K2 Gemstone Beads

Frequently asked questions

• What is K2 stone made of?

  K2 is a composite — a granite matrix hosting intrinsic spherical inclusions of azurite, a copper-bearing carbonate mineral with intense natural blue color. The granite is white to pale gray with darker mineral flecks (quartz, feldspar, biotite); the azurite forms small, well-defined blue orbs distributed through the host. It is not a jasper despite the "K2 jasper" trade name — jasper is microcrystalline quartz, and K2 is a granite-azurite composite.
• Where does K2 stone come from?

  K2 is sourced from the talus and float at the base of Mount K2, the world's second-highest peak, in the Karakoram range on the Pakistan–China border. Commercial material is gathered in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan. No other deposit produces commercial-grade K2; the supply is geographically narrow.
• Is K2 stone dyed or painted?

  Genuine K2 is sold natural — the blue azurite spheres are intrinsic mineral inclusions, not surface treatment. A bead cut in half would show the same blue spheres on the cut face. Painted imitations exist in the broader bead market (light-colored granite or marble dotted with blue acrylic paint), and they're usually detectable because the paint sits on the surface and can scratch off or wear at the drill holes. Every K2 strand in Dakota's catalog is natural.
• How durable is K2 stone for daily wear?

  The granite host is Mohs 6–7 and durable for ordinary wear. The azurite inclusions are softer at Mohs 3.5–4 and sensitive to acids, ammonia, and prolonged moisture. Care notes: soft cloth with mild soap; avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners; avoid ammonia-based cleaners. The granite is robust; the azurite spheres can dull or polish out over years of heavy contact wear, so K2 is best used in necklaces and earrings rather than rings or daily-wear bracelets.
• What sizes does Dakota carry?

  The active K2 inventory centers on round beads in 8mm, 10mm, and 12mm. Full size and shape availability is filterable in the grid above; designers replenishing an existing design can confirm exact strand specifications on each listing.