A cryptocrystalline C...
View full details
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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
Australian Chrysoprase AA 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$57.00
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$57.00
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$57.00
$57.00
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$57.00
Chrysoprase is a bright apple green, translucent stone, whose color often caused ancient jewelers to confuse it with Emerald. A cryptocrystalline C...
View full details
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$57.00
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$57.00
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$57.00
$57.00
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$57.00
Australian Chrysoprase Faceted, Banded 2mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$20.00
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$20.00
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$20.00
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$20.00
Chrysoprase is a bright apple green, translucent stone, whose color often caused ancient jewelers to confuse it with Emerald. A cryptocrystalline C...
View full details
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$20.00
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$20.00
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$20.00
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$20.00
Australian Chrysoprase Banded 4mm Faceted Round A Grade - 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
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$32.00
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$32.00
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$32.00
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$32.00
Australian Chrysoprase Natural 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$42.00
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$42.00
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$42.00
$42.00
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$42.00
Chrysoprase is a bright apple green, translucent stone, whose color often caused ancient jewelers to confuse it with Emerald. A cryptocrystalline C...
View full details
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$42.00
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$42.00
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$42.00
$42.00
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$42.00
Australian Green Opal Light Green 10mm Round A Grade - 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
Azurite 3mm Faceted 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
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$18.00
Azurite 4mm Faceted Round - 15-16 Inch
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$20.00
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$20.00
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$20.00
$20.00
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$20.00
Azurite is a soft, deep-blue copper mineral produced by weathering of copper ore deposits. It is best known for its characteristic deep blue to vio...
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Azurite Malachite 6mm Round - 15-16 inch
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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
Azurite is a Copper carbonate mineral that forms in masses, stalactites, botryoidal, and short prismatic crystals. Azurite in crystal form is extre...
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$34.00
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Azurite Malachite 8mm Round - 15-16 inch
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$52.00
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$52.00
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$52.00
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$52.00
This stone is a combination of two very similar materials: Azurite is a deep blue mineral produced by weathered copper ore deposits, and over time,...
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$52.00
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Bayong 10mm 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
Bayong is a hardwood native to the Philippines with a natural red-brown color, and is similar to Mahogany.Like all of Dakota Stones items, our wood...
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$11.00
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$11.00
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$11.00
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$11.00
Bayong 4mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$5.00
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$5.00
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$5.00
$5.00
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$5.00
Bayong is a hardwood native to the Philippines with a natural red-brown color, and is similar to Mahogany.Like all of Dakota Stones items, our wood...
View full details
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$5.00
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$5.00
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$5.00
$5.00
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$5.00
Bayong 6mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$9.00
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$9.00
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$9.00
$9.00
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$9.00
Bayong is a hardwood native to the Philippines with a natural red-brown color, and is similar to Mahogany.Like all of Dakota Stones items, our wood...
View full details
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$9.00
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$9.00
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$9.00
$9.00
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$9.00
Biotite 6mm Round Orange - 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
Biotite is a name used for a large group of black mica minerals that are commonly found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. These include annite, phl...
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$16.00
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Biotite 8mm Round Orange - 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
Biotite is a name used for a large group of black mica minerals that are commonly found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. These include annite, phl...
View full details
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$24.00
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Biotite Black 4mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$16.00
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DZI Agate 10mm Round Black Line Pattern - 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
These Dakota Stones "DZI" style agate beads are made to resemble beads first found in India between 1000 and 2000 BCE. These reproductions are desi...
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$15.00
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$15.00
DZI Agate 6mm Round Black Line Pattern - 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
These Dakota Stones "DZI" style agate beads are made to resemble beads first found in India between 1000 and 2000 BCE. These reproductions are desi...
View full details
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$13.00
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$13.00
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$13.00
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$13.00
DZI Agate 8mm Round Black Line Pattern 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
These Dakota Stones "DZI" style agate beads are made to resemble beads first found in India between 1000 and 2000 BCE. These reproductions are desi...
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
Black Eye Agate 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
Black Eye Agate is a variety of Sardonyx which has a Sard base, typically of brown or black, with bands of white Onyx running through it. Sard is n...
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$19.00
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Black Eye Agate 6mm 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
Black Eye Agate is a variety of Sardonyx which has a Sard base, typically of brown or black, with bands of white Onyx running through it. Sard is n...
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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 Eye Agate 8mm Round 15-16 Inch
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$17.00
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$17.00
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$17.00
$17.00
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$17.00
Black Eye Agate is a variety of Sardonyx which has a Sard base, typically of brown or black, with bands of white Onyx running through it. Sard is n...
View full details
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$17.00
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$17.00
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$17.00
$17.00
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$17.00
Black Opal Australian, Faceted 3mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$40.00
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$40.00
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$40.00
$40.00
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$40.00
Black Opal is a naturally occurring variety of precious opal mined in Australia. this opal variety is characterized by their dark base tone. It is ...
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$40.00
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$40.00
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$40.00
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$40.00
Black Opal Australian, Faceted 4mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$48.00
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$48.00
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$48.00
$48.00
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$48.00
Black Opal is a naturally occurring variety of precious opal mined in Australia. this opal variety is characterized by their dark base tone. It is ...
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$48.00
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$48.00
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$48.00
$48.00
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$48.00
Black Silver Leaf Jasper 6mm Round 15-16
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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 Silverleaf Jasper is a rare form of Jasper, characterized by its color range of black, gray and white and its swirling, leafy patterns. It is...
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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 Silver Leaf Jasper 8mm Round 15-16
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$17.00
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$17.00
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$17.00
$17.00
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$17.00
Black Silverleaf Jasper is a rare form of Jasper, characterized by its color range of black, gray and white and its swirling, leafy patterns. It is...
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$17.00
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$17.00
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$17.00
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$17.00
Black Spinel 10mm Natural Round - 15-16 Inch
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$46.00
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$46.00
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$46.00
$46.00
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$46.00
Spinel is a hard vitreous magnesium aluminum oxide, and comes in a range of other colors, but those varieties are transparent. Black Spinel not onl...
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$46.00
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$46.00
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$46.00
$46.00
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$46.00
Black Spinel 3mm Faceted 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
Spinel is a hard vitreous magnesium aluminum oxide, and comes in a range of other colors, but those varieties are transparent. Black Spinel not onl...
View full details
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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
Black Spinel 3mm Natural 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
Spinel is a hard vitreous magnesium aluminum oxide, and comes in a range of other colors, but those varieties are transparent. Black Spinel not onl...
View full details
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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
Black Spinel 4mm Faceted Round - 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
Spinel is a hard vitreous magnesium aluminum oxide, and comes in a range of other colors, but those varieties are transparent. Black Spinel not onl...
View full details
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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
Black Spinel 4mm Natural 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
Spinel is a hard vitreous magnesium aluminum oxide, and comes in a range of other colors, but those varieties are transparent. Black Spinel not onl...
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
Black Spinel 6mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$30.00
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$30.00
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$30.00
$30.00
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$30.00
Spinel is a hard vitreous magnesium aluminum oxide, and comes in a range of other colors, but those varieties are transparent. Black Spinel not onl...
View full details
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$30.00
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$30.00
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$30.00
$30.00
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$30.00
Black Spinel 8mm Round - 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
Spinel is a hard vitreous magnesium aluminum oxide, and comes in a range of other colors, but those varieties are transparent. Black Spinel not onl...
View full details
Original price
$37.00
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$37.00
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$37.00
$37.00
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$37.00
Black Spinel 8mm Faceted Round - 15-16 Inch
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$42.00
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$42.00
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$42.00
$42.00
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$42.00
Spinel is a hard vitreous magnesium aluminum oxide, and comes in a range of other colors, but those varieties are transparent. Black Spinel not onl...
View full details
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$42.00
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$42.00
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$42.00
$42.00
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$42.00
Black Tourmalinated Quartz 10mm 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
Tourmaline naturally occurs in a full color spectrum and is used as both a trade name and as a gemological name for a group of minerals of varying ...
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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
Black Tourmalinated Quartz 6mm Round 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
Tourmaline naturally occurs in a full color spectrum and is used as both a trade name and as a gemological name for a group of minerals of varying ...
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 Tourmalinated Quartz 8mm Round 15-16 Inch
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$20.00
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$20.00
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$20.00
$20.00
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$20.00
Tourmaline naturally occurs in a full color spectrum and is used as both a trade name and as a gemological name for a group of minerals of varying ...
View full details
Original price
$20.00
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$20.00
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$20.00
$20.00
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$20.00
Black Tourmaline 10mm 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
Black Tourmaline is a black crystalline aluminum borosilicate mineral with occasional light gray inclusions that appear as flecks or veins. Tourmal...
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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
Blood Quartz 10mm Round Grade A 15-16 Inch
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$30.00
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$30.00
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$30.00
$30.00
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$30.00
Everything you loved about Blood Quartz is magnified in the A-Grade version of the material. The quality and transparency of the Quartz almost make...
View full details
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$30.00
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$30.00
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$30.00
$30.00
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$30.00
Blood Quartz 4mm Faceted Round - 15-16 Inch
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$20.00
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$20.00
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$20.00
$20.00
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$20.00
Blood Quartz is a clear to milky-white silicon dioxide mineral. Its inclusions of red, orange and rust are due to traces of hematite within the sto...
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$20.00
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$20.00
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$20.00
$20.00
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$20.00
Blood Quartz 8mm Round Grade A 15-16 Inch
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$17.00
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$17.00
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$17.00
$17.00
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$17.00
Everything you loved about Blood Quartz is magnified in the A-Grade version of the material. The quality and transparency of the Quartz almost make...
View full details
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$17.00
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$17.00
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$17.00
$17.00
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$17.00
Bloodstone 6mm Star Cut 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
Bloodstone most commonly refers to green Jasper with red inclusions consisting of Hematite. Naturally occurring in hues of blue-green to green with...
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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
Bloodstone 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
Bloodstone most commonly refers to green Jasper with red inclusions consisting of Hematite. Naturally occurring in hues of blue-green to green with...
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
Bloodstone 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
Bloodstone most commonly refers to green Jasper with red inclusions consisting of Hematite. Naturally occurring in hues of blue-green to green with...
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
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.