What is a large hole bead and what cord fits through it?

A large hole bead is drilled at 2mm or wider, where a standard gemstone bead is drilled at about 0.8mm to 1.2mm for beading wire and silk. The wider bore takes cord: 1mm and 1.5mm round leather, 2mm round or flat leather, waxed cotton, satin (rat-tail) cord, hemp and macramé cord in the 1mm to 2mm range, or several strands of a fine cord together. Cord should pass freely — stone holes do not stretch — so match the cord to the listed hole size with a little clearance.

What hole size do large hole gemstone beads have?

Two bores cover nearly everything: 2mm on the 6mm beads and 2.5mm on the 8mm and 10mm beads. Freshwater pearls are drilled at 2mm. Some strands are listed as 2–2.5mm where the bore varies bead to bead within that range, and a few run 2–3mm. The drilling is ultrasonic, so the hole holds one width from end to end with a clean edge, and the hole size is given on each listing beside the bead size.

What are large hole beads used for?

Leather cord is the main use: bracelets and necklaces on 1.5mm to 2mm round leather, with the beads knotted in place or left to slide. Macramé and knotted jewelry on 1mm to 2mm cord is the second, the beads worked into square knots, half hitches and sliding closures. They also string on satin and rat-tail cord, waxed cotton, hemp, micro paracord and kumihimo braids fine enough to pass a 2mm hole, and one bead on a knotted cord is a finished piece by itself. Because the cord carries the bead, a piece sits and drapes with more movement than one strung tight on wire.

Which gemstones come with large holes?

Most of the stone range has been drilled this way at one time or another — more than a hundred stones over the life of the line. The quartz family is the largest group: crystal, rose, smoky and rutilated quartz, with amethyst beside them. Jaspers and agates follow — picture, red creek, ocean and impression jasper; Botswana, blue lace, crazy lace and flower agate — then amazonite, lapis, sodalite, tiger eye, aventurine, jade, rhodonite, labradorite, aquamarine, garnet, African turquoise, obsidian, onyx, carnelian, howlite and lava, plus freshwater pearl in potato, rice, button and baroque shapes. Most are natural; dyed, heated or stabilized strands are labelled where known, and the man-made glass beads — opalite, goldstone — are named as such.

What size cord fits a 2mm or 2.5mm hole?

Allow clearance. A 2mm hole passes 1mm and 1.5mm round leather and most 1mm to 1.5mm cords; a 2.5mm hole passes 2mm round leather, 2mm flat leather on edge, or two strands of 1mm cord. Leather is rarely perfectly round, so the cord should slide through without forcing. Bead diameter is a separate measure — an 8mm and a 10mm bead here share the same 2.5mm bore — so diameter sets the look and weight of a piece while the hole sets the cord. A knot in 1.5mm to 2mm leather is wider than the hole, which is what holds a bead in place on cord.

Large Hole Beads

Large hole beads are gemstone beads drilled for cord — a 2mm hole on the 6mm rounds, 2.5mm on the 8mm and 10mm, wide enough for leather, waxed cotton and fine macramé cord to pass straight through. The stone is the same as the standard strand, quartz and amethyst through jasper, agate and freshwater pearl; only the hole changes. On cord a bead slides or knots in place, and a single 8mm round of lapis or tiger eye on a length of leather is a finished piece.

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This is a Dakota Stones 10mm Botswana Agate Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads.

Botswana Agate 10mm Round - Large Hole Beads

$23.00 - $23.00

$23.00

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$23.00

Botswana Agate displays highly defined parallel banding, usually in white on hues of brown, gray, pink, tan, apricot and purplish red. Botswana Aga...

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$23.00 - $23.00

$23.00

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$23.00

This is a Dakota Stones 6mm Botswana Agate Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads.

Botswana Agate 6mm Round - Large Hole Beads

$15.00 - $15.00

$15.00

$15.00 - $15.00

$15.00

Botswana Agate displays highly defined parallel banding, usually in white on hues of brown, gray, pink, tan, apricot and purplish red. Botswana Aga...

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$15.00 - $15.00

$15.00

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$15.00

This is a Dakota Stones 6mm Botswana Agate Large Hole Gemstone strand with faceted round beads.

Botswana Agate 6mm Round Faceted - Large Hole Beads - CLEARANCE

$20.00 - $20.00

$20.00

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$20.00

Botswana Agate displays highly defined parallel banding, usually in white on hues of brown, gray, pink, tan, apricot and purplish red. Botswana Aga...

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$20.00 - $20.00

$20.00

$20.00 - $20.00

$20.00

This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Botswana Agate Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads.

Botswana Agate 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads

$18.00 - $18.00

$18.00

$18.00 - $18.00

$18.00

Botswana Agate displays highly defined parallel banding, usually in white on hues of brown, gray, pink, tan, apricot and purplish red. Botswana Aga...

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$18.00 - $18.00

$18.00

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$18.00

This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Botswana Agate Large Hole Gemstone strand with faceted round beads.

Botswana Agate 8mm Round Faceted - Large Hole Beads

$23.00 - $23.00

$23.00

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$23.00

Botswana Agate displays highly defined parallel banding, usually in white on hues of brown, gray, pink, tan, apricot and purplish red. Botswana Aga...

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$23.00 - $23.00

$23.00

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$23.00

This is a Dakota Stones 4x6mm Botswana Agate Large Hole Gemstone strand with natural faceted rondelle beads.

Botswana Agate Natural 4X6mm Rondelle Faceted - Large Hole Beads

$20.00 - $20.00

$20.00

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$20.00

Botswana Agate displays highly defined parallel banding, usually in white on hues of brown, gray, pink, tan, apricot and purplish red. Botswana Aga...

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$20.00 - $20.00

$20.00

$20.00 - $20.00

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This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Botswana Red Agate Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads.

Botswana Red Agate 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads

$18.00 - $18.00

$18.00

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$18.00

Botswana Agate displays highly defined parallel banding, usually in white on hues of brown, gray, pink, tan, apricot and purplish red. Botswana Aga...

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$18.00 - $18.00

$18.00

$18.00 - $18.00

$18.00

This is a Dakota Stones 10mm Brazilian Amazonite Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads.

Brazilian Amazonite 10mm Round - Large Hole Beads

$23.00 - $23.00

$23.00

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$23.00

Brazilian Amazonite is an opaque blue to green to light green stone, often occurring with inclusions of white, yellow or gray and occasionally tran...

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$23.00

This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Brazilian Amazonite Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads.

Brazilian Amazonite 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads

$18.00 - $18.00

$18.00

$18.00 - $18.00

$18.00

Brazilian Amazonite is an opaque blue to green to light green stone, often occurring with inclusions of white, yellow or gray and occasionally tran...

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$18.00 - $18.00

$18.00

$18.00 - $18.00

$18.00

This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Brazilian Amazonite Large Hole Gemstone strand with faceted round beads.

Brazilian Amazonite 8mm Round Faceted - Large Hole Beads

$23.00 - $23.00

$23.00

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$23.00

Brazilian Amazonite is an opaque blue to green to light green stone, often occurring with inclusions of white, yellow or gray and occasionally tran...

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$23.00 - $23.00

$23.00

$23.00 - $23.00

$23.00

This is a Dakota Stones 10x14mm Bronzite Large Hole Gemstone strand with barrel beads.

Bronzite 10x14mm Barrel - Large Hole Beads

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$12.00

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$12.00

Bronzite is a brown stone with a bronze to colored metallic luster due to iron deposits within the stone. An orthoproxene mineral, it is believed t...

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This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Bronzite Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads in 8 inch strand.

Bronzite 8mm Round Large Hole 8-Inch

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$12.00

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$12.00

Bronzite is a brown stone with a bronze to colored metallic luster due to iron deposits within the stone. An orthoproxene mineral, it is believed t...

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$12.00 - $12.00

$12.00

$12.00 - $12.00

$12.00

This is a Dakota Stones 6mm Cacoxenite Large Hole Gemstone strand with faceted round beads.

Cacoxenite 6mm Faceted Round Large Hole Beads - 8 Inch

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$17.00

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Cacoxenite is the trade name for this naturally occurring blend of seven stone types. It was originally named for the visible inclusions of the min...

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This is a Dakota Stones 6mm Cacoxenite Large Hole Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads.

Cacoxenite 6mm Round Large Hole Beads - 8 Inch

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$14.00

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$14.00

Cacoxenite is the trade name for this naturally occurring blend of seven stone types. It was originally named for the visible inclusions of the min...

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$14.00 - $14.00

$14.00

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$14.00

This is a Dakota Stones 10mm Cacoxenite Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads in 8 inch strand.

Cacoxenite Large Hole 10mm Round - 8-inch

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$21.00

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$21.00

Cacoxenite is the trade name for this naturally occurring blend of seven stone types. It was originally named for the visible inclusions of the min...

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$21.00 - $21.00

$21.00

$21.00 - $21.00

$21.00

This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Cacoxenite Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads in 8 inch strand.

Cacoxenite Large Hole 8mm Round - 8-inch

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$17.00

$17.00 - $17.00

$17.00

Cacoxenite is the trade name for this naturally occurring blend of seven stone types. It was originally named for the visible inclusions of the min...

View full details

$17.00 - $17.00

$17.00

$17.00 - $17.00

$17.00

This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Cacoxenite Large Hole Gemstone strand with faceted round beads in 8 inch strand.

Cacoxenite Large Hole, Faceted 8mm Round - 8-inch

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$19.00

Cacoxenite is the trade name for this naturally occurring blend of seven stone types. It was originally named for the visible inclusions of the min...

View full details

$19.00 - $19.00

$19.00

$19.00 - $19.00

$19.00

This is a Dakota Stones 4x6mm Cacoxenite Large Hole Gemstone strand with natural faceted rondelle beads.

Cacoxenite Natural 4X6mm Rondelle Faceted - Large Hole Beads

$21.00 - $21.00

$21.00

$21.00 - $21.00

$21.00

Cacoxenite is the trade name for this naturally occurring blend of seven stone types. It was originally named for the visible inclusions of the min...

View full details

$21.00 - $21.00

$21.00

$21.00 - $21.00

$21.00

This is a Dakota Stones 6mm Carnelian Large Hole Gemstone strand with faceted round beads.

Carnelian 6mm Faceted Round - Large Hole Beads

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$12.00

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$12.00

Carnelian is a glassy, translucent stone that can appear with such bright orange hues that the ancient Egyptians called it “the setting sun.” Most ...

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$12.00 - $12.00

$12.00

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This is a Dakota Stones 6mm Carnelian Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads.

Carnelian 6mm Round - Large Hole Beads

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$9.00

$9.00 - $9.00

$9.00

Carnelian is a glassy, translucent stone that can appear with such bright orange hues that the ancient Egyptians called it “the setting sun.” Most ...

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$9.00 - $9.00

$9.00

$9.00 - $9.00

$9.00

This is a Dakota Stones Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads in 15-16 inch strand.

Chakra 10mm Round Large Hole - 15-16 Inch

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$39.00

Our Chakra strands are comprised of Amethyst, Lapis, Blue Apatite, Green Aventurine, Citrine, Carnelian, Red Garnet and Crystal Quartz.Amethyst is ...

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$39.00

This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Chakra Large Hole Strand Gemstone strand with round beads.

Chakra 8mm Round Large Hole Bead Strand - 15-16 inch

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$32.00

Our Chakra strands are comprised of Amethyst, Lapis, Blue Apatite, Green Aventurine, Citrine, Carnelian, Red Garnet and Crystal Quartz.Amethyst is ...

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$32.00 - $32.00

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This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Cherry Quartz Large Hole Gemstone strand with faceted rondelle beads in 8 inch strand.

Cherry Quartz 8mm Faceted Rondelle Large Hole 8-Inch - CLEARANCE

$14.00 - $14.00

$14.00

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$14.00

Cherry Quartz is a manmade mixture of clear glass with swirls and flecks of deep pink. To create Cherry Quartz, glass is melted in a furnace and th...

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$14.00

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This is a Dakota Stones 6mm Crystal Quartz Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads.

Crystal Quartz 6mm Round - Large Hole Beads

$13.00 - $13.00

$13.00

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$13.00

Crystal Quartz is a naturally occurring clear and colorless Quartz. It is a crystalline form of Quartz said to have many divine properties includin...

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This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Crystal Quartz Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads.

Crystal Quartz 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads

$16.00 - $16.00

$16.00

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$16.00

Crystal Quartz is a naturally occurring clear and colorless Quartz. It is a crystalline form of Quartz said to have many divine properties includin...

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$16.00 - $16.00

$16.00

$16.00 - $16.00

$16.00

This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Crystal Quartz Large Hole Gemstone strand with faceted round beads.

Crystal Quartz 8mm Round Faceted - Large Hole Beads

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$21.00

$21.00 - $21.00

$21.00

Crystal Quartz is a naturally occurring clear and colorless Quartz. It is a crystalline form of Quartz said to have many divine properties includin...

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$21.00 - $21.00

$21.00

$21.00 - $21.00

$21.00

This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Dog Teeth Amethyst Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads in 8 inch strand.

Dog Teeth Amethyst 8mm Round Large Hole 8-Inch

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$13.00

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$13.00

Dog Teeth Amethyst has a purple and white striped appearance due to its combination of Amethyst and White Quartz. The name derives from the recurri...

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This is a Dakota Stones 10mm Elephant Skin Jasper Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads.

Elephant Skin Jasper 10mm Round - Large Hole Beads

$15.00 - $15.00

$15.00

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$15.00

Elephant Skin Jasper, also known as Calligraphy Stone or Miriam Stone, features intricate light brown patterns on dark brown stones. Each stone is ...

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$15.00 - $15.00

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$15.00

This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Elephant Skin Jasper Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads.

Elephant Skin Jasper 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads

$13.00 - $13.00

$13.00

$13.00 - $13.00

$13.00

Elephant Skin Jasper, also known as Calligraphy Stone or Miriam Stone, features intricate light brown patterns on dark brown stones. Each stone is ...

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$13.00 - $13.00

$13.00

$13.00 - $13.00

$13.00

This is a Dakota Stones 5x8mm Flower Agate Large Hole Gemstone strand with faceted rondelle beads in 8 inch strand.

Flower Agate 5x8mm Large Hole Faceted Rondelle - 8 Inch

$22.00 - $22.00

$22.00

$22.00 - $22.00

$22.00

Flower Agate is a type of Agate with opaque Chalcedony inclusions that resemble tiny floral formations. This mineral is a recent find out of Madaga...

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This is a Dakota Stones 6mm Flower Agate Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads in 8 inch strand.

Flower Agate 6mm Large Hole Round - 8 Inch

$13.00 - $13.00

$13.00

$13.00 - $13.00

$13.00

Flower Agate is a type of Agate with opaque Chalcedony inclusions that resemble tiny floral formations. This mineral is a recent find out of Madaga...

View full details

$13.00 - $13.00

$13.00

$13.00 - $13.00

$13.00

This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Flower Agate Large Hole Gemstone strand with faceted round beads in 8 inch strand.

Flower Agate 8mm Large Hole Faceted Round - 8 Inch

$20.00 - $20.00

$20.00

$20.00 - $20.00

$20.00

Flower Agate is a type of Agate with opaque Chalcedony inclusions that resemble tiny floral formations. This mineral is a recent find out of Madaga...

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$20.00 - $20.00

$20.00

$20.00 - $20.00

$20.00

This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Flower Agate Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads in 8 inch strand.

Flower Agate 8mm Large Hole Round - 8 Inch

$15.00 - $15.00

$15.00

$15.00 - $15.00

$15.00

Flower Agate is a type of Agate with opaque Chalcedony inclusions that resemble tiny floral formations. This mineral is a recent find out of Madaga...

View full details

$15.00 - $15.00

$15.00

$15.00 - $15.00

$15.00

This is a Dakota Stones 8mm Petoskey Fossil Stone Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads in 8 inch strand.

$19.00

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$19.00

Unlike most gemstones found within the Earth, pearls are organic. Simply, they grow inside the shells of certain species of oysters and clams. Some...

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Gemstone beads with 2mm and 2.5mm holes

A standard gemstone bead is drilled at 0.8mm to 1.2mm, sized for beading wire and silk. These are drilled at 2mm on the 6mm beads and 2.5mm on the 8mm and 10mm — a bore that takes 1.5mm and 2mm leather, waxed cotton, satin cord and fine macramé cord. The drilling is ultrasonic, a fine abrasive driven through the stone by high-frequency vibration, so the hole runs straight and one width from end to end with a clean edge. The bead itself is the same stone, the same cut and polish as the standard strand — only the hole changes.

Large hole pearls, turquoise, quartz, agate and jasper

The strands run across the stone range. Quartz carries the largest share — crystal, rose, smoky and rutilated — with amethyst, amazonite, lapis, sodalite and tiger eye beside it; jasper and agate bring the patterned stones, picture and red creek jasper, Botswana, blue lace and crazy lace agate; labradorite, aquamarine, garnet, jade, rhodonite, African turquoise, lava and obsidian fill out the rest. Freshwater pearls come drilled the same way, potato, rice and button shapes at 2mm, in white and in dyed colors. Most of the stone is natural; carnelian and onyx are the traditional heated-and-dyed exceptions, and African turquoise is stabilized.

6mm, 8mm and 10mm on 8-inch strands — for leather cord and macramé

Three sizes do most of the work: 6mm on a 2mm hole for finer cord and lighter pieces, 8mm as the everyday size, 10mm where a piece wants weight. Rounds carry the range — smooth, faceted or matte — with faceted rondelles beside them and 10x14mm barrels for a long bead on cord. Strands are 8 inches — about twenty-five 8mm beads, a leather bracelet's worth. On 1.5mm to 2mm leather the beads slide, so a knot on either side holds each one in place; on 1mm to 2mm macramé cord they take square knots and sliding closures. Hardness runs from the softer pearls and howlite up to Mohs 6.5–7 on the quartz family and agate, so the softer strands keep clear of water and perfume.

Frequently asked questions

What is a large hole bead and what cord fits through it?

A large hole bead is drilled at 2mm or wider, where a standard gemstone bead is drilled at about 0.8mm to 1.2mm for beading wire and silk. The wider bore takes cord: 1mm and 1.5mm round leather, 2mm round or flat leather, waxed cotton, satin (rat-tail) cord, hemp and macramé cord in the 1mm to 2mm range, or several strands of a fine cord together. Cord should pass freely — stone holes do not stretch — so match the cord to the listed hole size with a little clearance.
What hole size do large hole gemstone beads have?

Two bores cover nearly everything: 2mm on the 6mm beads and 2.5mm on the 8mm and 10mm beads. Freshwater pearls are drilled at 2mm. Some strands are listed as 2–2.5mm where the bore varies bead to bead within that range, and a few run 2–3mm. The drilling is ultrasonic, so the hole holds one width from end to end with a clean edge, and the hole size is given on each listing beside the bead size.
What are large hole beads used for?

Leather cord is the main use: bracelets and necklaces on 1.5mm to 2mm round leather, with the beads knotted in place or left to slide. Macramé and knotted jewelry on 1mm to 2mm cord is the second, the beads worked into square knots, half hitches and sliding closures. They also string on satin and rat-tail cord, waxed cotton, hemp, micro paracord and kumihimo braids fine enough to pass a 2mm hole, and one bead on a knotted cord is a finished piece by itself. Because the cord carries the bead, a piece sits and drapes with more movement than one strung tight on wire.
Which gemstones come with large holes?

Most of the stone range has been drilled this way at one time or another — more than a hundred stones over the life of the line. The quartz family is the largest group: crystal, rose, smoky and rutilated quartz, with amethyst beside them. Jaspers and agates follow — picture, red creek, ocean and impression jasper; Botswana, blue lace, crazy lace and flower agate — then amazonite, lapis, sodalite, tiger eye, aventurine, jade, rhodonite, labradorite, aquamarine, garnet, African turquoise, obsidian, onyx, carnelian, howlite and lava, plus freshwater pearl in potato, rice, button and baroque shapes. Most are natural; dyed, heated or stabilized strands are labelled where known, and the man-made glass beads — opalite, goldstone — are named as such.
What size cord fits a 2mm or 2.5mm hole?

Allow clearance. A 2mm hole passes 1mm and 1.5mm round leather and most 1mm to 1.5mm cords; a 2.5mm hole passes 2mm round leather, 2mm flat leather on edge, or two strands of 1mm cord. Leather is rarely perfectly round, so the cord should slide through without forcing. Bead diameter is a separate measure — an 8mm and a 10mm bead here share the same 2.5mm bore — so diameter sets the look and weight of a piece while the hole sets the cord. A knot in 1.5mm to 2mm leather is wider than the hole, which is what holds a bead in place on cord.