Skip to content

Heishi and Tyre Shape Beads

Today, Heishi is more known as small tube-like beads and can be made from any material like wood or gemstones, but its history stems from shell beads found in the Gulf of California. They were traded by the Santo Domingo Native Americans in exchange for shells or goods.

Products: 93

Moonstone 2-6x10-11mm Plated Irregular Faceted Tyre Bead - 8-Inch

Original price $63.00 - Original price $63.00
Original price $63.00
$63.00
$63.00 - $63.00
Current price $63.00

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 details
Original price $63.00 - Original price $63.00
Original price $63.00
$63.00
$63.00 - $63.00
Current price $63.00

Black Spinel 2-3x5-6mm Faceted Irregular Tyre Beads - 8-Inch

Original price $79.00 - Original price $79.00
Original price $79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
Current price $79.00

Spinel is a hard vitreous magnesium aluminum oxide, and comes in a range of other colors, but those varieties are transparent. Black Spinel not onl...

View full details
Original price $79.00 - Original price $79.00
Original price $79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
Current price $79.00

Green Amethyst (Prasiolite) 2-3x6-7mm Faceted Irregular Tyre Beads - 8-Inch

Original price $79.00 - Original price $79.00
Original price $79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
Current price $79.00

Amethyst is a beautiful stone (normally purple), known as a “Gem of Fire” by ancient cultures. It has been greatly sought after throughout history ...

View full details
Original price $79.00 - Original price $79.00
Original price $79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
Current price $79.00

Persian Turquoise 3-5x8mm Irregular Heishi Beads - 14-15 Inch

Original price $119.00 - Original price $119.00
Original price $119.00
$119.00
$119.00 - $119.00
Current price $119.00

Persian turquoise is not only a pretty rock. It is a piece of history. It tells about kings, mines, art, and old trade. It holds the stories of peo...

View full details
Original price $119.00 - Original price $119.00
Original price $119.00
$119.00
$119.00 - $119.00
Current price $119.00

Blue Moonstone 2-4x5-6mm Faceted Irregular Tyre Bead - 8-Inch

Original price $79.00 - Original price $79.00
Original price $79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
Current price $79.00

Moonstone naturally occurs in a broad spectrum of colors, but is most commonly associated with white, gray and peach. It's soft chatoyancy is ramin...

View full details
Original price $79.00 - Original price $79.00
Original price $79.00
$79.00
$79.00 - $79.00
Current price $79.00

Amethyst 2-3x6-7mm Faceted Irregular Banded Tyre Bead - 15-16 Inch

Original price $119.00 - Original price $119.00
Original price $119.00
$119.00
$119.00 - $119.00
Current price $119.00

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 details
Original price $119.00 - Original price $119.00
Original price $119.00
$119.00
$119.00 - $119.00
Current price $119.00

Red Garnet 1-3x6mm Faceted Irregular Tyre Bead - 15-16 Inch

Original price $119.00 - Original price $119.00
Original price $119.00
$119.00
$119.00 - $119.00
Current price $119.00

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 details
Original price $119.00 - Original price $119.00
Original price $119.00
$119.00
$119.00 - $119.00
Current price $119.00

Nephrite Jade 3x3-5mm Irregular Heishi Bead - 12-13 Inch

Original price $17.00 - Original price $17.00
Original price $17.00
$17.00
$17.00 - $17.00
Current price $17.00

Nephrite is a dense, incredibly tough mineral aggregate belonging to the tremolite-actinolite series. It is one of the two distinct minerals legall...

View full details
Original price $17.00 - Original price $17.00
Original price $17.00
$17.00
$17.00 - $17.00
Current price $17.00

Magnesite 6mm Red (Dyed) Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $15.00 - Original price $15.00
Original price $15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
Current price $15.00

Magnesite is a soft mineral best known for being dyed to imitate other gemstones. Natural magnesite stones are usually white with a dark web-like p...

View full details
Original price $15.00 - Original price $15.00
Original price $15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
Current price $15.00

Magnesite 6mm Orange (Dyed) Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $15.00 - Original price $15.00
Original price $15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
Current price $15.00

Magnesite is a soft mineral best known for being dyed to imitate other gemstones. Natural magnesite stones are usually white with a dark web-like p...

View full details
Original price $15.00 - Original price $15.00
Original price $15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
Current price $15.00

Magnesite 4mm Red (Dyed) Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
Original price $14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
Current price $14.00

Magnesite is a soft mineral best known for being dyed to imitate other gemstones. Natural magnesite stones are usually white with a dark web-like p...

View full details
Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
Original price $14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
Current price $14.00

Magnesite 6mm Turquoise (Dyed) Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $15.00 - Original price $15.00
Original price $15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
Current price $15.00

Magnesite is a soft mineral best known for being dyed to imitate other gemstones. Natural magnesite stones are usually white with a dark web-like p...

View full details
Original price $15.00 - Original price $15.00
Original price $15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
Current price $15.00

Magnesite 4mm Turquoise (Dyed) Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
Original price $14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
Current price $14.00

Magnesite is a soft mineral best known for being dyed to imitate other gemstones. Natural magnesite stones are usually white with a dark web-like p...

View full details
Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
Original price $14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
Current price $14.00

BC Jade 8-9mm Triangle Heishi Bead - 15-16 Inch

Original price $23.00 - Original price $23.00
Original price $23.00
$23.00
$23.00 - $23.00
Current price $23.00

Canadian Jade is the trade name for this stone that ranges in color from light to dark green, with small, dark specks or veins. This material is ac...

View full details
Original price $23.00 - Original price $23.00
Original price $23.00
$23.00
$23.00 - $23.00
Current price $23.00

Spiny Oyster 8mm Orange Heishi Bead - 15-16 Inch

Original price $54.00 - Original price $54.00
Original price $54.00
$54.00
$54.00 - $54.00
Current price $54.00

Original price $54.00 - Original price $54.00
Original price $54.00
$54.00
$54.00 - $54.00
Current price $54.00

Spiny Oyster 8mm Red Heishi Bead - 15-16 Inch

Original price $54.00 - Original price $54.00
Original price $54.00
$54.00
$54.00 - $54.00
Current price $54.00

Original price $54.00 - Original price $54.00
Original price $54.00
$54.00
$54.00 - $54.00
Current price $54.00

Spiny Oyster & Turquoise 8mm Heishi Bead - 15-16 Inch

Original price $108.00 - Original price $108.00
Original price $108.00
$108.00
$108.00 - $108.00
Current price $108.00

Original price $108.00 - Original price $108.00
Original price $108.00
$108.00
$108.00 - $108.00
Current price $108.00

Mother of Pearl 6mm White Heishi Bead - 15-16 Inch

Original price $57.00 - Original price $57.00
Original price $57.00
$57.00
$57.00 - $57.00
Current price $57.00

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 details
Original price $57.00 - Original price $57.00
Original price $57.00
$57.00
$57.00 - $57.00
Current price $57.00

Mother of Pearl 1-2x4mm White Thin Heishi Bead - 15-16 Inch

Original price $54.00 - Original price $54.00
Original price $54.00
$54.00
$54.00 - $54.00
Current price $54.00

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 details
Original price $54.00 - Original price $54.00
Original price $54.00
$54.00
$54.00 - $54.00
Current price $54.00

Mother of Pearl 4mm White Heishi Bead - 15-16 Inch

Original price $54.00 - Original price $54.00
Original price $54.00
$54.00
$54.00 - $54.00
Current price $54.00

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 details
Original price $54.00 - Original price $54.00
Original price $54.00
$54.00
$54.00 - $54.00
Current price $54.00

Abalone Shell 4mm Heishi Bead - 15-16 Inch

Regular Price $57.00
Original price $57.00 - Original price $57.00
Original price $57.00
Current price $40.00
$40.00 - $40.00
Current price $40.00

Abalone Shell is strong and is made of stacked calcium carbonate tiles. When the abalone shell is struck, the tiles slide instead of shattering abs...

View full details
Regular Price $57.00
Original price $57.00 - Original price $57.00
Original price $57.00
Current price $40.00
$40.00 - $40.00
Current price $40.00
Sale Sale

Wampum Shell 12mm Heishi Bead - 15-16 Inch

Original price $68.00 - Original price $68.00
Original price $68.00
$68.00
$68.00 - $68.00
Current price $68.00

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 details
Original price $68.00 - Original price $68.00
Original price $68.00
$68.00
$68.00 - $68.00
Current price $68.00

Hubei Turquoise & Spiny Oyster 4mm Compressed Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $54.00 - Original price $54.00
Original price $54.00
$54.00
$54.00 - $54.00
Current price $54.00

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 details
Original price $54.00 - Original price $54.00
Original price $54.00
$54.00
$54.00 - $54.00
Current price $54.00

Purple Oyster Shell 4-20mm Graduated Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $39.00 - Original price $39.00
Original price $39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
Current price $39.00

Original price $39.00 - Original price $39.00
Original price $39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
Current price $39.00

Green Lip Shell 4-20mm Graduated Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $39.00 - Original price $39.00
Original price $39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
Current price $39.00

Sea shells are one of our most ancient decorations. Our prehistoric ancestors used to string them into necklaces or hang them from cords as pendant...

View full details
Original price $39.00 - Original price $39.00
Original price $39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
Current price $39.00

Melo Shell 4-20mm Graduated Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $39.00 - Original price $39.00
Original price $39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
Current price $39.00

Sea shells are one of our most ancient decorations. Our prehistoric ancestors used to string them into necklaces or hang them from cords as pendant...

View full details
Original price $39.00 - Original price $39.00
Original price $39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
Current price $39.00

Spiny Oyster Mixed Wth Wampum 8mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $99.00 - Original price $99.00
Original price $99.00
$99.00
$99.00 - $99.00
Current price $99.00

The colors in this strand of Spiny Oyster and Wampum Shell are contrasting yet look so good together. It's like they were meant for each other!

Original price $99.00 - Original price $99.00
Original price $99.00
$99.00
$99.00 - $99.00
Current price $99.00

Spiny Oyster Mixed With Melo Shell 4-5mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $27.00 - Original price $27.00
Original price $27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
Current price $27.00

The soft neutrals of this strand are made from a combo of Spiny Oyster and Melo Shell. This strand of beads won't steal the show in your designs bu...

View full details
Original price $27.00 - Original price $27.00
Original price $27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
Current price $27.00

Spiny Oyster Mixed With Black Lip Shell 4-5mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Regular Price $27.00
Original price $27.00 - Original price $27.00
Original price $27.00
Current price $19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
Current price $19.00

The stunning contrast of the Spiny Oyster and Black Lip Shell make for a bold combo that is sure to be great to add to your designs!

Regular Price $27.00
Original price $27.00 - Original price $27.00
Original price $27.00
Current price $19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
Current price $19.00
Sale Sale

Spiny Oyster Mixed With Hammer Shell 4-5mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $27.00 - Original price $27.00
Original price $27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
Current price $27.00

A beautiful mix of Spiny Oyster and Hammer Shell make a strand of subtle neutrals that will compliment many designs!

Original price $27.00 - Original price $27.00
Original price $27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
Current price $27.00

Bronzite, Tiger Eye, & Lapis 6mm Compressed Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $27.00 - Original price $27.00
Original price $27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
Current price $27.00

Get the a little bit of a couple stone types, all in one bead! This strand has Bronzite, Tiger Eye, & Lapis all compressed in one bead giving i...

View full details
Original price $27.00 - Original price $27.00
Original price $27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
Current price $27.00

Bronzite, Tiger Eye, & Lapis 12mm Compressed Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $39.00 - Original price $39.00
Original price $39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
Current price $39.00

Get the a little bit of a couple stone types, all in one bead! This strand has Bronzite, Tiger Eye, & Lapis all compressed in one bead giving i...

View full details
Original price $39.00 - Original price $39.00
Original price $39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
Current price $39.00

Bronzite, Tiger Eye, & Lapis 8mm Compressed Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $36.00 - Original price $36.00
Original price $36.00
$36.00
$36.00 - $36.00
Current price $36.00

Get the a little bit of a couple stone types, all in one bead! This strand has Bronzite, Tiger Eye, & Lapis all compressed in one bead giving i...

View full details
Original price $36.00 - Original price $36.00
Original price $36.00
$36.00
$36.00 - $36.00
Current price $36.00

Hubei Turquoise, Lapis AAA, & Spiny Oyster 2x3mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $54.00 - Original price $54.00
Original price $54.00
$54.00
$54.00 - $54.00
Current price $54.00

These mixed stone strands have a great pop of color making them perfect for when you're making that unique and colorful piece of jewelry! This stra...

View full details
Original price $54.00 - Original price $54.00
Original price $54.00
$54.00
$54.00 - $54.00
Current price $54.00

Hubei Turquoise, Lapis AAA, & Spiny Oyster 1-2x3mm Squaredelle - 15-16 Inch

Original price $49.00 - Original price $49.00
Original price $49.00
$49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
Current price $49.00

These mixed stone strands have a great pop of color making them perfect for when you're making that unique and colorful piece of jewelry! This stra...

View full details
Original price $49.00 - Original price $49.00
Original price $49.00
$49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
Current price $49.00

Hubei Turquoise, Lapis AAA, & Spiny Oyster 1x2mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $51.00 - Original price $51.00
Original price $51.00
$51.00
$51.00 - $51.00
Current price $51.00

These mixed stone strands have a great pop of color making them perfect for when you're making that unique and colorful piece of jewelry! This stra...

View full details
Original price $51.00 - Original price $51.00
Original price $51.00
$51.00
$51.00 - $51.00
Current price $51.00

Turquoise & Dyed Magnesite (Compressed) 2x4 Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $59.00 - Original price $59.00
Original price $59.00
$59.00
$59.00 - $59.00
Current price $59.00

Original price $59.00 - Original price $59.00
Original price $59.00
$59.00
$59.00 - $59.00
Current price $59.00

Turquoise & Dyed Magnesite (Compressed) 2x6 Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $63.00 - Original price $63.00
Original price $63.00
$63.00
$63.00 - $63.00
Current price $63.00

Original price $63.00 - Original price $63.00
Original price $63.00
$63.00
$63.00 - $63.00
Current price $63.00

Ruby 4x7mm Faceted Tyre Beads AA Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $198.00 - Original price $198.00
Original price $198.00
$198.00
$198.00 - $198.00
Current price $198.00

Ruby is a precious gemstone known for its deep red color. It is a variety of the mineral corundum, the second-hardest mineral next to diamond . The...

View full details
Original price $198.00 - Original price $198.00
Original price $198.00
$198.00
$198.00 - $198.00
Current price $198.00

Hubei Turquoise 4x10mm Irregular Tyre Beads - 15-16 Inch

Original price $338.00 - Original price $338.00
Original price $338.00
$338.00
$338.00 - $338.00
Current price $338.00

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 details
Original price $338.00 - Original price $338.00
Original price $338.00
$338.00
$338.00 - $338.00
Current price $338.00

Hubei Turquoise 3x11mm Tyre Beads - 15-16 Inch

Original price $423.00 - Original price $423.00
Original price $423.00
$423.00
$423.00 - $423.00
Current price $423.00

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 details
Original price $423.00 - Original price $423.00
Original price $423.00
$423.00
$423.00 - $423.00
Current price $423.00

Hubei Turquoise 3x9mm Tyre Beads AA Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $279.00 - Original price $279.00
Original price $279.00
$279.00
$279.00 - $279.00
Current price $279.00

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 details
Original price $279.00 - Original price $279.00
Original price $279.00
$279.00
$279.00 - $279.00
Current price $279.00

Hubei Turquoise 5x8mm Rondelle Beads AA Grade - 15-16 Grade

Original price $204.00 - Original price $204.00
Original price $204.00
$204.00
$204.00 - $204.00
Current price $204.00

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 details
Original price $204.00 - Original price $204.00
Original price $204.00
$204.00
$204.00 - $204.00
Current price $204.00

Hubei Turquoise 4x6mm Tyre Beads AA Grade - 15-16 Grade

Original price $145.00 - Original price $145.00
Original price $145.00
$145.00
$145.00 - $145.00
Current price $145.00

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 details
Original price $145.00 - Original price $145.00
Original price $145.00
$145.00
$145.00 - $145.00
Current price $145.00

Hubei Turquoise 3x7mm Tyre Beads AA Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $213.00 - Original price $213.00
Original price $213.00
$213.00
$213.00 - $213.00
Current price $213.00

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 details
Original price $213.00 - Original price $213.00
Original price $213.00
$213.00
$213.00 - $213.00
Current price $213.00

Blue Rose Quartz 2x4mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch

Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
Original price $14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
Current price $14.00

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 details
Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
Original price $14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
Current price $14.00

Hubei Turquoise 2x4mm Heishi AA Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $45.00 - Original price $45.00
Original price $45.00
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
Current price $45.00

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 details
Original price $45.00 - Original price $45.00
Original price $45.00
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
Current price $45.00

Larimar 6mm Heishi with Matrix - 15-16 Inch

Original price $49.00 - Original price $49.00
Original price $49.00
$49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
Current price $49.00

Larimar is a translucent blue, turquoise and white stone that can have streaks and patterns of white, as well as red or brown either from oxidation...

View full details
Original price $49.00 - Original price $49.00
Original price $49.00
$49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
Current price $49.00

About this cut

Heishi & Tyre bead shape diagram
Cut name
Heishi & Tyre
Drill style
End-drilled (axis perpendicular to face)
Typical sizes
2x4mm6mm3x6mm8mm4mm5mm2mm7mm
Stones in this cut
TurquoiseAmethystNatural ShellJasperMixed GemstoneSpiny OysterLarimarQuartzAmazoniteRubyGarnetCitrine
Common uses
single-strand turquoise and shell necklaceslayered stacking necklaces and chokerswrap bracelets with continuous drapespacers between larger focal beadsSouthwest and coastal-style strandsminimalist tube-of-stone designs
Related cuts
Rondelle, Rice
Design notes
Heishi's defining trait is the flat face and through-disc drill, which lets beads stack flush so the strand reads as a continuous cylinder of stone — pick this cut when you want drape and visual continuity rather than bead-by-bead definition. Thin 2x4mm and 3x6mm discs are the fluid, classic Santo Domingo proportion; 6mm and 8mm tyres give a chunkier, more sculptural line. Heishi pairs cleanly as a spacer between rounds or rondelles because the flat face seats without rocking, and mixed-stone heishi strands (turquoise with spiny oyster and shell, for example) lean on that same flush stacking to keep color transitions tight.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is a heishi bead and how is a tyre different?
    Heishi (pronounced hee-shee) is a short disc or wafer-shaped bead drilled through the flat face, so beads stack edge-to-edge on the cord and read as a continuous tube of stone. The term comes from Santo Domingo Pueblo shell work. A tyre bead is a slightly taller version — a short cylinder rather than a thin wafer — but drilled the same way through the flat face. Both sit flush against each other on the strand, which is what separates them from rondelles (which are wider than they are tall and have rounded edges). Dakota lists both shapes under this cut because the drill orientation and stacking behavior are the same.
  • What sizes of heishi and tyre does Dakota stock?
    Current stock runs from about 2mm thin discs up through 8mm short tyres. The most stocked sizes are 2x4mm (a 2mm-thick by 4mm-wide disc, 23 products), 3x6mm (13 products), and 6mm, 8mm, 4mm, 5mm, 2mm and 7mm rounds and discs. The two-number sizes (2x4mm, 3x6mm) describe thickness x diameter — useful when you're matching scale across a multi-strand design.
  • What stones come in heishi or tyre cut at Dakota?
    Turquoise is by far the deepest stock (26 products) — the heishi cut has strong roots in Southwest turquoise and shell work, and that's reflected in the catalog. Natural shell (7) and spiny oyster (7) carry that same tradition. Beyond that, Dakota stocks heishi in amethyst, jasper, mixed gemstone strands, larimar, quartz, amazonite, citrine and a long tail of other materials.
  • What jewelry does heishi work best for?
    Heishi is the go-to cut for continuous, flexible strands that drape like a tube of solid stone — single-strand chokers and necklaces, layered stacking necklaces, and wrap bracelets all rely on heishi's flush stacking. Thin 2x4mm and 3x6mm discs give you a soft, fluid drape; taller tyres (6mm, 8mm) read more structural and sculptural. Heishi also works well as a spacer between larger focal beads, where the flat face sits cleanly against a round or rondelle without rocking. It's a strong cut for Southwest, coastal, and minimalist designs.
  • How does heishi differ from a rondelle or a disc bead?
    All three are wider than they are tall, but the proportions and drill behavior differ. A rondelle has rounded edges and is usually wider than the heishi-style disc, so adjacent beads don't sit perfectly flush — there's a small gap at the cord. Heishi is cut with sharper edges and a flatter face specifically so beads stack tight against each other. A tyre is essentially a taller heishi — a short cylinder. If a design needs the strand to read as one continuous surface, heishi or tyre is the cut; if you want defined separation between beads, a rondelle reads better.