Large Hole Beads

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.