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.
Fire Opal 10mm Round Large Hole 8-Inch
Original price
$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
This Fire Opal contains both Opal and the rhyolitic host material in which it is formed, which provides sufficient hardness for the stone to be cut...
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
MATTE White African Opal 4mm Round 8-Inch
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$7.00
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$7.00
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$7.00
$7.00
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$7.00
White African Opal is a white to cream to light tan stone with veining of black or gray. Like all Opals, it is a form of hydrated amorphous silica,...
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$7.00
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$7.00
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$7.00
$7.00
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$7.00
Dendritic Black Opal 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$17.00
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$17.00
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$17.00
$17.00
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$17.00
This variety of opal is named "dendritic" for the small inclusions within it that resemble moss or ferns. These inclusions consist of iron, mangane...
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$17.00
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$17.00
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$17.00
$17.00
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$17.00
Dendritic Black Opal 6mm Round 15-16 Inch
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
This variety of opal is named "dendritic" for the small inclusions within it that resemble moss or ferns. These inclusions consist of iron, mangane...
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Australian Boulder Opal 4mm Faceted Round - 15-16 Inch
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$28.00
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$28.00
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$28.00
$28.00
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$28.00
Boulder Opal is a golden-brown to dark brown stone, displaying these colors in patterns of parallel bands. It is considered a precious Opal, and fo...
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$28.00
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$28.00
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$28.00
$28.00
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$28.00
Black Opal Australian, Faceted 4mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$48.00
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$48.00
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$48.00
$48.00
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$48.00
Black Opal is a naturally occurring variety of precious opal mined in Australia. this opal variety is characterized by their dark base tone. It is ...
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$48.00
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$48.00
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$48.00
$48.00
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$48.00
Yellow Opal Faceted AA-Grade Banded 4mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$19.00
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$19.00
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$19.00
$19.00
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$19.00
Yellow Opal is transparent to opaque, milky white to pale yellow in color. It sometimes features dark brown to black dendritic inclusions that bran...
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$19.00
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$19.00
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$19.00
$19.00
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$19.00
Pink Opal 6mm Round - Large Hole Beads
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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
$18.00
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$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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$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Pink Opal 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads
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$23.00
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$23.00
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$23.00
$23.00
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$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
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$23.00
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$23.00
$23.00
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$23.00
Black Opal Australian, Faceted 3mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$40.00
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$40.00
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$40.00
$40.00
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$40.00
Black Opal is a naturally occurring variety of precious opal mined in Australia. this opal variety is characterized by their dark base tone. It is ...
View full details
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$40.00
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$40.00
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$40.00
$40.00
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$40.00
Australian Green Opal Light Green 10mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch - CLEARANCE
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$59.00
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$59.00
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$59.00
$59.00
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$59.00
Australian Green Opal is a variety of Common Opal which is a mixture of Opal and nontronite. Common Opal is generally opaque, without the play of c...
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$59.00
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$59.00
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$59.00
$59.00
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$59.00
Pink Opal 8mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$33.00
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$33.00
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$33.00
$33.00
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$33.00
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
$33.00
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$33.00
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$33.00
$33.00
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$33.00
Dendritic Black Opal 4mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$13.00
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$13.00
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$13.00
$13.00
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$13.00
This variety of opal is named "dendritic" for the small inclusions within it that resemble moss or ferns. These inclusions consist of iron, mangane...
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$13.00
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$13.00
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$13.00
$13.00
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$13.00
White African Opal 6mm Round w/ Red Matrix - 15-16 Inch
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$16.00
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$16.00
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$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
White African Opal is a white to cream to light tan stone with veining of black or gray. Like all Opals, it is a form of hydrated amorphous silica,...
View full details
Original price
$16.00
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$16.00
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$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
Australian Green Opal 8mm Round Faceted - 15-16 Inch - CLEARANCE
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$45.00
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$45.00
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$45.00
$45.00
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$45.00
Australian Green Opal is a variety of Common Opal which is a mixture of Opal and nontronite. Common Opal is generally opaque, without the play of c...
View full details
Original price
$45.00
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Original price
$45.00
Original price
$45.00
$45.00
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$45.00
Australian Boulder Opal Faceted 3mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$32.00
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$32.00
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$32.00
$32.00
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$32.00
Boulder Opal is a golden-brown to dark brown stone, displaying these colors in patterns of parallel bands. It is considered a precious Opal, and fo...
View full details
Original price
$32.00
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Original price
$32.00
Original price
$32.00
$32.00
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$32.00
Australian Boulder Opal Faceted 5mm Round - 15-16 inch
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$52.00
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$52.00
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$52.00
$52.00
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$52.00
Boulder Opal is a golden-brown to dark brown stone, displaying these colors in patterns of parallel bands. It is considered a precious Opal, and fo...
View full details
Original price
$52.00
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Original price
$52.00
Original price
$52.00
$52.00
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$52.00
Pink Opal 4mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$24.00
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$24.00
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$24.00
$24.00
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$24.00
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
$24.00
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Original price
$24.00
Original price
$24.00
$24.00
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$24.00
Madagascar Green Dendritic Opal 6mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$16.00
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$16.00
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$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
This variety of opal is named "dendritic" for the small inclusions within it that resemble moss or ferns. These inclusions consist of iron, mangane...
View full details
Original price
$16.00
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$16.00
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$16.00
$16.00
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$16.00
Pink Opal 10mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$42.00
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$42.00
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$42.00
$42.00
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$42.00
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
$42.00
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Original price
$42.00
Original price
$42.00
$42.00
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$42.00
Pink Opal 6mm Round Faceted - Large Hole Beads
Original price
$23.00
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$23.00
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$23.00
$23.00
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$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
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$23.00
Dendritic Green Opal 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$38.00
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Original price
$38.00
Original price
$38.00
$38.00
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$38.00
This variety of opal is named "dendritic" for the small inclusions within it that resemble moss or ferns. These inclusions consist of iron, mangane...
View full details
Original price
$38.00
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Original price
$38.00
Original price
$38.00
$38.00
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$38.00
Madagascar Green Dendritic Opal 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$20.00
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$20.00
Original price
$20.00
$20.00
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$20.00
This variety of opal is named "dendritic" for the small inclusions within it that resemble moss or ferns. These inclusions consist of iron, mangane...
View full details
Original price
$20.00
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Original price
$20.00
Original price
$20.00
$20.00
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$20.00
Madagascar Green Dendritic Opal 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$24.00
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$24.00
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$24.00
$24.00
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$24.00
This variety of opal is named "dendritic" for the small inclusions within it that resemble moss or ferns. These inclusions consist of iron, mangane...
View full details
Original price
$24.00
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Original price
$24.00
Original price
$24.00
$24.00
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$24.00
About this cut
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
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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.