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: 2487
Australian Boulder Opal 5-6mm Round Necklace - 15-16 Inch
Boulder Opal is a golden-brown to dark brown stone, displaying these colors in patterns of parallel bands. It is considered a precious Opal, and fo...
View full detailsSpiny Oyster 12mm Free Form Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
Australian Boulder Opal 6-14mm Graduated Coin Necklace - 15-16 Inch
Boulder Opal is a golden-brown to dark brown stone, displaying these colors in patterns of parallel bands. It is considered a precious Opal, and fo...
View full detailsSpiny Oyster 8-20mm Purple Graduated Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
Mixed Moonstone 6x9-8x13mm Free Form Faceted Banded Nugget - 15-16 Inch
Moonstone naturally occurs in a broad spectrum of colors, but is most commonly associated with white, gray and peach. It's soft chatoyancy is remin...
View full detailsFreshwater Pearl 2-3mm White Rice Pearls - 15-16 Inch
Unlike most gemstones found within the Earth, pearls are organic. Simply, they grow inside the shells of certain species of oysters and clams. Some...
View full detailsFreshwater Pearl 2.5mm White Potato Pearls - 15-16 Inch
Unlike most gemstones found within the Earth, pearls are organic. Simply, they grow inside the shells of certain species of oysters and clams. Some...
View full detailsLions Paw 6mm Light Purple Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
View full detailsWampum Shell 8mm Cross - 15-16 Inch
Wampum is made from one of the hardest and most beautiful shells in the world: the Northern Quahog, a clam found along the New England coast. The w...
View full detailsLions Paw 4x6mm Orange/Purple Rice - 15-16 Inch
The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
View full detailsMother Of Pearl 12mm Black Donut - 15-16 Inch
Mother of Pearl, also known as Nacre, is an iridescent composite of organic and inorganic material most known for being the coating of pearls. It i...
View full detailsSpiny Oyster 3mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch
Wampum Shell 8mm Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
Wampum is made from one of the hardest and most beautiful shells in the world: the Northern Quahog, a clam found along the New England coast. The w...
View full detailsGreen Turban Snail 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch
The green turban shell, also known as Turbo marmoratus, is a large marine snail characterized by its distinctive, heavy, and often marbled green sh...
View full detailsLions Paw 4x6mm Rice - 15-16 Inch
The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
View full detailsTiger Cowrie 25x30mm Puff Tab - 15-16 Inch
Spiny Oyster 3mm Red Heishi - 15-16 Inch
Wampum Shell 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch
Wampum is made from one of the hardest and most beautiful shells in the world: the Northern Quahog, a clam found along the New England coast. The w...
View full detailsSpiny Oyster 5x7mm Red Barrel - 15-16 Inch
Lions Paw 6mm Purple Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
View full detailsLions Paw 3x5mm Tube - 15-16 Inch
The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
View full detailsLions Paw 6mm Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
View full detailsBrazilian Amazonite 4mm Faceted Bicone - 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 detailsLions Paw 4mm Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
View full detailsLions Paw 8mm Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
View full detailsLions Paw 3x5mm Light Orange/White Tube - 15-16 Inch
The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
View full detailsAmethyst 4mm Faceted Bicone - 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 detailsCarnelian 4mm Faceted Bicone - 15-16 Inch
Carnelian is a glassy, translucent stone that can appear with such bright orange hues that the ancient Egyptians called it “the setting sun.” Most ...
View full detailsAquamarine 4mm Faceted Bicone - 15-16 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 detailsGray Wood with Abalone Inlay 8mm Round Bead - 15-16 Inch
Patikan Wood with Abalone Inlay 8mm Round Bead - 15-16 Inch
Patikan is an old variety of palmwood that grows in the Philippines. The natural grain of the wood has distinct parallel black markings as if it we...
View full detailsAncient Glass 4x6-6x16mm Multi Color Tube Bangle Beads - 15-16 Inch
Ancient glass from Pakistan, particularly from archaeological sites like those in the Swat Valley, has been excavated and repurposed into contempor...
View full detailsChampagne Garnet 3mm Table Cut Cube Bead - 15-16 Inch
Garnets are a group of silicate minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. All species of garnets possess simila...
View full detailsBlack Agate 4mm Faceted Bicone - 15-16 Inch
Rose Quartz 4mm Faceted Bicone - 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 detailsCopper Rutilated Quartz 3mm Table Cut Cube Bead - 15-16 Inch
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 detailsFreshwater Pearl 4-5mm Light Pink Rice Beads - 15-16 Inch
Unlike most gemstones found within the Earth, pearls are organic. Simply, they grow inside the shells of certain species of oysters and clams. Some...
View full detailsSmoky Quartz 3mm Banded Table Cut Cube A Grade Bead - 15-16 Inch
Smoky Quartz is a translucent smoky brown or gray variety of Quartz. It ranges from almost completely transparent to an almost opaque brownish to g...
View full detailsCitrine 4mm Faceted Bicone - 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 detailsMixed Moonstone 3mm Table Cut Cube - 15-16 Inch
Moonstone naturally occurs in a broad spectrum of colors, but is most commonly associated with white, gray and peach. It's soft chatoyancy is remin...
View full detailsPink Opal 3mm Table Cut Cube A Grade - 15-16 Inch
Pink Opal is a variety of non to precious opal, meaning that it has lustre and some translucency without the fire or color play associated with pre...
View full detailsRed Garnet 4mm Faceted Bicone - 15-16 Inch
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...
View full detailsFreshwater Pearl 4-5mm White Rondelle Beads - 15-16 Inch
Unlike most gemstones found within the Earth, pearls are organic. Simply, they grow inside the shells of certain species of oysters and clams. Some...
View full detailsFreshwater Pearl 5mm Pink Rice Beads - 15-16 Inch
Unlike most gemstones found within the Earth, pearls are organic. Simply, they grow inside the shells of certain species of oysters and clams. Some...
View full detailsYellow Green Tourmaline 3mm Banded Table Cut Cube A Grade Bead - 15-16 Inch
Tourmaline is classified as a semiprecious stone and occurs in a vast array of colors, everything from colorless to black, from pastel to bright to...
View full detailsFluorite 3mm Table Cut Cube A Grade Bead - 15-16 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 detailsLepidolite 3mm Banded Table Cut Cube A Grade - 15-16 Inch
A particularly soft stone, Lepidolite has a glassy or lustrous sheen. It is the most abundant lithium-bearing mineral as well as a significant sour...
View full detailsFreshwater Pearl 4mm White Potato Beads - 15-16 Inch
Unlike most gemstones found within the Earth, pearls are organic. Simply, they grow inside the shells of certain species of oysters and clams. Some...
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.