Naturals: Wood, Pearls, Shell, & Amber Beads
Natural beads bring warmth and life that even the finest gemstones can’t replicate. Our Naturals collection gathers organic materials—wood, pearls, shells, amber and more—each simply shaped, polished and drilled to showcase its native color, grain or iridescence.
Browse honey-glow Baltic amber, richly patterned rosewood and sandalwood, luminous freshwater pearls, creamy mother-of-pearl buttons, wampum and spiny oyster shells, plus ethically sourced coral accents. Strands run 8 or 15 inches and feature clean 0.5 – 1.0 mm holes that slide easily onto standard beading wire, cord or silk.
Blend these naturals with gemstone rounds for earthy contrast, string an all-wood mala for lightweight comfort, or spotlight a single iridescent shell focal in coastal-themed earrings. Every strand is inspected in Minnesota for color, surface quality and drilling accuracy, so you can design with confidence and let nature’s own palette do the talking.
Ancient Glass 4x6-6x16mm Multi Color Tube Bangle Beads - 15-16 Inch
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Ancient glass from Pakistan, particularly from archaeological sites like those in the Swat Valley, has been excavated and repurposed into contempor...
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Ancient Glass 5x8-8x20mm Blue Tube Bangle Beads - 16-17 Inch
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Ancient glass from Pakistan, particularly from archaeological sites like those in the Swat Valley, has been excavated and repurposed into contempor...
View full details
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$31.00
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Lions Paw 4mm Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
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Lions Paw 3x5mm Tube - 15-16 Inch
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The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
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Lions Paw 3x5mm Light Orange/White Tube - 15-16 Inch
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The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
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Lions Paw 8mm Orange/Purple Rondelle 15-16 Inch
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The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
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Lions Paw 4x6mm Orange/Purple Rice - 15-16 Inch
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The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
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Lions Paw 8mm Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
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Lions Paw 4x6mm Light Orange Rice - 15-16 Inch - CLEARANCE
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The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
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Lions Paw 6mm Purple Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
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Lions Paw 4x6mm Rice - 15-16 Inch
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The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
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Lions Paw 6mm Light Purple Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
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Lions Paw 6mm Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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The lion's paw scallop is a species that consists of large scallop shells with ridges and bumps that have a rough texture. The shell is known for i...
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Green Turban Snail 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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The green turban shell, also known as Turbo marmoratus, is a large marine snail characterized by its distinctive, heavy, and often marbled green sh...
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Mother Of Pearl 12mm Black Donut - 15-16 Inch
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Mother of Pearl, also known as Nacre, is an iridescent composite of organic and inorganic material most known for being the coating of pearls. It i...
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Spiny Oyster 3mm Red Heishi - 15-16 Inch
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Spiny Oyster 5x7mm Red Barrel - 15-16 Inch
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Spiny Oyster 3mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch
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Mosaic 15mm Inlay Coin - Abalone, Coral, & Gaspeite - 15-16 Inch
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These detailed inlay coin beads have a variety of stones such as Abalone, Coral, Gaspeite, Turquoise, Jet, and Mother Of Pearl.
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Mosaic 20mm Inlay Coin - Coral, Gaspeite, & Abalone - 15-16 Inch
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These detailed inlay coin beads have a variety of stones such as Coral, Gaspeite, Coral, Abalone, MOP, and Turquoise.
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Tiger Cowrie 25x30mm Puff Tab - 15-16 Inch
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Freshwater Pearl 2-3mm White Rice Pearls - 15-16 Inch
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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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Freshwater Pearl 3-5mm White Crispy Rice Pearls - 15-16 Inch
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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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Freshwater Pearl 2.5mm White Potato Pearls - 15-16 Inch
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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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Freshwater Pearl 2-3x4mm White Potato Pearls - 15-16 Inch
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Unlike most gemstones found within the Earth, pearls are organic. Simply, they grow inside the shells of certain species of oysters and clams. Some...
View full details
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Mosaic 20mm Inlay Coin - Mother Of Pearl & Spiny - 8 Inch
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Mosaic 20mm Inlay Coin - Abalone & Mother Of Pearl - 8 Inch
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Mosaic 20mm Inlay Coin - Abalone & Spiny Oyster - 8 Inch
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Mosaic 20mm Inlay Coin - Mother Of Pearl/Spiny Oyster/Jet - 8 Inch
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Spiny Oyster 8-20mm Purple Graduated Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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Spiny Oyster 12mm Free Form Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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Spiny Oyster 7mm Free Form Square - 15-16 Inch
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Spiny Oyster 8x11mm Triangle - 8 Inch
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Turquoise and Spiny Oyster 4mm Heishi -15-16 Inch
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Turquoise is an ancient gemstone, one of the first known to man. Known to Egyptian and Aztec cultures thousands of years ago, Turquoise is now mine...
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Mother of Pearl 10mm A Grade Coin Cabochon
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Mother of Pearl, also known as Nacre, is an iridescent composite of organic and inorganic material most known for being the coating of pearls. It i...
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Mother of Pearl 12mm A Grade Coin Cabochon
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Mother of Pearl, also known as Nacre, is an iridescent composite of organic and inorganic material most known for being the coating of pearls. It i...
View full details
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Mother of Pearl 15mm A Grade Coin Cabochon
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Mother of Pearl, also known as Nacre, is an iridescent composite of organic and inorganic material most known for being the coating of pearls. It i...
View full details
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$13.00
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Natural White Wood 8mm Round Bead- 15-16 Inch
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Like all of Dakota Stones items, our wood beads are top quality and sourced from the best ethically produced manufacturers. Natural wood beads have...
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Coral 6-10mm Rice Golden - 15-16 Inch
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Coral is the skeletons of once to living sea coral, composed of hard calcium carbonate, colored by carotenoids. The colors of coral are permanent a...
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Hammer Shell 5mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch
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Sea shells are one of our most ancient decorations. Our prehistoric ancestors used to string them into necklaces or hang them from cords as pendant...
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Brown Lip Shell 5mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch
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Sea shells are one of our most ancient decorations. Our prehistoric ancestors used to string them into necklaces or hang them from cords as pendant...
View full details
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$6.00
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$6.00
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Wampum Shell 6mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch
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Wampum is made from one of the hardest and most beautiful shells in the world: the Northern Quahog, a clam found along the New England coast. The w...
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Mother of Pearl 10mm Puff Star Black - 15-16 Inch
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Mother of Pearl, also known as Nacre, is an iridescent composite of organic and inorganic material most known for being the coating of pearls. It i...
View full details
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$76.00
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$76.00
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Shiva Eye Shell 8x10mm Puff Oval - 15-16 Inch
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Shiva Eye shells—also known as Pacific Cat’s Eye or Operculum—are the protective "door" of Turban snails, found in Thailand/Indonesia. They symboli...
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Abalone Shell 15mm Flat Coin - 15-16 Inch
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Abalone Shell is strong and is made of stacked calcium carbonate tiles. When the abalone shell is struck, the tiles slide instead of shattering abs...
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40mm Mixed Gemstone and Shell Mosaic Pendant Pair
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These mosaic inlay pendant pairs feature bold geometric patterns created from a mix of natural shell, gemstone, abalone, mother of pearl, turquoise...
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40mm Turquoise Blue, Pearl, and Howlite Mosaic Pendant Pair
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These mosaic inlay pendant pairs feature bold geometric patterns created from a mix of natural shell, gemstone, abalone, mother of pearl, turquoise...
View full details
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40mm Turquoise Blue, Pearl, and Coral Mosaic Pendant Pair
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These mosaic inlay pendant pairs feature bold geometric patterns created from a mix of natural shell, gemstone, abalone, mother of pearl, turquoise...
View full details
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Eight hardwoods, one warm palette
Named Southeast Asian species, bayong, rosewood, graywood, nangka, robles, bahi palm, madre de cacao, whitewood, in natural finish, so the grain does the talking.
Wood's light weight keeps statement earrings, long necklaces, and malas comfortable, and the larger drill holes take cord and leather. Stocked in 4mm–10mm rounds with rondelles in select species.
Wood's light weight keeps statement earrings, long necklaces, and malas comfortable, and the larger drill holes take cord and leather. Stocked in 4mm–10mm rounds with rondelles in select species.
Every shape in the pearl vocabulary
Real cultured freshwater pearls in potato, rice, keshi, coin, and baroque, from 2mm seed pearls for delicate layering to 20mm Edison and baroque focals.
Natural whites, pinks, and lavenders sit alongside clearly labeled dyed peacocks and coppers, and a large-hole range strings straight onto leather and cord.
Natural whites, pinks, and lavenders sit alongside clearly labeled dyed peacocks and coppers, and a large-hole range strings straight onto leather and cord.
Southwest color, straight from the shell
The classic partner to turquoise: Spondylus shell from the Sea of Cortez in natural red, orange, and rare purple, color that runs through the bead, no dye.
Heishi, rondelles, rounds, and carved clovers, flowers, and stars, plus ready-made spiny-and-turquoise mix strands for instant Southwest palettes.
Heishi, rondelles, rounds, and carved clovers, flowers, and stars, plus ready-made spiny-and-turquoise mix strands for instant Southwest palettes.
Frequently asked questions
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What counts as a 'natural' in this collection?
Naturals here are organic or biogenic gem materials — formed by a living organism or plant rather than by geologic mineralization. Pearl and Shell come from mollusks, Coral and Fossil Coral from marine colonies, Amber from fossilized tree resin, Wood from trees, and Bone and Horn from animal sources. Mineralogically these aren't gemstones in the strict sense (no crystal structure, lower Mohs hardness, often porous), but they've been used as drilled bead material for centuries. Mineral varieties like Agate, Jasper, and Quartz live in the main gemstone categories. If you want stone-like density and hardness, shop those instead; if you want organic warmth and color range, this is the right hub. -
Which materials does Dakota stock under Naturals?
Active inventory includes Pearl (freshwater, the deepest assortment), Natural Shell, Spiny Oyster (Mexican shell with orange-to-purple color range), Lion's Paw (scallop shell), Wood beads in several species, Coral and Fossil Coral, Amber, Natural Horn, and Bone. Cuts trend toward round, rondelle, heishi and tyre, coin, rice, and tube — shapes that suit the working material. Size availability concentrates between 4mm and 10mm for most stones, with larger 20mm focals in Wood and Shell. Specific origin, species, or shell type should be disclosed; ask before buying if the listing doesn't specify and you need it confirmed for a build. -
How does care differ from mineral gemstone beads?
Organic materials are softer (Pearl ~2.5–4.5 Mohs, Amber ~2–2.5, Coral ~3–4) and more porous than mineral stones, so they react to things mineral beads shrug off. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners, hot water, perfume, hairspray, and household solvents — these can strip surface luster, dull polish, or etch the material. Light exposure can fade dyed Pearl, Coral, and Wood over time; store strung pieces out of direct sun. Wipe with a soft damp cloth and dry fully before storage. String on silk or nylon, knotted between pearls when possible, and restring periodically since cord absorbs body oils faster than with mineral beads. -
What treatments are common on organic materials?
Treatment is common across this category and usually disclosed at the product level. Freshwater Pearl is routinely bleached to even tone and often dyed for color; nucleation method varies by farm. Coral is frequently dyed, and dyed Coral should be labeled as such. Amber on the market is often pressure-formed (reconstituted) or heat-clarified — natural untreated Amber exists but commands different pricing. Wood beads are typically sealed, stained, or waxed. Shell may be dyed or coated. Treatment status should be disclosed; ask before buying if it isn't specified and disclosure matters for your customer or for a treatment-sensitive design. -
Can organic naturals be paired with mineral gemstone beads?
Yes, and the hardness gap is the main thing to plan around. Pairing Pearl (Mohs 2.5–4.5) with Agate or Jasper (Mohs 6.5–7) in the same strand means the softer material wears faster at contact points — use spacers, knots, or metal beads between them to reduce abrasion. Drill-hole sizes also vary: Pearl is often half-drilled or small-hole, while mineral rondelles run 1mm standard, so check compatibility with your stringing material. Visually, Pearl and Shell read as neutrals against most stones; Wood and Amber warm up cool mineral palettes like Amazonite or Aquamarine; Spiny Oyster bridges into Carnelian and red Jasper builds.