Marquise Beads

Frequently asked questions

• What is a marquise bead?

  A marquise bead is a pointed-oval shape — also called navette — drilled lengthwise through the long axis so the two tapered points sit at either end of the bead hole. The silhouette is symmetrical, wider at the center and narrowing to a point on each end. Marquise beads can be smooth/polished or faceted, and Dakota stocks both finishes depending on the stone. Because the shape carries a directional axis, marquise beads read as deliberate design elements rather than spacers, and they pair well with rounds, rondelles, and drops where you want movement or a leaf-like rhythm.
• What sizes does Dakota stock in marquise?

  Marquise sizing is given as width × length in millimeters. Current stock spans roughly 6x13mm on the small end up through 14x30mm on the large end, with calibrated runs at 7x15–10x22mm, 8x16–10x21mm, 8x19–11x29mm, 10x20–14x25mm, 13x25–15x26mm, 13x26–15x30mm, and 14x25–16x30mm. Within a single strand, expect mild variation in width and length — marquise is hand-shaped from rough, so it does not calibrate as tightly as machine-cut rounds. Exact dimensions, count per strand, and drill size should appear on each listing.
• What stones come in marquise at Dakota?

  The marquise stock leans toward stones that take a clean polish on a tapered shape: Petrified Wood is the largest group with five products, followed by Moonstone (three), Agate (two), and single runs in Labradorite, Opal, Cuprite, Natural Shell, Green Aventurine, and Chrysoprase. Treatment, origin, and finish vary by stone — Agate is often dyed or heat-treated, Petrified Wood is typically natural, and stabilization may apply to softer materials. Treatment should be disclosed; ask before buying if it isn't specified for the strand you're looking at.
• What jewelry is marquise best suited for?

  Marquise works best where the pointed-oval silhouette can read clearly: focal positions on bracelets, statement necklaces, and earrings where the bead sits flat against the body. Strung end-to-end the points create a leaf-like or chevron rhythm — useful for botanical, vintage, or Art Deco motifs. Larger sizes (13x25mm and up) function as standalone pendants or earring drops. Smaller marquise (6x13mm, 7x15mm) string well in repeating patterns with 4–6mm rounds or rondelles between them to soften the point-to-point transition.
• Why is marquise harder to source than rounds or rondelles?

  Marquise is a low-yield cut. The pointed oval has to be shaped from rough that already has the length and width to support both tapered ends without chipping, which rules out a lot of material that would yield rounds or rondelles fine. The points themselves are fragile during drilling, so loss rates run higher. That's why marquise stock at Dakota stays in the 15–20 product range across the catalog rather than the hundreds seen in round and rondelle, and why size availability is uneven — when a calibrated run sells through, the next lot may come in at a different dimension.