Faceted Table Cut Cube Beads

Frequently asked questions

• What is a table cut cube bead?

  A table cut cube is a six-sided bead with flat polished faces and a slightly rustic, hand-shaped silhouette rather than the precise geometry of a machine-calibrated cube. The 'table cut' description refers to the flat broad faces — each side reads as a small polished window into the stone. Edges and corners are typically softened rather than knife-sharp, and face sizes can vary slightly within a strand. The drill runs corner-to-corner or face-to-face depending on the strand. The look is organic, faceted, and matte-modern rather than glassy or precision-cut.
• What sizes does Dakota stock in table cut cubes?

  Current stock runs from 2mm up through 7mm in standard cubes, plus rectangular table cut shapes at 4x6mm and 6x8mm. The deepest size is 3mm with around 51 active strands, followed by 4mm (23) and 7mm (18). Smaller 2mm cubes (15 strands) work well as spacers and seed-bead substitutes in bead-weaving, while 6mm and 7mm cubes carry enough face area to show the stone's color and pattern clearly. Exact bead count per strand and drill direction should be disclosed — confirm before buying if you need a specific count for a layout.
• Which stones come in table cut cubes?

  The cut spans a broad range of stones in current inventory. Moonstone (12 strands) and turquoise (11) lead, followed by amazonite, tourmaline, and garnet (10 each), then lapis (8), amethyst (7), quartz (6), beryl (6), and apatite (6). Both opaque stones like turquoise, lapis, and amazonite and translucent stones like moonstone, tourmaline, garnet, amethyst, and apatite are well-represented — the flat faces show color saturation in opaque material and depth/transparency in translucent material. Treatment varies by stone; check the listing for per-strand disclosure.
• What jewelry works best with table cut cubes?

  Table cut cubes suit designers who want geometric structure without the rigidity of machine-cut beads. They work especially well in stretch bracelets, men's bracelets, knotted strands, and layered necklaces where the flat faces catch light differently than rounds. The slightly irregular faces give wrist pieces a hand-made feel that pure calibrated cubes lack. Mix sizes (3mm with 6mm, or 4mm with 6x8mm rectangles) for rhythm, or pair with smooth rounds and rondelles to break up the angular silhouette. Smaller 2mm and 3mm cubes also work as accent spacers between focal beads.
• How does a table cut cube differ from a faceted cube or plain cube?

  A plain (smooth) cube has six flat polished faces with crisp 90-degree corners and tight calibration — a precise geometric bead. A faceted cube adds extra facets at the corners or edges, breaking up each face into multiple smaller planes for more sparkle. A table cut cube sits between rustic and geometric: the six broad 'table' faces are flat and polished, but the cube itself is hand-shaped, so faces are not perfectly square, edges are softer, and size varies slightly within the strand. It reads more artisan than industrial.