Teardrop Gemstone Beads

Frequently asked questions

• What is a teardrop bead and how is it drilled?

  A teardrop (or drop) bead is shaped like a rounded pear or elongated tear — wider and rounded at the base, tapering to a narrower point at the top. Dakota's teardrops come in two main drill styles: top-drilled, where the hole runs across the narrow tip so the bead hangs point-up like a pendant or briolette, and full-drilled (lengthwise through the long axis), which lets the bead sit inline on a strand. Drill orientation should be disclosed — ask before buying if it isn't specified, since it changes how the bead behaves in a design.
• What sizes does Dakota stock in teardrop?

  Teardrop is a dimensional cut, so sizes are given as width × length rather than a single diameter. Dakota's current stock concentrates in the 9x13–12x16mm range (a working mid-size for earrings and focal accents) and 6x12–10x20mm for longer, more elongated drops. There are also smaller 6mm and mid-13mm options, larger 13x15mm and 15mm drops, and dramatic long forms in 9x32mm and 32mm for statement pendants. Calibration varies by stone and drill style — check the size tag on each listing.
• What stones come in teardrop shape?

  Dakota currently carries about 190 active teardrop SKUs across a wide stone range. Top counts include opal (16), quartz (13), labradorite (11), amazonite (11), jasper (10), ocean jasper (9), lapis (8), moonstone (8), rose quartz (6), and tourmaline (5). Translucent and chatoyant stones (moonstone, labradorite, opal, quartz) show especially well in teardrop because the tapered form catches and directs light. Treatment varies by stone — stabilization, dye, and heat should be disclosed; ask before buying if it isn't specified.
• What jewelry designs are teardrops best for?

  Teardrops are a focal cut. Top-drilled drops are the workhorse for earrings — a matched pair off ear wires reads finished with almost no other componentry. They also work as pendants on a chain or as the centerpiece of a beaded necklace, where a single drop anchors a strand of rounds or rondelles. Full-drilled teardrops can be strung inline to create a graduated or rhythmic strand. The pointed end naturally directs the eye downward, which is why teardrops feel formal and elongating in finished pieces.
• Top-drilled vs full-drilled teardrop — which should I order?

  Choose by how the bead needs to hang. Top-drilled (across the narrow tip) is correct for earrings, pendants, and any application where the drop should dangle point-up with the wide base swinging free. Full-drilled (lengthwise through the long axis) is correct for inline stringing, where teardrops are stacked or alternated with spacers along a strand. The two are not interchangeable — a top-drilled bead can't be strung inline cleanly, and a full-drilled bead won't dangle as a drop. Drill style should be specified on each listing.