Teardrop Gemstone Beads
Dakota Stones' teardrop gemstone beads are a versatile and timeless choice for designers looking to create pieces that flow with natural movement and grace. You'll find quality, consistency, and character in every strand. This collection includes a wide variety of drop-shaped beads—including classic teardrops, briolettes, pear shapes, Indian hand cut heart drops, and smooth drops—suitable for any designs.
Each bead is cut and polished by skilled lapidary artists in India, or finished by gemstone artisans in China, using time-honored techniques that enhance the color, clarity, and shape of every stone.
In metaphysical jewelry, drops are believed to represent letting go and renewal — like a teardrop falling and clearing the way.
Sunstone 9x13-12x16mm Top Drill Irregular Flat Drop - 15-16 Inch - CLEARANCE
Original price
$24.00
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Original price
$24.00
Original price
$24.00
$24.00
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$24.00
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 details
Original price
$24.00
-
Original price
$24.00
Original price
$24.00
$24.00
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$24.00
Sunstone 13x15mm Faceted Top Drilled Irregular Tear Drop - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$32.00
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Original price
$32.00
Original price
$32.00
$32.00
-
$32.00
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 details
Original price
$32.00
-
Original price
$32.00
Original price
$32.00
$32.00
-
$32.00
About this cut
Cut name
Teardrop
Drill style
Top-drilled (briolette) or end-drilled
Typical sizes
9x13-12x16mm6mm9x32mm6x12-10x20mm13mm13x15mm15mm32mm
Stones in this cut
OpalQuartzLabradoriteAmazoniteJasperOcean JasperLapisMoonstoneRose QuartzTurquoiseChalcedonyChrysoprase
Common uses
earring drops on French wires or leverbackspendant focals on chain or beaded necklacesgraduated strand centerpiecesinline stringing for rhythmic necklacesbriolette-style wire-wrapped dropsbridal and formal jewelry
Related cuts
Marquise, Free Form
Design notes
Teardrops are a focal cut — one or two do the visual work that a dozen rounds would. For earrings, match top-drilled pairs in the 9x13–12x16mm range; for statement pendants, the 9x32mm and 32mm elongated drops carry on their own without supporting beads. Pair teardrops with smaller rounds, rondelles, or faceted spacers rather than other focals, and check drill orientation (top-drilled vs full-drilled) before designing — the two drill styles are not interchangeable and dictate whether the bead dangles or strings inline.
Frequently asked questions
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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.