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Large Hole Beads

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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Products: 288

Mookaite 6mm Round - Large Hole Beads

Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
Original price $9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
Current price $9.00

Mookaite is a variety of Jasper in colors of red, burgundy, pink, mauve, purple, yellow and white. It takes its name from Mooka Creek, near the Ken...

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Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
Original price $9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
Current price $9.00

Mookaite 6mm Round Faceted - Large Hole Beads

Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
Current price $12.00

Mookaite is a variety of Jasper in colors of red, burgundy, pink, mauve, purple, yellow and white. It takes its name from Mooka Creek, near the Ken...

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Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
Current price $12.00

Mookaite 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads

Original price $11.00 - Original price $11.00
Original price $11.00
$11.00
$11.00 - $11.00
Current price $11.00

Mookaite is a variety of Jasper in colors of red, burgundy, pink, mauve, purple, yellow and white. It takes its name from Mooka Creek, near the Ken...

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Original price $11.00 - Original price $11.00
Original price $11.00
$11.00
$11.00 - $11.00
Current price $11.00

Mookaite 8mm Round Faceted - Large Hole Beads

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

Mookaite is a variety of Jasper in colors of red, burgundy, pink, mauve, purple, yellow and white. It takes its name from Mooka Creek, near the Ken...

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

Multi Rhutilated Quartz 8mm Faceted Rondelle Large Hole (2-2.5mm) 8-Inch - CLEARANCE

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

Multi Tourmaline 10mm Round Large Hole Beads - 8-inch

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

Tourmaline is classified as a semiprecious stone and occurs in a vast array of colors, everything from colorless to black, from pastel to bright to...

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

Multi Tourmaline 8mm Faceted Round Large Hole - 8-inch - CLEARANCE

Original price $29.00 - Original price $29.00
Original price $29.00
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
Current price $29.00

Tourmaline is classified as a semiprecious stone and occurs in a vast array of colors, everything from colorless to black, from pastel to bright to...

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Original price $29.00 - Original price $29.00
Original price $29.00
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
Current price $29.00

Multi Tourmaline 8mm Round Large Hole Beads - 8-inch

Original price $25.00 - Original price $25.00
Original price $25.00
$25.00
$25.00 - $25.00
Current price $25.00

Tourmaline is classified as a semiprecious stone and occurs in a vast array of colors, everything from colorless to black, from pastel to bright to...

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Original price $25.00 - Original price $25.00
Original price $25.00
$25.00
$25.00 - $25.00
Current price $25.00

Onyx 10mm Round Large Hole 8-Inch

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

Onyx is a black and white banded Chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline Quartz. It is often thought of as an all-black stone, and much of the black Onyx o...

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

Onyx 8mm Faceted Rondelle Large Hole 8-Inch

Original price $19.00 - Original price $19.00
Original price $19.00
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
Current price $19.00

Onyx is a black and white banded Chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline Quartz. It is often thought of as an all-black stone, and much of the black Onyx o...

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Original price $19.00 - Original price $19.00
Original price $19.00
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
Current price $19.00

Onyx 8mm Round Large Hole 8-Inch

Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
Current price $12.00

Onyx is a black and white banded Chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline Quartz. It is often thought of as an all-black stone, and much of the black Onyx o...

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Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
Current price $12.00

Opalite 8mm Faceted Large Hole Round - 8-inch - CLEARANCE

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

Opalite is the trade name for man to made glass treated to exhibit the internal flashes of true Opals in translucent samples, and opalescence or lu...

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

Opalite Large Hole 10mm Round - 8-inch

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

Opalite is the trade name for man to made glass treated to exhibit the internal flashes of true Opals in translucent samples, and opalescence or lu...

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

Opalite Large Hole 8mm Rondelle - 8-inch - CLEARANCE

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

Opalite is the trade name for man to made glass treated to exhibit the internal flashes of true Opals in translucent samples, and opalescence or lu...

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

Opalite Large Hole 8mm Round - 8-inch

Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
Current price $12.00

Opalite is the trade name for man to made glass treated to exhibit the internal flashes of true Opals in translucent samples, and opalescence or lu...

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Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
Current price $12.00

Orange Garnet 6mm Round - Large Hole Beads

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

Orange or Hessonite Garnet is sometimes called “Cinnamon Stone” for its orange to orange to brown color as well as for its origin in the land of sp...

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

Orange Garnet 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads

Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
Original price $18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
Current price $18.00

Orange or Hessonite Garnet is sometimes called “Cinnamon Stone” for its orange to orange to brown color as well as for its origin in the land of sp...

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Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
Original price $18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
Current price $18.00

Orange Garnet 8mm Round Faceted - Large Hole Beads

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

Orange or Hessonite Garnet is sometimes called “Cinnamon Stone” for its orange to orange to brown color as well as for its origin in the land of sp...

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

Outback Jasper 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads

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

Outback Jasper is a milky white to light pink to golden brown stone, with striking patterns that may resemble birch bark or wood grain. Jaspers are...

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

Picture Jasper 10x14mm Barrel - Large Hole Beads

Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
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Current price $12.00

Picture Jasper is a form of brown Jasper characterized by its unique banding and flow patterns created by petrified or silicate mud and occasional ...

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Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
Current price $12.00

Picture Jasper 8mm Round Large Hole 8-Inch

Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
Current price $12.00

Picture Jasper is a form of brown Jasper characterized by its unique banding and flow patterns created by petrified or silicate mud and occasional ...

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Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
Current price $12.00

Picture Jasper Natural 6mm Round Large Hole Beads - 8 Inch

Original price $10.00 - Original price $10.00
Original price $10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
Current price $10.00

Picture Jasper is a form of brown Jasper characterized by its unique banding and flow patterns created by petrified or silicate mud and occasional ...

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Original price $10.00 - Original price $10.00
Original price $10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
Current price $10.00

Pietersite 10mm Round - Large Hole Beads

Original price $28.00 - Original price $28.00
Original price $28.00
$28.00
$28.00 - $28.00
Current price $28.00

Pietersite has been called the Tempest Stone for its colors of deep blue and gray with metallic gold and flashes of brilliant chatoyancy as it catc...

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Original price $28.00 - Original price $28.00
Original price $28.00
$28.00
$28.00 - $28.00
Current price $28.00

Pietersite 6mm Round - Large Hole Beads

Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
Original price $18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
Current price $18.00

Pietersite has been called the Tempest Stone for its colors of deep blue and gray with metallic gold and flashes of brilliant chatoyancy as it catc...

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Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
Original price $18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
Current price $18.00

Pietersite 8mm Faceted Rondelle Large Hole 8-Inch

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

Pietersite has been called the Tempest Stone for its colors of deep blue and gray with metallic gold and flashes of brilliant chatoyancy as it catc...

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

Pink Opal 6mm Round - Large Hole Beads

Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
Original price $18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
Current price $18.00

Pink Opal is a variety of non to precious opal, meaning that it has lustre and some translucency without the fire or color play associated with pre...

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Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
Original price $18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
Current price $18.00

Pink Opal 6mm Round Faceted - Large Hole Beads - CLEARANCE

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

Pink Opal is a variety of non to precious opal, meaning that it has lustre and some translucency without the fire or color play associated with pre...

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

Pink Opal 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads

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

Pink Opal is a variety of non to precious opal, meaning that it has lustre and some translucency without the fire or color play associated with pre...

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

Rainbow Jade 5x8mm Large Hole Faceted Rondelle - 8 Inch

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

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...

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

Rainbow Jade 6mm Large Hole Round - 8 Inch

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

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...

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

Rainbow Jade 8mm Large Hole Round - 8 Inch

Original price $16.00 - Original price $16.00
Original price $16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
Current price $16.00

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...

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Original price $16.00 - Original price $16.00
Original price $16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
Current price $16.00

Rainbow Obsidian 10mm Round - Large Hole Beads

Original price $13.00 - Original price $13.00
Original price $13.00
$13.00
$13.00 - $13.00
Current price $13.00

Rainbow Obsidian earned its name from the chatoyant, rainbow effect of light refracting off of the air buddles inside of the stone. Like all obsidi...

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Original price $13.00 - Original price $13.00
Original price $13.00
$13.00
$13.00 - $13.00
Current price $13.00

Rainbow Obsidian 6mm Round - Large Hole Beads

Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
Original price $9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
Current price $9.00

Rainbow Obsidian earned its name from the chatoyant, rainbow effect of light refracting off of the air buddles inside of the stone. Like all obsidi...

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Original price $9.00 - Original price $9.00
Original price $9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
Current price $9.00

Rainbow Obsidian 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads

Original price $11.00 - Original price $11.00
Original price $11.00
$11.00
$11.00 - $11.00
Current price $11.00

Rainbow Obsidian earned its name from the chatoyant, rainbow effect of light refracting off of the air buddles inside of the stone. Like all obsidi...

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Original price $11.00 - Original price $11.00
Original price $11.00
$11.00
$11.00 - $11.00
Current price $11.00

Red Brecciated Jasper 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads

Original price $13.00 - Original price $13.00
Original price $13.00
$13.00
$13.00 - $13.00
Current price $13.00

Red Brecciated Jasper is typically found in deep red, black, rust and cream hues, which form fragmented patterns throughout the stone. The name der...

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Original price $13.00 - Original price $13.00
Original price $13.00
$13.00
$13.00 - $13.00
Current price $13.00

Red Creek Jasper 6mm Round Large Hole Beads - 8 Inch

Original price $11.00 - Original price $11.00
Original price $11.00
$11.00
$11.00 - $11.00
Current price $11.00

Red Creek Jasper is named for the Red River in china where the stone was recently discovered. Its colors include burnt red, mustard yellow, olive g...

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Original price $11.00 - Original price $11.00
Original price $11.00
$11.00
$11.00 - $11.00
Current price $11.00

Red Creek Jasper 6mm Round Matte Large Hole Beads - 8 Inch

Original price $10.00 - Original price $10.00
Original price $10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
Current price $10.00

Red Creek Jasper is named for the Red River in china where the stone was recently discovered. Its colors include burnt red, mustard yellow, olive g...

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Original price $10.00 - Original price $10.00
Original price $10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
Current price $10.00

Red Creek Jasper 8mm Faceted Rondelle Large Hole 8-Inch

Original price $16.00 - Original price $16.00
Original price $16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
Current price $16.00

Red Creek Jasper is named for the Red River in china where the stone was recently discovered. Its colors include burnt red, mustard yellow, olive g...

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Original price $16.00 - Original price $16.00
Original price $16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
Current price $16.00

Red Creek Jasper 8mm Round Large Hole 8-Inch

Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
Current price $12.00

Red Creek Jasper is named for the Red River in China where the stone was recently discovered. Its colors include burnt red, mustard yellow, olive g...

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Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
Current price $12.00

Red Garnet 6mm Round - Large Hole Beads

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

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...

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

Red Garnet 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads

Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
Original price $18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
Current price $18.00

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...

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Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
Original price $18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
Current price $18.00

Red Garnet Natural 4X6mm Rondelle Faceted - Large Hole Beads

Original price $20.00 - Original price $20.00
Original price $20.00
$20.00
$20.00 - $20.00
Current price $20.00

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...

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Original price $20.00 - Original price $20.00
Original price $20.00
$20.00
$20.00 - $20.00
Current price $20.00

Red Jasper Natural 6mm Round Matte Large Hole Beads - 8 Inch

Original price $10.00 - Original price $10.00
Original price $10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
Current price $10.00

Red Jasper is an aggregate of microcrystalline quartz and/or chalcedony and other minerals. The opaque stone’s red color is due to high iron conten...

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Original price $10.00 - Original price $10.00
Original price $10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
Current price $10.00

Red Tiger Eye 8mm Round Large Hole 8-Inch

Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
Current price $12.00

Red Tiger Eye is actually Brown Tiger Eye which has been heat treated to bring out the red color. This macrocrystalline Quartz stone has chatoyant ...

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Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
Current price $12.00

Rhodonite 10mm Round With Matrix - Large Hole Beads

Original price $13.00 - Original price $13.00
Original price $13.00
$13.00
$13.00 - $13.00
Current price $13.00

Rhodonite, whose name is derived from the Greek word for Rose, “rhodon,” is known for its pink, red and magenta hues. A Manganese inosilicate (or c...

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Original price $13.00 - Original price $13.00
Original price $13.00
$13.00
$13.00 - $13.00
Current price $13.00

Rhodonite 8mm Round With Matrix - Large Hole Beads

Original price $11.00 - Original price $11.00
Original price $11.00
$11.00
$11.00 - $11.00
Current price $11.00

Rhodonite, whose name is derived from the Greek word for Rose, “rhodon,” is known for its pink, red and magenta hues. A Manganese inosilicate (or c...

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Original price $11.00 - Original price $11.00
Original price $11.00
$11.00
$11.00 - $11.00
Current price $11.00

Rhodonite Large Hole 10mm Round - 8-inch

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

Rhodonite, whose name is derived from the Greek word for Rose, “rhodon,” is known for its pink, red and magenta hues. A Manganese inosilicate (...

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

Rhodonite Large Hole 8mm Round - 8-inch

Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
Current price $12.00

Rhodonite, whose name is derived from the Greek word for Rose, “rhodon,” is known for its pink, red and magenta hues. A Manganese inosilicate (...

View full details
Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
Current price $12.00
Gemstone beads with 2mm and 2.5mm holes

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

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

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.