Gemstone Focals
A single focal can define an entire piece of jewelry, and our collection is built for that moment. Browse statement pendants with top-drilled bails, perfectly domed cabochons ready for bezels, classic center-drilled donuts, and designer collar sets—all cut to showcase dramatic true color, intricate matrix, or mirror-bright translucence.
Shapes range from ovals and coins to free-form marquise; materials span crowd-pleasers like labradorite and turquoise to rarities such as larimar or pietersite. While patterns and dimensions vary slightly—proof each stone is natural—every focal passes Dakota Stones standards for polish, stability, and visual impact.
Choose a centerpiece, frame it with complementary rounds or keep it minimal on leather, and let the stone do the talking. Whatever your design style, this focal lineup supplies the show-stopping element that turns good jewelry into unforgettable art.
Focal Beads for Jewelry Making – Highlight Your Designs
Products: 261
Onyx 40mm Square Donut - Pendant
Onyx is a black and white banded Chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline Quartz. It is often thought of as an all to black stone, and much of the black Ony...
View full detailsGreen Aventurine 27x34mm Slice Silver Plated - Pendant
Green Aventurine 27x34mm Slice Silver Plated - Pendant
Mexican Zebra Jasper 27x34mm Slice Gold Plated - Pendant
Mexican Zebra Jasper 27x34mm Slice Gold Plated - Pendant
Tree Agate 40mm Donut Pendant
Tree Agate is not banded like other Agates, and therefore is not an Agate in the strictest terms. Rather than banding, Tree Agate has dendritic inc...
View full detailsSodalite 40mm Donut Pendant
Sodalite is named for its sodium content and may be classified as a feldspathoid. Blue Sodalite is sometimes referred to as “poor man’s lapis” beca...
View full detailsPicture Jasper 40mm Square Donut - Pendant
Picture Jasper is a form of brown Jasper characterized by its unique banding and flow patterns created by petrified or silicate mud and occasional ...
View full detailsDumortierite 27x34mm Slice Gold Plated - Pendant
Dumortierite is an aluminum borosilicate mineral that varies in color from blue, green and brown to the more rare violet and pink. First described ...
View full detailsDumortierite 27x34mm Slice Silver Plated - Pendant
Dumortierite is an aluminum borosilicate mineral that varies in color from blue, green and brown to the more rare violet and pink. First described ...
View full detailsFlower Obsidian 40mm Donut Pendant
Essentially a volcanic glass, Obsidian ranges in color from opaque black, to green, brown, mahogany, black with rainbow colors, black with snowflak...
View full detailsTiger Eye 13x40mm Oval Pair - Pendant
Tiger Eye is a macrocrystalline Quartz stone with bands of rich golds and browns. Its chatoyant layers that create a flash which seems to emanate f...
View full detailsPicture Jasper 27x34mm Slice Silver Plated - Pendant
Picture Jasper is a form of brown Jasper characterized by its unique banding and flow patterns created by petrified or silicate mud and occasional ...
View full details40mm MOP, Turquoise, & Jet Mosaic Pendant Pair
Each pendant pair will vary slightly from what is pictured.
Hubei Turquoise 6mm Square Cabochon
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 detailsRuby Zoisite 40mm Donut Pendant
Ruby Zoisite occurs naturally when small Ruby crystals become embedded within Zoisite. The Ruby inclusions in this stone are pink to reddish purple...
View full detailsAmazonite 13x38mm Pointed Oval Pair - Pendant
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 detailsJade 40mm Donut Pendant
Jade refers to an ornamental mineral, mostly known for its green varieties. Jade has been used for tens of thousands of years, initially as tools b...
View full detailsPicture Jasper 40mm Donut - Pendant
Picture Jasper is a form of brown Jasper characterized by its unique banding and flow patterns created by petrified or silicate mud and occasional ...
View full detailsGoldstone 12mm Guru Bead - CLEARANCE
Goldstone is a manmade material, consisting of opaque rust-red glass with tiny flecks of glittering copper suspended within it. Goldstone was first...
View full detailsAmazonite 13x40mm Oval Pair - Pendant
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 detailsBlack Moss Opal 27x34mm Slice Silver Plated - Pendant
Black Moss Opal 27x34mm Slice Silver Plated - Pendant
Mexican Zebra Jasper 40mm Donut Pendant
Mexican Zebra Jasper has banded and marbled patterns of translucent to opaque milky white and black. Jasper has a long and illustrious history, and...
View full detailsMuonionalusta Meteorites 12mm Silver Pyramid Pendant
This pyramid shaped meteorite pendant is stunning and ready-to-wear! Each pendant will be the same size and shape, but the difference in the patter...
View full detailsTiger Eye 13x38mm Fan Pair - Pendant
Tiger Eye is a macrocrystalline Quartz stone with bands of rich golds and browns. Its chatoyant layers that create a flash which seems to emanate f...
View full details38mm Turquoise, MOP, and Lapis Mosaic Curved Paddle Pendant Pair
Each pendant pair will vary slightly from what is pictured.
17x19mm Gold Plated Faceted Gemstone Heart Charm/Pendant - Peach (Dyed) New Jade
Hearts aren't just for Valentine's Day! We are loving these faceted gemstone hearts from Dakota Stones. They are the perfect size to be a pendant o...
View full detailsHubei Turquoise 5mm Square Cabochon
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 detailsAmazonite 13x38mm Fan Pair - Pendant
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 details32mm Turquoise, MOP, and Coral Mosaic Drop Pendant Pair
Each pendant pair will vary slightly from what is pictured.
Parral Dendritic Agate 24x38mm Free Form Marquise Pendant - CLEARANCE
The contrasts in this stone really make it a striking addition to any design -- creamy white quartz permeated by black tendrils of manganese branch...
View full detailsFancy Jasper 27x34mm Slice Silver Plated - Pendant
Fancy Jasper 27x34mm Slice Silver Plated - Pendant
Dalmation Jasper 27x34mm Slice Silver Plated - Pendant
Dalmation Jasper is the trade name for Dalmation Stone, which is not Jasper but rather a combination of Feldspar and Quartz. It is opaque, creamy w...
View full details38mm Coral, MOP, and Lapis Mosaic Curved Paddle Pendant Pair
Each pendant pair will vary slightly from what is pictured.
Hubei Turquoise 4mm Square Cabochon
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 detailsDalmation Jasper 27x34mm Slice Gold Plated - Pendant
Dalmation Jasper is the trade name for Dalmation Stone, which is not Jasper but rather a combination of Feldspar and Quartz. It is opaque, creamy w...
View full detailsRed Snake Skin Jasper 40mm Donut Pendant
Jasper has a long and illustrious history, having been worn by shamans, priests and kings and believed to be a powerful protection stone. Ancient E...
View full detailsApple Jasper 40mm Donut Pendant
Apple Jasper carries the deep red to bright red hues of apples, frequently complemented by tans, ochre browns and deep greens. Jaspers are consider...
View full details17x19mm Silver Plated Faceted Gemstone Heart Charm/Pendant - Peach (Dyed) New Jade
Hearts aren't just for Valentine's Day! We are loving these faceted gemstone hearts from Dakota Stones. They are the perfect size to be a pendant o...
View full detailsMother of Pearl 12mm A Grade Coin Cabochon
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 details32mm Turquoise, Coral, and MOP Mosaic Drop Pendant Pair
Each pendant pair will vary slightly from what is pictured.
Yellow Jade 25x37mm Free Form Marquise Pendant - CLEARANCE
Yellow Jade is not actually Jade, but a form of natural Serpentine which is commonly referred to as Yellow Jade in the stone industry. This semi-tr...
View full detailsRed Jasper 27x34mm Slice Silver Plated - Pendant
Red Jasper 27x34mm Slice Silver Plated - Pendant
Polychrome 36x48-52x68mm Drop Pendant - CLEARANCE
White Lace Red Jasper 40mm A Grade Donut Pendant
White Lace Red Jasper is a deep red or burnt orange stone, complemented by white, gray, and black bands and flecks of color. Red Jasper has histori...
View full detailsBoulder Opal 10-18x17-23mm AAA Grade Small Free Form Cabochon
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 detailsRhyolite 40mm Donut Pendant
Rhyolite is a volcanic, igneous rock with high silica content. Its name is taken from the Greek word “rhyax,” meaning “a stream of lava.” It is che...
View full detailsMother of Pearl 10mm A Grade Coin Cabochon
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 details32mm Jet, MOP, and Turquoise Mosaic Drop Pendant Pair
Each pendant pair will vary slightly from what is pictured.
Red Aventurine 24-28x36-40mm Free Form Marquise Pendant - CLEARANCE
Red Aventurine is a peach to orange colored translucent Quartz with inclusions of Mica or other minerals. These inclusions give it a glistening eff...
View full detailsFrequently asked questions
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What is a focal bead and how do designers use it?
A focal is a larger single bead or pendant — typically 12–40mm — meant to anchor a design rather than repeat down a strand. Designers center one focal on a necklace, hang it as a pendant from a chain or beaded strand, or use it as the visual stop between sections of smaller beads. Because the focal carries the eye, pattern, color zoning, and matrix in the stone matter more than they would on a 6mm round. Most focals in this category ship as individual pieces or small lots rather than full strands, so check the listing for quantity per listing. -
What focal shapes does Dakota carry?
The category covers donuts, ovals, slices, teardrops, squares, free-form shapes, marquise, and guru beads used at the head of a mala. Donuts are the most common (often 38–40mm) and work well on cord or with bail wraps. Slices show interior banding and matrix from the cut face and are usually free-form in outline. Teardrops and ovals drill top-down as pendants; squares and rounds typically drill through the center. Each cut style routes to a sub-collection so you can browse by shape rather than scrolling the full focals hub. -
How large do focal beads typically run?
Most focals fall between 12mm and 40mm. Common sizes include 12mm rounds and squares, 13x18mm and 12x25mm ovals and teardrops, 9x32mm marquise and elongated drops, 15mm donuts, and 38–40mm donuts and slices for statement pendants. Slices and free-forms vary piece to piece because they follow the natural shape of the cut, so the listed dimension is nominal — expect ±1–2mm variation. Exact measurements should be disclosed; ask before buying if a specific size is critical to your finished design. -
What's the difference between top-drilled and center-drilled focals?
Top-drilled focals have the hole running side-to-side near the top of the bead, so the piece hangs as a pendant — common on teardrops, ovals, and slices. Center-drilled focals have the hole running through the long axis like a regular bead, so they sit in-line on a strand or wire. Donuts use a large central hole and are usually strung on cord, leather, or with a bail. Drill direction changes how you finish the piece, so confirm the drill style before ordering findings or stringing material. -
Which stones work best as focals?
Pattern-rich material reads strongest at focal size. Jasper is the largest group here — picture jasper, ocean jasper, and landscape varieties all show scenic banding that benefits from a larger cut surface. Agate and botswana agate carry visible banding; labradorite and tiger eye carry chatoyancy and flash that need surface area to show. Lapis, amazonite, turquoise, rose quartz, and quartz round out the offering for solid-color or translucent focals. Treatment varies by stone — stabilization on turquoise, dye on some agates — and should be disclosed; ask before buying if it isn't specified.