Cube Beads

Frequently asked questions

• What is a cube bead?

  A cube bead is cut and polished into a six-sided block with roughly equal edges. Most are drilled face-to-face — straight through one flat side to the opposite flat side — so the bead sits square on the wire. Some cube beads are drilled corner-to-corner (diagonal drill), which makes the cube ride on point like a diamond shape. Drill orientation should be disclosed; ask before buying if it isn't specified. Edges may be sharp or lightly softened depending on the stone and the supplier's finishing, and faceted cube variants add small flat planes to each face for extra sparkle.
• What sizes does Dakota stock in cube?

  Cube beads in current stock run from 2mm up through 8mm, with the heaviest depth at the smaller end. 3mm is the largest size group (around 68 products), followed by 4mm (51) and 2mm (42). Mid-range 5mm, 6mm and 7mm cubes are all well-represented, and 8mm cubes are stocked but in a narrower selection. A 6x8mm rectangular cube (technically a brick) is also available where the stone supports the longer cut. Sizes are nominal — natural-stone cubes vary slightly bead to bead within a strand.
• What stones come in cube?

  The cube cut covers a wide material range. Turquoise leads the stocked stones with around 29 products, followed by hematite (21), moonstone (16), tourmaline (15) and amazonite (12). Quartz, cubic zirconia, garnet, lapis and aquamarine each have roughly 10 products in cube. Beyond these, cube turns up across many other stones in smaller counts. Treatment varies by stone — turquoise is often stabilized, hematite is typically synthetic hematine, and color-saturated stones may be dyed or heated. Check the individual listing for treatment disclosure.
• What jewelry does the cube cut suit best?

  Cubes give a stranded design clean architectural structure — they sit flat against each other and read as a continuous line rather than a row of separate beads. They work well for men's bracelets, mala-style and minimalist stretch bracelets, geometric necklaces, and stations between larger focal beads. The flat faces also catch light differently than rounds, so cubes in reflective stones like hematite, pyrite or faceted quartz add visible sparkle without faceting every bead. Smaller cubes (2-3mm) are useful as spacers between rounds or rondelles.
• Face-drilled vs corner-drilled cube — what's the difference?

  Face-drilled cubes (the standard) thread straight through two opposite flat sides, so the cube sits square with its faces parallel to the wire — the most common look. Corner-drilled (diagonal) cubes are pierced through opposite corners, which rotates the cube 45 degrees on the strand so it rides as a diamond with points up and down. Corner-drilled cubes take up more linear space per bead and create a zig-zag silhouette along a strand. Drill orientation isn't always called out in the product title; check the listing photos and specs, or ask before buying.