Hematite Gemstone Beads

Frequently asked questions

• Is gold hematite (or rose gold, copper, rainbow hematite) real hematite?

  The base stone is real hematite — natural iron-oxide hematite, polished and shaped. The gold, rose gold, copper, silver-bright, and rainbow finishes are surface coatings applied to that natural hematite base. The underlying stone is real; the metallic finish color is a coating. Treatment status should be disclosed — ask before buying if it isn't specified.
• How durable is the coating on coated hematite?

  The coating is bonded to the stone surface and holds up well under ordinary jewelry wear — necklaces, earrings, pendants, and standard-wear bracelets. High-contact applications (rings, heavily-worn cuff bracelets, designs with sustained stone-to-stone abrasion) can wear through the coating at contact points over years of use. For maximum wear resistance, natural steel-gray hematite is the more durable finish; for design flexibility across the metallic-color spectrum, coated hematite is the standard catalog choice.
• What's the difference between hematite and magnetic hematite (hematine)?

  True hematite is natural iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) and is not strongly magnetic at room temperature — a natural hematite bead will not pick up a paper clip. "Magnetic hematite" sold in the bead market is typically hematine — a synthetic ceramic of magnetized barium ferrite manufactured to imitate hematite's appearance and density. They look similar but are different materials; the magnet test is the quick check. Material identity should be disclosed — ask before buying if it isn't specified.
• Does hematite tarnish?

  Natural hematite doesn't tarnish in the way silver does, but the polished surface can develop slight dulling from prolonged skin contact, oils, and moisture. A wipe with a soft cloth restores the shine. Coated hematite can lose its finish over years of heavy wear through abrasion rather than oxidation; the underlying natural hematite remains intact beneath the coating.
• What sizes of hematite does Dakota carry?

  The active catalog centers on small sizes — 2mm, 3mm, and 4mm rounds and faceted rounds dominate, reflecting hematite's primary use as a spacer and accent bead. Larger sizes (including 6mm and faceted rondelles in mixed dimensions like 2×4mm and 2×6mm) appear in select SKUs as focal accents. Full size availability is filterable in the grid above.