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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.

Red Garnet 8mm Double Heart Faceted - 15-16 Inch

Original price $29.00 - Original price $29.00
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Red Garnet is the most commonly known type of Garnet, which occurs in many colors. Garnet has been used for adornment and spirituality by myriad cu...

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Red Garnet 8mm Round Faceted - 15-16 Inch

Original price $34.00 - Original price $34.00
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Current price $34.00
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Red Garnet is the most commonly known type of Garnet, which occurs in many colors. Garnet has been used for adornment and spirituality by myriad cu...

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Original price $34.00 - Original price $34.00
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Red Garnet 8mm Natural Energy Prism Faceted - 15-16 Inch

Original price $32.00 - Original price $32.00
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Original price $32.00 - Original price $32.00
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Red Garnet 8mm Round 15-16 Inch

Original price $20.00 - Original price $20.00
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Red Garnet is the most commonly known type of Garnet, which occurs in many colors. Garnet has been used for adornment and spirituality by myriad cu...

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Red Garnet Natural 8mm Bicone Faceted - 15-16 Inch

Original price $27.00 - Original price $27.00
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Current price $27.00
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Red Garnet is the most commonly known type of Garnet, which occurs in many colors. Garnet has been used for adornment and spirituality by myriad cu...

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Original price $27.00 - Original price $27.00
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River Stone 8mm Round 15-16 Inch

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River Stone is a form of limestone composed of quartz, calcium carbonate and other materials. Naturally beautiful, it offers a way to work a neutra...

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Robles Wood 8mm Round Bead - 15-16 Inch

Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
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Current price $9.00
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Robles is a light, strong tropical wood native to the Philippines. Like all of Dakota Stones items, our wood beads are top quality and sourced from...

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Rose Quartz 6x8 Tri Cut Faceted Rondelle - 15-16 Inch

Original price $25.00 - Original price $25.00
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Rose Quartz is a silicon dioxide crystal and one of the most common varieties of the Quartz family. It is a translucent to transparent stone with a...

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Rose Quartz 8mm Bicone Faceted - 15-16 Inch

Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
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Rose Quartz is a silicon dioxide crystal and one of the most common varieties of the Quartz family. It is a translucent to transparent stone with a...

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Rose Quartz 8mm Round Step Cut - 15-16 Inch

Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
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Rose Quartz is a silicon dioxide crystal and one of the most common varieties of the Quartz family. It is a translucent to transparent stone with a...

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Rosewood 8mm Rondelle Bead - 15-16 Inch

Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
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Rosewood is a hardwood found in the Phillipines. The soft, blush color is deceptive, this wood variety is so hard that it is often used in heavy co...

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Rosewood 8mm Round Bead - 15-16 Inch

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Rosewood is a hardwood found in the Phillipines. The soft, blush color is deceptive, this wood variety is so hard that it is often used in heavy co...

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Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
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Ruby 8mm Bicone Faceted - 15-16 Inch

Original price $87.00 - Original price $87.00
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Ruby is a precious gemstone known for its deep red color. It is a variety of the mineral corundum, the second-hardest mineral next to diamond . The...

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Ruby 8mm Energy Prism - 15-16 Inch

Original price $108.00 - Original price $108.00
Original price $108.00
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Current price $108.00
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Ruby is a precious gemstone known for its deep red color. It is a variety of the mineral corundum, the second-hardest mineral next to diamond . The...

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Original price $108.00 - Original price $108.00
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Ruby and Sapphire Natural 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $79.00 - Original price $79.00
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Current price $79.00
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Ruby has long been considered one of the most beautiful and valuable gemstones on the planet. It is also one of the hardest, second only to Diamond...

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Ruby Faceted 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $91.00 - Original price $91.00
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Ruby is a precious gemstone known for its deep red color. It is a variety of the mineral corundum, the second-hardest mineral next to diamond . The...

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Ruby Zoisite 8mm Round 15-16 Inch

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Ruby Zoisite occurs naturally when small Ruby crystals become embedded within Zoisite. The Ruby inclusions in this stone are pink to reddish purple...

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Sage Agate 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
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Distinctive for its purple-and-gray tones, Sage Agate forms in volcanish ash, and features dark manganese dendrites throughout. The stone can also ...

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Sapphire 8mm Energy Prism Faceted - 15-16 Inch

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Metaphysically, all sapphires are considered stones of wisdom, however different colors have additional attributes such as enhanced emotional resil...

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Scapolite Cat's Eye Red 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $75.00 - Original price $75.00
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Original price $75.00 - Original price $75.00
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Shattuckite 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $50.00 - Original price $50.00
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Current price $50.00
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Shattuckite is a rare copper silicate hydroxide mineral. It occurs in bright turquoise blues and darker blues as well as rust reds, commonly with i...

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Shungite 8mm Faceted Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $34.00 - Original price $34.00
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Shungite is a black, lustrous, non-crystalline mineraloid consisting of a high percentage of carbon. It was first found in a deposit near Shunga vi...

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Shungite 8mm Round 15-16 Inch

Original price $29.00 - Original price $29.00
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Shungite is a black, lustrous, non-crystalline mineraloid consisting of a high percentage of carbon. It was first found in a deposit near Shunga vi...

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Smoky Quartz 8mm Round 15-16 Inch

Original price $24.00 - Original price $24.00
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Smoky Quartz is a translucent smoky brown or gray variety of Quartz. It ranges from almost completely transparent to an almost opaque brownish-gray...

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Sodalite 8mm Faceted Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $21.00 - Original price $21.00
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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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Sodalite 8mm Round 15-16 Inch

Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
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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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Sunstone 8mm Round - 15-16 inch

Original price $37.00 - Original price $37.00
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Sunstone, a variety of Feldspar, is aptly named for its shades of gold, orange, red and brown, as well as its iridescent sparkle. As the stone catc...

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Tektite Natural 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $149.00 - Original price $149.00
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Tektite is a natural glass formed by meteorite collisions with Earth. When moving through the Earth’s atmosphere, a meteorite builds up heat that i...

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Tektite Natural 8mm Round Faceted - 15-16 Inch

Original price $165.00 - Original price $165.00
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Tektite is a natural glass formed by meteorite collisions with Earth. When moving through the Earth’s atmosphere, a meteorite builds up heat that i...

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Terahertz 8mm Double Heart Faceted - 15-16 Inch

Original price $30.00 - Original price $30.00
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Terahertz is a spectacular man made ore. It shines and sparkles like a diamond making it an exceptional addition to any jewelry piece. It has treme...

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Terra Agate Red 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
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Current price $12.00
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A form of chalcedony made of quartz, Terra Agate contains the best of nature in a variety of small shapes. Our Red Terra Agate is dyed to give a un...

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Thulite 8mm Round 15-16 Inch

Original price $45.00 - Original price $45.00
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Thulite is the naturally occurring pink variety of the mineral Zoisite. It can range in color from pale pink to deep rose or even rusty red tones d...

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Tiger Eye 8mm Round 15-16 Inch

Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
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Tiger Eye is a macrocrystalline Quartz stone with bands of rich golds and browns. Its chatoyant layers that create a flash which seems to emanate f...

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Topaz 8mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $56.00 - Original price $56.00
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Topaz is a rare silicate mineral and obtains much of its popularity from its beautiful colors and its status as a birthstone. Topaz occurs in a wi...

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Tourmalated Quartz Green 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $39.00 - Original price $39.00
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Current price $39.00
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Tourmalated Quartz is clear Quartz that has formed with Black Tourmaline. These needle to like black inclusions of Tourmaline are quite striking wi...

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Turritella Agate Natural 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $77.00 - Original price $77.00
Original price $77.00
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Current price $77.00
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Turritella Agate’s rich brown and black colors are patterned with the fossilized remains of sea creatures millions of years old. The name “Turritel...

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Unakite 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
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Unakite is a granite composed of pink Feldspar and Epidote, creating a beautiful blend of pink and green in mottled patterns. The colors in this st...

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DZI Agate 8mm Round White Line Pattern 15-16 Inch

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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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White Moonstone 8mm Bicone Faceted - 15-16 Inch

Original price $36.00 - Original price $36.00
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Moonstone occurs in naturally in shades of white, gray, black, and peach, as well as translucent and iridescent. Metaphysically, moonstone is thoug...

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White Moonstone 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $61.00 - Original price $61.00
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Moonstone occurs in naturally in shades of white, gray, black, and peach, as well as translucent and iridescent. Metaphysically, moonstone is thoug...

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DZI Agate 8mm Round Watermelon Black/White - 15-16 Inch

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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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Agua Nueva Agate 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

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Agua Nueva Agate is sourced from the Agua Nueva Ranch near Chihuahua City, Mexico. The stone ranges in hue from green, gold and lavender to earthy ...

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Red Aventurine 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

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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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Amazonite 8mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $21.00 - Original price $21.00
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Brazilian Amazonite is an opaque blue to green to light green stone, often occurring with inclusions of white, yellow or gray and occasionally tran...

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Birds Eye Rhyolite 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

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Bird’s Eye Rhyolite is named for its circular color formations of deep reds, light tans and earthtones. Rhyolite was named "streaming rock" because...

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Blue Goldstone 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $11.00 - Original price $11.00
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Blue Goldstone is an opaque, midnight blue glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and may ap...

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Green Goldstone 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

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Green Goldstone is an opaque, almost black glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and appear...

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Mahogany Obsidian 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

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Essentially a volcanic glass, Obsidian ranges in color from opaque black, to green, brown, mahogany, black with rainbow colors, black with snowflak...

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Frequently asked questions

  • 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.