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.
Products: 2267
Opalite (Synthetic) 12mm Puff Coin - 15-16 inch - CLEARANCE
Opalite is the trade name for man to made glass treated to exhibit the internal flashes of true Opals in translucent samples, and opalescence or lu...
View full detailsOpalite Pink (Synthetic) 15X20mm Wavy Oval - 15-16 Inch - CLEARANCE
Opalite is the trade name for man to made glass treated to exhibit the internal flashes of true Opals in translucent samples, and opalescence or lu...
View full detailsOpalite (Synthetic) 13X18mm Puff Teardrop - 15-16 inch - CLEARANCE
Opalite is the trade name for man to made glass treated to exhibit the internal flashes of true Opals in translucent samples, and opalescence or lu...
View full detailsOpalite Pink (Synthetic) 13X18mm Puff Oval - 15-16 inch - CLEARANCE
Opalite is the trade name for man to made glass treated to exhibit the internal flashes of true Opals in translucent samples, and opalescence or lu...
View full detailsOpalite (Synthetic) 13X18mm Puff Rectangle - 15-16 inch - CLEARANCE
Opalite is the trade name for man to made glass treated to exhibit the internal flashes of true Opals in translucent samples, and opalescence or lu...
View full detailsHubei Turquoise 3mm Round Light Blue Matrix - 15-16 inch
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full detailsHubei Turquoise 2mm Microfaceted Round Blue Green - 15-16 inch
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full detailsWhite Moonstone 10mm Round - 15-16 inch
Moonstone occurs in naturally in shades of white, gray, black, and peach, as well as translucent and iridescent. Metaphysically, moonstone is thoug...
View full detailsSunstone 10mm Rough Heishi - 15-16 inch - CLEARANCE
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...
View full detailsLabradorite 8X10-12X14mm Freeform Hand Cut - 15-16 inch
Labradorite is remarkable for the way its aggregate layers refract light, creating iridescent flashes of blue, gold, pale green or copper red. This...
View full detailsCitrine 8X10-12X14mm Freeform Hand Cut - 15-16 inch
Citrine is a transparent Quartz, ranging in color from pale yellow to golden yellow, honey or brown, giving it a similar appearance to Topaz. It ma...
View full detailsSunstone 8mm Rough Heishi - Limited Editions - 15-16 inch - CLEARANCE
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...
View full detailsLabradorite 5X7mm-8X10mm Rough Nugget - 15-16 inch
Labradorite is remarkable for the way its aggregate layers refract light, creating iridescent flashes of blue, gold, pale green or copper red. This...
View full detailsAmethyst 4mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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 detailsAmethyst 5X7-8X10mm Freeform Oval - 15-16 inch
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 detailsGold Rutilated Quartz 5X7mm-8X10mm Rough Nugget - 15-16 inch - CLEARANCE
Rutilated Quartz is a silicon dioxide mineral with unique needle to like inclusions of Rutile. These “needles” usually appear golden, but can also ...
View full detailsHematite Coated 6-12mm Chips - 15-16 Inch
Hematite is an iron oxide and one of the few gemstones with a metallic luster. When tumbled it can have the look of polished steel. Hematite is bla...
View full detailsAustralian Chrysoprase Natural 8mm Energy Prism Faceted - 15-16 Inch
Chrysoprase is a bright apple green, translucent stone, whose color often caused ancient jewelers to confuse it with Emerald. A cryptocrystalline C...
View full detailsAquamarine 3x4mm Faceted Rondelle - dsPremier
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 detailsShungite Faceted 6mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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...
View full detailsSerpentine 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch
Green Grass Jasper is an opaque blue-green to yellow-green with black inclusions forming marbled patterns in the stone. Green Jasper was known as a...
View full detailsImperial Topaz 8-9mm Rondelle Banded - 15-16 Inch
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...
View full detailsFluorite 8x16mm Faceted Tube - 17-18 Inch
Fluorite is a luminous, soft and glassy stone, sometimes referred to as “the most colorful mineral in the world.” It is one of the most sought to a...
View full detailsAquamarine 9x12-12x14mm Flat Oval Tumble Nugget - 8 Inch
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 detailsBrazilian Amazonite 6mm Star - 15-16 Inch
Brazilian Amazonite is an opaque blue to green to light green stone, often occurring with inclusions of white, yellow or gray and occasionally tran...
View full detailsAfrican Turquoise 6mm Star - 15-16 Inch
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 detailsBlack Obsidian 6mm Star - 15-16 Inch
Essentially a volcanic glass, Obsidian ranges in color from opaque black, to green, brown, mahogany, black with rainbow colors, black with snowflak...
View full detailsRed Jasper 6mm Star - 15-16 Inch
Red Jasper is an aggregate of microcrystalline quartz and/or chalcedony and other minerals. The opaque stone’s red color is due to high iron conten...
View full detailsRose Quartz 6mm Star - 15-16 Inch
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...
View full detailsSodalite 6mm Star - 15-16 Inch
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 detailsWhite Jade 6mm Star - 15-16 Inch
White Jade is a form of Nephrite Jade, and a valuable version, at that. Sometimes referred to as "Mutton Fat Jade" when a translucent white to ligh...
View full detailsMosaic 20mm Inlay Coin - Coral, Gaspeite, & Abalone - 15-16 Inch
These detailed inlay coin beads have a variety of stones such as Coral, Gaspeite, Coral, Abalone, MOP, and Turquoise.
Mosaic 15mm Inlay Coin - Coral, Gaspeite, & Mother Of Pearl - 15-16 Inch
These detailed inlay coin beads have a variety of stones such as Coral, Gaspeite, Mother of Pearl, and Turquoise, Jet
Mosaic 15mm Inlay Coin - Abalone, Coral, & Gaspeite - 15-16 Inch
These detailed inlay coin beads have a variety of stones such as Abalone, Coral, Gaspeite, Turquoise, Jet, and Mother Of Pearl.
Jet 16mm Round - 15-16 inch
Ruby (Natural) 3mm Faceted Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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...
View full detailsRuby (Natural) 2-6mm Graduated Faceted Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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...
View full detailsEthiopian Opal 1x2.5-3x5mm Graduated Irregular Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
Ethiopian Opal was first discovered in Ethiopia in 1994, with additional major finds in 2008 and 2013. Beautiful specimens of Precious Opal, Fire O...
View full detailsEthiopian Opal 1x2-3x4mm Graduated Irregular Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
Ethiopian Opal was first discovered in Ethiopia in 1994, with additional major finds in 2008 and 2013. Beautiful specimens of Precious Opal, Fire O...
View full detailsEthiopian Opal 1x2-3x5mm Graduated Irregular Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
Ethiopian Opal was first discovered in Ethiopia in 1994, with additional major finds in 2008 and 2013. Beautiful specimens of Precious Opal, Fire O...
View full detailsBlue Aragonite 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch LIMITED EDITION
Blue Aragonite is a naturally occurring glow-in-the-dark stone but is often enhanced, treated, or mixed with phosphorescent powder to make it shine...
View full detailsPurple Puka Shell 10-12mm Chip - 15-16 Inch
Puka shells are naturally broken, ocean-tumbled fragments of cone snail shells, featuring a naturally occurring center hole ("puka" in Hawaiian). O...
View full detailsHubei Turquoise & Spiny Oyster 4mm Compressed Heishi - 15-16 Inch
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full detailsPurple Puka Shell 6-7mm Chip - 15-16 Inch
Puka shells are naturally broken, ocean-tumbled fragments of cone snail shells, featuring a naturally occurring center hole ("puka" in Hawaiian). O...
View full detailsPurple Puka Shell 4-5mm Chip - 15-16 Inch
Puka shells are naturally broken, ocean-tumbled fragments of cone snail shells, featuring a naturally occurring center hole ("puka" in Hawaiian). O...
View full detailsPurple Oyster Shell 4-20mm Graduated Heishi - 15-16 Inch
Green Lip Shell 4-20mm Graduated Heishi - 15-16 Inch
Sea shells are one of our most ancient decorations. Our prehistoric ancestors used to string them into necklaces or hang them from cords as pendant...
View full detailsMelo Shell 4-20mm Graduated Heishi - 15-16 Inch
Sea shells are one of our most ancient decorations. Our prehistoric ancestors used to string them into necklaces or hang them from cords as pendant...
View full detailsFrequently 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.