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Round Beads

Round beads are the workhorse—and showpiece—of jewelry design. Our All Rounds collection spans more than 100 natural stone types, each offered in graduated sizes from 4 mm to 12 mm so you can build seamless strands, stackable bracelets, or accent rows without hunting for a match.
What sets Dakota rounds apart is the one-batch method: we cut every size you see from the same parcel of rough, then sort by diameter in a single production run. That “Dakota Way” means a 6 mm lapis bead and its 10 mm big brother share identical hue and pattern, giving finished pieces a professional, color-true flow.
Every sphere is diamond-ground to perfect symmetry, hand-polished for a glassy finish, and visually graded to Dakota Stones standards before it ships. Stock up on crowd-pleasers like Amazonite, Kyanite, Jasper, and Quartz—or branch into rarities such as Variscite or Shattuckite—confident that each round will string, drape, and wear with the consistency designers trust.

Aquamarine 3.5mm Faceted Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $24.00 - Original price $24.00
Original price $24.00
$24.00 - $24.00
Current price $24.00
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Aquamarine is a transparent to translucent stone ranging from cerulean blue to light blue in higher grades. In lower grades it can be transparent t...

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Original price $24.00 - Original price $24.00
Original price $24.00
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Current price $24.00
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Aquamarine 4mm Round Faceted A Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $21.00 - Original price $21.00
Original price $21.00
$21.00 - $21.00
Current price $21.00
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Aquamarine is a transparent to translucent stone ranging from cerulean blue to light blue in higher grades. In lower grades it can be transparent t...

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Original price $21.00 - Original price $21.00
Original price $21.00
$21.00 - $21.00
Current price $21.00
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Pietersite 4mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $21.00 - Original price $21.00
Original price $21.00
$21.00 - $21.00
Current price $21.00
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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 $21.00 - Original price $21.00
Original price $21.00
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Current price $21.00
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Blue Lace Agate 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads

Original price $30.00 - Original price $30.00
Original price $30.00
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Current price $30.00
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Blue Lace Agate is a naturally occuring soft blue agate, laced with bands or swirls of brighter blue, periwinkle, white and occasionally gray or br...

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Original price $30.00 - Original price $30.00
Original price $30.00
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Current price $30.00
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Sunset Dumortierite 6mm Faceted Round - Large Hole Beads

Original price $13.00 - Original price $13.00
Original price $13.00
$13.00 - $13.00
Current price $13.00
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Sunset Dumortierite has a much brighter palette than regular Dumortierite, from light blue to lapis blue to cobalt, as well as some occurrences of ...

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Original price $13.00 - Original price $13.00
Original price $13.00
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Current price $13.00
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Blue White Porcelain Agate 8mm Matte Round - 15-16 inch

Original price $11.00 - Original price $11.00
Original price $11.00
$11.00 - $11.00
Current price $11.00
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Porcelain Agate is a natural agate that is dyed and heated to give it the unique blue/white color and pattern that resembles porcelain.

Original price $11.00 - Original price $11.00
Original price $11.00
$11.00 - $11.00
Current price $11.00
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Kyanite Multi 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $67.00 - Original price $67.00
Original price $67.00
$67.00 - $67.00
Current price $67.00
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Kyanite often occurs as long, bladed, striated crystals, transparent or translucent with a pearly luster. An aluminum silicate mineral, it may appe...

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Original price $67.00 - Original price $67.00
Original price $67.00
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Current price $67.00
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Hemimorphite 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $20.00 - Original price $20.00
Original price $20.00
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Current price $20.00
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Most hemimorphite is found in the rocks above and surrounding zinc deposits. Hemimorphite is a favorite collector gem because it occurs in a range...

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Current price $20.00
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Dumortierite 6mm Round AAA Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $23.00 - Original price $23.00
Original price $23.00
$23.00 - $23.00
Current price $23.00
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Dumortierite is an aluminum borosilicate mineral that varies in color from blue, green and brown to the more rare violet and pink. First described ...

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Original price $23.00 - Original price $23.00
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Current price $23.00
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Tanzanite 3mm Round Faceted AAA Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $37.00 - Original price $37.00
Original price $37.00
$37.00 - $37.00
Current price $37.00
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Tanzanite is both extremely rare and extremely attractive, and we offer it when we can.

Original price $37.00 - Original price $37.00
Original price $37.00
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Current price $37.00
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Iolite 10mm Faceted Round - 15-16 Inch - CLEARANCE

Original price $30.00 - Original price $30.00
Original price $30.00
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Current price $30.00
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Iolite most commonly occurs in shades of blue to gray, violet or indigo. It displays a visual property called “pleochroism,” which means that it ca...

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Original price $30.00 - Original price $30.00
Original price $30.00
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Current price $30.00
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Hubei Turquoise Banded Brown/Blue/Black/Olive 3mm Round Faceted - 15-16 Inch

Original price $20.00 - Original price $20.00
Original price $20.00
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Current price $20.00
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Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...

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Current price $20.00
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Selenite 6mm Round Green Blue (Dyed) - 15-16 Inch

Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
Original price $18.00
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Current price $18.00
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Selenite is a crystal formed from the mineral gypsum, which comes in many forms and color variations, but has been used historically to describe th...

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Current price $18.00
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Selenite 8mm Round Green Blue (Dyed) - 15-16 Inch

Original price $22.00 - Original price $22.00
Original price $22.00
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Current price $22.00
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Selenite is a crystal formed from the mineral gypsum, which comes in many forms and color variations, but has been used historically to describe th...

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Original price $22.00 - Original price $22.00
Original price $22.00
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Current price $22.00
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Blue Kyanite 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $49.00 - Original price $49.00
Original price $49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
Current price $49.00
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Kyanite often occurs as long, bladed, striated crystals, transparent or translucent with a pearly luster. An aluminum silicate mineral, it may appe...

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Original price $49.00 - Original price $49.00
Original price $49.00
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Current price $49.00
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Aquamarine Natural 3mm Faceted Round AAA Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $17.00 - Original price $17.00
Original price $17.00
$17.00 - $17.00
Current price $17.00
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Aquamarine is a transparent to translucent stone ranging from cerulean blue to light blue in higher grades. In lower grades it can be transparent t...

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Original price $17.00 - Original price $17.00
Original price $17.00
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Current price $17.00
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Blue Apatite 10mm Round Faceted - 15-16 Inch - CLEARANCE

Original price $47.00 - Original price $47.00
Original price $47.00
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Current price $47.00
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Blue Apatite ranges in color from light teal to blue to bright blue to dark blue to green. It can be easily confused with other minerals due to its...

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Original price $47.00 - Original price $47.00
Original price $47.00
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Current price $47.00
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Blue Moonstone 8mm Round AA Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $58.00 - Original price $58.00
Original price $58.00
$58.00 - $58.00
Current price $58.00
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Moonstone naturally occurs in a broad spectrum of colors, but is most commonly associated with white, gray and peach. It's soft chatoyancy is remin...

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Original price $58.00 - Original price $58.00
Original price $58.00
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Current price $58.00
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Magnesite (Dyed) Blue 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
Original price $14.00
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Current price $14.00
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Magnesite is a soft mineral best known for being dyed to imitate other gemstones. Natural magnesite stones are usually white with a dark web-like p...

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Current price $14.00
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Blue Goldstone 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $16.00 - Original price $16.00
Original price $16.00
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Current price $16.00
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Blue Goldstone is an opaque, midnight blue glass with flecks of copper suspended within it. These flecks glitter as they catch the light and may ap...

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Original price $16.00 - Original price $16.00
Original price $16.00
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Current price $16.00
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Blue Ice Glaciertite 6mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $27.00 - Original price $27.00
Original price $27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
Current price $27.00
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Glacierite, also known as Blue Ice Glacierite or Blue Ice Nakaurite, is a rare, newly discovered mineral from Indonesia that is an accidental bypro...

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Original price $27.00 - Original price $27.00
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Current price $27.00
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Ice Amazonite 10mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $45.00 - Original price $45.00
Original price $45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
Current price $45.00
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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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Original price $45.00 - Original price $45.00
Original price $45.00
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Current price $45.00
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Larimar 3mm Faceted Round AA Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $46.00 - Original price $46.00
Original price $46.00
$46.00 - $46.00
Current price $46.00
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Larimar is a translucent blue, turquoise and white stone that can have streaks and patterns of white, as well as red or brown either from oxidation...

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Current price $46.00
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Aquamarine 10mm Round Step Cut - 15-16 Inch

Original price $28.00 - Original price $28.00
Original price $28.00
$28.00 - $28.00
Current price $28.00
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Aquamarine is a transparent to translucent stone ranging from cerulean blue to light blue in higher grades. In lower grades it can be transparent t...

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Original price $28.00 - Original price $28.00
Original price $28.00
$28.00 - $28.00
Current price $28.00
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Lapis 8mm Round Faceted - 15-16 Inch

Original price $33.00 - Original price $33.00
Original price $33.00
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Current price $33.00
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Lapis is a semi to precious stone and one of the most sought after throughout history. It is highly regarded for its beautiful blue color flecked w...

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Original price $33.00 - Original price $33.00
Original price $33.00
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Current price $33.00
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Iolite 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads

Original price $28.00 - Original price $28.00
Original price $28.00
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Current price $28.00
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Iolite most commonly occurs in shades of blue to gray, violet or indigo. It displays a visual property called “pleochroism,” which means that it ca...

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Original price $28.00 - Original price $28.00
Original price $28.00
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Current price $28.00
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Brazilian Amazonite 10mm Round - Large Hole Beads

Original price $23.00 - Original price $23.00
Original price $23.00
$23.00 - $23.00
Current price $23.00
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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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Original price $23.00 - Original price $23.00
Original price $23.00
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Current price $23.00
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Sunset Dumortierite 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
Original price $14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
Current price $14.00
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Sunset Dumortierite has a much brighter palette than regular Dumortierite, from light blue to lapis blue to cobalt, as well as some occurrences of ...

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Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
Original price $14.00
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Current price $14.00
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Dumortierite 8mm Round AAA Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $32.00 - Original price $32.00
Original price $32.00
$32.00 - $32.00
Current price $32.00
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Dumortierite is an aluminum borosilicate mineral that varies in color from blue, green and brown to the more rare violet and pink. First described ...

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Original price $32.00 - Original price $32.00
Original price $32.00
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Current price $32.00
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Iolite 6mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $22.00 - Original price $22.00
Original price $22.00
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Current price $22.00
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Iolite most commonly occurs in shades of blue to gray, violet or indigo. It displays a visual property called “pleochroism,” which means that it ca...

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Original price $22.00 - Original price $22.00
Original price $22.00
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Current price $22.00
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Blue Ice Glaciertite 8mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $45.00 - Original price $45.00
Original price $45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
Current price $45.00
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Glacierite, also known as Blue Ice Glacierite or Blue Ice Nakaurite, is a rare, newly discovered mineral from Indonesia that is an accidental bypro...

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Original price $45.00 - Original price $45.00
Original price $45.00
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Current price $45.00
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Blue Tourmaline 4mm Microfaceted Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $33.00 - Original price $33.00
Original price $33.00
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Current price $33.00
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Blue Tourmaline ranges in color from green to blue to yellow to green with black, milky white and clear, colorless inclusions. It is an aluminum bo...

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Original price $33.00 - Original price $33.00
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Current price $33.00
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Aquamarine (multi) 6mm Star Cut Round 15-16 Inch

Original price $22.00 - Original price $22.00
Original price $22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
Current price $22.00
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Aquamarine is a transparent to translucent stone ranging from cerulean blue to light blue in higher grades. In lower grades it can be transparent t...

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Original price $22.00 - Original price $22.00
Original price $22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
Current price $22.00
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Blue Moonstone 10mm Round AA Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $84.00 - Original price $84.00
Original price $84.00
$84.00 - $84.00
Current price $84.00
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Moonstone naturally occurs in a broad spectrum of colors, but is most commonly associated with white, gray and peach. It's soft chatoyancy is remin...

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Original price $84.00 - Original price $84.00
Original price $84.00
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Current price $84.00
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Russian Amazonite 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $72.00 - Original price $72.00
Original price $72.00
$72.00 - $72.00
Current price $72.00
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Russian Amazonite is a translucent blue to green to green or light green stone, occurring with inclusions of white, black or yellow. It is named fo...

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Original price $72.00 - Original price $72.00
Original price $72.00
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Current price $72.00
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Aquamarine Multi Natural 10mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $40.00 - Original price $40.00
Original price $40.00
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Current price $40.00
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Aquamarine is a transparent to translucent stone ranging from cerulean blue to light blue in higher grades. In lower grades it can be transparent t...

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Original price $40.00 - Original price $40.00
Original price $40.00
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Current price $40.00
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Peruvian Turquoise (Chrysocolla) 4mm Microfaceted Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $22.00 - Original price $22.00
Original price $22.00
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Current price $22.00
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Peruvian Turquoise is also known as Turquoise Chrysocolla. It’s attractive blue-green provides a unique color to the mineral world. Peruvian Turquo...

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Current price $22.00
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Peruvian Turquoise (Chrysocolla) 10mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $61.00 - Original price $61.00
Original price $61.00
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Current price $61.00
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Peruvian Turquoise is also known as Turquoise Chrysocolla. It’s attractive blue-green provides a unique color to the mineral world. Peruvian Turquo...

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Original price $61.00 - Original price $61.00
Original price $61.00
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Current price $61.00
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Blue Lace Agate 8mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $64.00 - Original price $64.00
Original price $64.00
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Current price $64.00
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Blue Lace Agate is a naturally occurring soft blue agate, laced with bands or swirls of brighter blue, periwinkle, white and occasionally gray or b...

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Original price $64.00 - Original price $64.00
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Current price $64.00
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K2 12mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $296.00 - Original price $296.00
Original price $296.00
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Current price $296.00
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K2 is a stone recently discovered in the foothills of the mountain for which it is named, K2, in the Karakoram mountain range of Pakistan. It is a ...

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Original price $296.00 - Original price $296.00
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Brazilian Amazonite 8mm Round Faceted - Large Hole Beads

Original price $23.00 - Original price $23.00
Original price $23.00
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Current price $23.00
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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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Original price $23.00 - Original price $23.00
Original price $23.00
$23.00 - $23.00
Current price $23.00
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Iolite 6mm Round Faceted - Large Hole Beads

Original price $24.00 - Original price $24.00
Original price $24.00
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Current price $24.00
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Iolite most commonly occurs in shades of blue to gray, violet or indigo. It displays a visual property called “pleochroism,” which means that it ca...

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Original price $24.00 - Original price $24.00
Original price $24.00
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Current price $24.00
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Opal (Dyed) 4-7x10-11mm Sky Blue Graduated Irregular Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
Original price $12.00
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Current price $12.00
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0

Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
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Current price $12.00
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Blue White Porcelain Agate 12mm Matte Round - 15-16 inch

Original price $16.00 - Original price $16.00
Original price $16.00
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Current price $16.00
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Porcelain Agate is a natural agate that is dyed and heated to give it the unique blue/white color and pattern that resembles porcelain.

Original price $16.00 - Original price $16.00
Original price $16.00
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Current price $16.00
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Sunset Dumortierite 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
Original price $18.00
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Current price $18.00
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Sunset Dumortierite has a much brighter palette than regular Dumortierite, from light blue to lapis blue to cobalt, as well as some occurrences of ...

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Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
Original price $18.00
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Current price $18.00
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Trolleite 6mm Round - 15-16 Inch

Original price $22.00 - Original price $22.00
Original price $22.00
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Current price $22.00
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Trolleite is an extremely rare aluminum phosphate mineral that crystallizes in the form of masses and small prismatic crystals. It is made up of qu...

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Iolite 4mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
Original price $18.00
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Current price $18.00
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Iolite most commonly occurs in shades of blue to gray, violet or indigo. It displays a visual property called “pleochroism,” which means that it ca...

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Original price $18.00 - Original price $18.00
Original price $18.00
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Current price $18.00
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Azurite 6mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch

Original price $31.00 - Original price $31.00
Original price $31.00
$31.00 - $31.00
Current price $31.00
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Azurite is a Copper carbonate mineral that forms in masses, stalactites, botryoidal, and short prismatic crystals. Azurite in crystal form is extre...

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About this cut

Round bead shape diagram
Cut name
Round
Drill style
Center-drilled
Typical sizes
8mm6mm4mm10mm3mm2mm12mm5mm
Stones in this cut
AgateJasperQuartzTurquoiseGarnetTourmalineMoonstoneOpalDZI AgateTiger EyeAmazoniteSapphire
Common uses
stretch braceletsmala and prayer-style strandsclassic beaded necklacesmulti-strand layered designsknotted silk or cord necklacesuniform color-block sections in mixed-cut workmen's beaded bracelets in 8mm and 10mm
Related cuts
Faceted Round, Microfaceted Round, Oval
Design notes
Round is the most forgiving cut to design around — predictable diameter, predictable drill, predictable drape. Scale by wrist or neck: 6mm and 8mm cover most adult bracelet work, 4mm reads delicate on a necklace, 10mm+ carries as statement scale. Rounds pair cleanly with faceted rondelles, heishi, or metal spacers when you want textural contrast without breaking the silhouette. For stones with strong pattern, smooth round shows the material better than the faceted-round sibling cut; for uniform-color stones, faceted rounds add sparkle the smooth cut can't.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is a smooth round gemstone bead?
    A round bead is a sphere cut from gemstone rough and polished smooth — no facets, no flat edges. Standard rounds are center-drilled straight through the bead so the hole runs pole-to-pole. The geometry makes them the most predictable cut to design with: they sit cleanly on flex wire, stack uniformly on stretch cord, and read as a clean color block without the light play of a faceted surface. Rounds are typically calibrated to nominal sizes (4mm, 6mm, 8mm) within standard trade tolerances, though softer or more fractured stones can vary a half-millimeter strand to strand.
  • What sizes does Dakota stock in round?
    Round is Dakota's deepest cut by volume. Current stock concentrates in 8mm (554 strands), 6mm (477), 4mm (353), and 10mm (342) — the four sizes that cover most beaded jewelry work. Smaller 2mm and 3mm rounds (54 and 140 strands) work for accent spacers and fine-gauge stringing. 12mm (50) and 5mm (28) are stocked in narrower stone selections. Sizes are nominal; actual diameter can run ±0.3mm depending on the stone and lot, so for tight calibration work pull from a single strand where possible.
  • What stones come in round cut?
    Almost every stone Dakota carries is available as round somewhere in the range. The deepest selections are agate (195 strands across varieties), jasper (149), quartz (134 — clear, smoky, rose, rutilated, and more), and turquoise (107). Garnet (68), tourmaline (64), moonstone (58), opal (55), DZI agate (53), and tiger eye (48) all hold meaningful stock. Less common stones may only appear in one or two sizes — if you need a specific stone-size pairing, filter the collection or check the size tags on individual products before ordering.
  • What jewelry work are round beads best for?
    Rounds are the default cut for stretch bracelets, mala-style strands, classic beaded necklaces, and anywhere you want the stone's color and pattern to read without faceted sparkle. They sit predictably next to metal spacers, knot cleanly between cord, and don't catch on fabric the way faceted edges can. 6mm and 8mm are the workhorse sizes for adult bracelets; 4mm suits layered necklaces and children's pieces; 10mm and 12mm carry as statement strands or focal sections. For mixed-cut designs, smooth rounds pair well with faceted rondelles or heishi as a textural counterpoint.
  • Smooth round vs faceted round — how do I choose?
    Smooth rounds emphasize the stone itself — color, pattern, inclusions, chatoyancy. Faceted rounds (a separate cut in the catalog) cut small flat planes across the sphere to add light return, which reads as sparkle but slightly mutes the underlying pattern. For stones with strong figure — ocean jasper, dendritic agate, picture jasper, moss agate — smooth round shows the material better. For uniformly colored stones — garnet, amethyst, smoky quartz — faceted rounds add visible movement. Both drill the same way, so they swap cleanly in a design if you want to test the difference on a sample strand.