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.
Kingman Turquoise 4-7mm Blue Green with Matrix Pebble Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$94.00
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Original price
$94.00
Original price
$94.00
$94.00
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$94.00
Kingman turquoise, mined in the Acerbate Mountains near Kingman, Arizona, is renowned for its vibrant, intense blue hues, often featuring a black, ...
View full details
Original price
$94.00
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Original price
$94.00
Original price
$94.00
$94.00
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$94.00
Spiny Oyster & Turquoise 8mm Heishi Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$108.00
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Original price
$108.00
Original price
$108.00
$108.00
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$108.00
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$108.00
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$108.00
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$108.00
$108.00
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$108.00
Turquoise & Dyed Magnesite (Compressed) 2x6 Heishi - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$63.00
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$63.00
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$63.00
$63.00
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$63.00
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$63.00
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$63.00
Original price
$63.00
$63.00
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$63.00
Spiny Oyster & Turquoise 6mm Orange Rondelle Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$69.00
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Original price
$69.00
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$69.00
$69.00
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$69.00
Original price
$69.00
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Original price
$69.00
Original price
$69.00
$69.00
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$69.00
Sleeping Beauty Turquoise 7-11mm Blue Chip Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$307.00
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Original price
$307.00
Original price
$307.00
$307.00
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$307.00
Dakota Stones’ Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is from the Sleeping Beauty mine in Globe, Arizona — famous for the outstanding robin’s egg blue color and...
View full details
Original price
$307.00
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Original price
$307.00
Original price
$307.00
$307.00
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$307.00
African Turquoise 12mm Round Bead - 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
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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Original price
$32.00
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Original price
$32.00
Original price
$32.00
$32.00
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$32.00
Spiny Oyster & Turquoise 6mm Rondelle Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$79.00
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Original price
$79.00
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$79.00
$79.00
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$79.00
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$79.00
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$79.00
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$79.00
$79.00
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$79.00
Hubei Turquoise, Lapis AAA, & Spiny Oyster 1x2mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$51.00
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Original price
$51.00
Original price
$51.00
$51.00
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$51.00
These mixed stone strands have a great pop of color making them perfect for when you're making that unique and colorful piece of jewelry! This stra...
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Original price
$51.00
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Original price
$51.00
Original price
$51.00
$51.00
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$51.00
Elisa Turquoise 8-9mm Pebble Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$103.00
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Original price
$103.00
Original price
$103.00
$103.00
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$103.00
This turquoise is mined from the Sonora mines in Mexico. Like all other natural turquoise, its coloring is the result of the chemical reaction that...
View full details
Original price
$103.00
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Original price
$103.00
Original price
$103.00
$103.00
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$103.00
Hubei Turquoise, Lapis AAA, & Spiny Oyster 2x3mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$54.00
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Original price
$54.00
Original price
$54.00
$54.00
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$54.00
These mixed stone strands have a great pop of color making them perfect for when you're making that unique and colorful piece of jewelry! This stra...
View full details
Original price
$54.00
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Original price
$54.00
Original price
$54.00
$54.00
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$54.00
Elisa Turquoise 8-12x12-20mm Graduated Oval Nugget Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$165.00
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Original price
$165.00
Original price
$165.00
$165.00
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$165.00
This turquoise is mined from the Sonora mines in Mexico. Like all other natural turquoise, its coloring is the result of the chemical reaction that...
View full details
Original price
$165.00
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Original price
$165.00
Original price
$165.00
$165.00
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$165.00
Kingman Turquoise 7-12x10-15mm Blue/Green/Brown Graduated Rondelle Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$397.00
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Original price
$397.00
Original price
$397.00
$397.00
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$397.00
Kingman turquoise, mined in the Acerbate Mountains near Kingman, Arizona, is renowned for its vibrant, intense blue hues, often featuring a black, ...
View full details
Original price
$397.00
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Original price
$397.00
Original price
$397.00
$397.00
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$397.00
Kingman Turquoise 4-7mm Blue Green Long Drill Pebble Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$94.00
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Original price
$94.00
Original price
$94.00
$94.00
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$94.00
Kingman turquoise, mined in the Acerbate Mountains near Kingman, Arizona, is renowned for its vibrant, intense blue hues, often featuring a black, ...
View full details
Original price
$94.00
-
Original price
$94.00
Original price
$94.00
$94.00
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$94.00
White Buffalo 6-8mm Chip Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$149.00
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Original price
$149.00
Original price
$149.00
$149.00
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$149.00
White Buffalo stone is a rare, white mineral predominantly composed of magnesite and quartz. Discovered in 1993, the only source for White Buffalo ...
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Original price
$149.00
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Original price
$149.00
Original price
$149.00
$149.00
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$149.00
Kingman Turquoise 4mm Round Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$180.00
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Original price
$180.00
Original price
$180.00
$180.00
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$180.00
Kingman turquoise, mined in the Acerbate Mountains near Kingman, Arizona, is renowned for its vibrant, intense blue hues, often featuring a black, ...
View full details
Original price
$180.00
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Original price
$180.00
Original price
$180.00
$180.00
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$180.00
Chrysocolla 3mm Round Bead 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
Chrysocolla, a hydrous copper silicate, is often mistaken for turquoise due to its rich blues and blue to greens. It often also occurs with colors ...
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Original price
$10.00
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Original price
$10.00
Original price
$10.00
$10.00
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$10.00
Hubei Turquoise Graduated Nugget with Tube Spacer Beads - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$25.00
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Original price
$25.00
Original price
$25.00
$25.00
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$25.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$25.00
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Original price
$25.00
Original price
$25.00
$25.00
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$25.00
Jet 4mm Rondelle Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$74.00
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Original price
$74.00
Original price
$74.00
$74.00
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$74.00
Jet is a mineraloid gemstone, formed from wood that has decayed under extreme pressure, over the course of millions of years. Because it is relativ...
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Original price
$74.00
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Original price
$74.00
Original price
$74.00
$74.00
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$74.00
Magnesite 4mm Turquoise (Dyed) Heishi - 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
Magnesite is a soft mineral best known for being dyed to imitate other gemstones. Natural magnesite stones are usually white with a dark web-like p...
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
Compressed Turquoise 6x8mm Dyed Purple & Pink Rectangle Nugget Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$56.00
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Original price
$56.00
Original price
$56.00
$56.00
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$56.00
Turquoise is an ancient gemstone, one of the first known to man. Known to Egyptian and Aztec cultures thousands of years ago, Turquoise is now mine...
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Original price
$56.00
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Original price
$56.00
Original price
$56.00
$56.00
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$56.00
Hubei Turquoise 3x6mm Blue-Green with Brown Matrix Rondelle Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$73.00
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Original price
$73.00
Original price
$73.00
$73.00
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$73.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$73.00
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Original price
$73.00
Original price
$73.00
$73.00
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$73.00
Hubei Turquoise 6x8mm Blue Pebble Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$89.00
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Original price
$89.00
Original price
$89.00
$89.00
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$89.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$89.00
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Original price
$89.00
Original price
$89.00
$89.00
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$89.00
Hubei Compressed Turquoise with Copper Painted Edge 20mm Dyed Multi Color Heart Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$309.00
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Original price
$309.00
Original price
$309.00
$309.00
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$309.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$309.00
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Original price
$309.00
Original price
$309.00
$309.00
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$309.00
Magnesite 8mm (Dyed) Turquoise Faceted Star Bead - 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
Magnesite is a soft mineral best known for being dyed to imitate other gemstones. Natural magnesite stones are usually white with a dark web-like p...
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
Kingman Turquoise 3-6mm Blue with Matrix Pebble Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$74.00
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Original price
$74.00
Original price
$74.00
$74.00
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$74.00
Kingman turquoise, mined in the Acerbate Mountains near Kingman, Arizona, is renowned for its vibrant, intense blue hues, often featuring a black, ...
View full details
Original price
$74.00
-
Original price
$74.00
Original price
$74.00
$74.00
-
$74.00
Hubei Turquoise 8x13mm Blue with Spider Web Matrix Tube Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$151.00
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Original price
$151.00
Original price
$151.00
$151.00
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$151.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$151.00
-
Original price
$151.00
Original price
$151.00
$151.00
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$151.00
Sleeping Beauty Turquouise 4-6mm Blue Chip Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$212.00
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Original price
$212.00
Original price
$212.00
$212.00
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$212.00
Dakota Stones’ Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is from the Sleeping Beauty mine in Globe, Arizona — famous for the outstanding robin’s egg blue color and...
View full details
Original price
$212.00
-
Original price
$212.00
Original price
$212.00
$212.00
-
$212.00
Hubei Turquoise 8x8mm Green with Brown Matrix Cube Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$113.00
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Original price
$113.00
Original price
$113.00
$113.00
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$113.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$113.00
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Original price
$113.00
Original price
$113.00
$113.00
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$113.00
Hubei Turquoise 4x6mm Banded Rectangle Nugget Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$34.00
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Original price
$34.00
Original price
$34.00
$34.00
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$34.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$34.00
-
Original price
$34.00
Original price
$34.00
$34.00
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$34.00
Hubei Turquoise 3x6mm Rondelle Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$93.00
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Original price
$93.00
Original price
$93.00
$93.00
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$93.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$93.00
-
Original price
$93.00
Original price
$93.00
$93.00
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$93.00
Hubei Turquoise 3x6mm Green-Blue Rondelle Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$78.00
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Original price
$78.00
Original price
$78.00
$78.00
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$78.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$78.00
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Original price
$78.00
Original price
$78.00
$78.00
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$78.00
Spiny Oyster & Turquoise 3x6mm Dark Orange Rondelle Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$106.00
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Original price
$106.00
Original price
$106.00
$106.00
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$106.00
This strand is made of Spiny Oyster and Turquoise compressed together to give you a bright and colorful combo for your jewelry designs!
Original price
$106.00
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Original price
$106.00
Original price
$106.00
$106.00
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$106.00
Hubei Turquoise 4x8mm Brown & Green Rice Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$41.00
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Original price
$41.00
Original price
$41.00
$41.00
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$41.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$41.00
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Original price
$41.00
Original price
$41.00
$41.00
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$41.00
Hubei Turquoise 5-6x16-18mm Graduate Banded Disc Bead - 15-16 Inch
Regular Price
$212.00
Original price
$212.00
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Original price
$212.00
Original price
$212.00
$148.00
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$148.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Regular Price
$212.00
Original price
$212.00
-
Original price
$212.00
Original price
$212.00
$148.00
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$148.00
Sale
Hubei Turquoise 10x12mm Rectangle Nugget Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$99.00
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Original price
$99.00
Original price
$99.00
$99.00
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$99.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$99.00
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Original price
$99.00
Original price
$99.00
$99.00
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$99.00
Hubei Turquoise 6x8mm Blue-Green Egg Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$78.00
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Original price
$78.00
Original price
$78.00
$78.00
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$78.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$78.00
-
Original price
$78.00
Original price
$78.00
$78.00
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$78.00
Spiny Oyster & Turquoise 6x8mm Dyed Rectangle Nugget Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$56.00
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Original price
$56.00
Original price
$56.00
$56.00
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$56.00
This strand is made of Spiny Oyster and dyed Turquoise compressed together to give you a bright and colorful combo for your jewelry designs!
Original price
$56.00
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Original price
$56.00
Original price
$56.00
$56.00
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$56.00
Hubei Turquoise 3-4mm Blue Irregular Heishi Bead - 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
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$52.00
-
Original price
$52.00
Original price
$52.00
$52.00
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$52.00
Hubei Turquoise 4x5mm Green & Brown Tube Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$41.00
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Original price
$41.00
Original price
$41.00
$41.00
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$41.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$41.00
-
Original price
$41.00
Original price
$41.00
$41.00
-
$41.00
Hubei Turquoise 8x13mm Green with Brown Matrix Tube Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$151.00
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Original price
$151.00
Original price
$151.00
$151.00
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$151.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$151.00
-
Original price
$151.00
Original price
$151.00
$151.00
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$151.00
Hubei Turquoise 5mm Semi Round Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$34.00
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Original price
$34.00
Original price
$34.00
$34.00
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$34.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$34.00
-
Original price
$34.00
Original price
$34.00
$34.00
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$34.00
Hubei Turquoise 6x8mm Blue with Spider Web Matrix Pebble Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$68.00
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Original price
$68.00
Original price
$68.00
$68.00
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$68.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$68.00
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Original price
$68.00
Original price
$68.00
$68.00
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$68.00
Hubei Turquoise 5-7mm Blue Free Form Rondelle Beads - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$36.00
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Original price
$36.00
Original price
$36.00
$36.00
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$36.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$36.00
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Original price
$36.00
Original price
$36.00
$36.00
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$36.00
Hubei Turquoise 8-10x11-14mm Green-Brown Pebble Beads - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$39.00
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Original price
$39.00
Original price
$39.00
$39.00
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$39.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$39.00
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Original price
$39.00
Original price
$39.00
$39.00
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$39.00
Hubei Turquoise 4x6mm Green Barrel Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$38.00
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Original price
$38.00
Original price
$38.00
$38.00
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$38.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$38.00
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Original price
$38.00
Original price
$38.00
$38.00
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$38.00
Hubei Turquoise 5-7x7-9mm Pebble Beads - 15-16 Inch - 68402
Original price
$49.00
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Original price
$49.00
Original price
$49.00
$49.00
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$49.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$49.00
-
Original price
$49.00
Original price
$49.00
$49.00
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$49.00
Hubei Turquoise 4x8mm Light Green & Brown Rice Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$41.00
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Original price
$41.00
Original price
$41.00
$41.00
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$41.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$41.00
-
Original price
$41.00
Original price
$41.00
$41.00
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$41.00
Hubei Turquoise 16-20mm Blue-Green Irregular Disc Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$166.00
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Original price
$166.00
Original price
$166.00
$166.00
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$166.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$166.00
-
Original price
$166.00
Original price
$166.00
$166.00
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$166.00
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.