Gemstone Tube Beads

Frequently asked questions

• What is a tube bead?

  A tube bead is a cylindrical bead — flat or slightly rounded on the ends, with straight or gently curved sides — drilled lengthwise through the long axis so the bead lies parallel to the stringing material. Tubes can be short and stubby (like a 2x4mm) or long and pencil-like (like a 5x8-8x20mm graduated tube). The cut is typically smooth-polished rather than faceted, and the geometry sits flush against neighbors on a strand, making it useful for clean linear designs and spacer runs.
• What sizes does Dakota stock in tube?

  Dakota currently stocks tube beads across a wide size range. The most-stocked sizes are 4mm (cube-tube and short tube formats), 2mm (small spacer tubes), and 7x10mm (a workhorse mid-size). Also in stock: 2x4mm short tubes, 8mm, 4x8mm, 3x5mm, and graduated 5x8-8x20mm strands where the bead size steps up across the strand. Exact dimensions and drill hole size should be disclosed — confirm before buying if your finding or wire gauge is tight.
• What stones come in tube cut at Dakota?

  Tube is currently stocked in labradorite, natural shell, turquoise, quartz, jasper, amazonite, rose quartz, lion's paw, prehnite, and pietersite, among others — 72 active products in total. Softer materials (shell, lion's paw) and harder silicates (quartz, jasper, amazonite) both cut well as tubes because the geometry doesn't require sharp facet work. Treatment varies by stone — stabilization is common on turquoise and some shell, so check the listing for the specific strand.
• What jewelry works best with tube beads?

  Tubes shine in linear designs: bar necklaces, tennis-style bracelets, ladder earrings, and any layout where you want beads to sit flush end-to-end without rolling. Short tubes (2x4mm, 3x5mm) work as spacers between focal beads or as accent runs in mixed-media designs. Longer tubes (7x10mm, 4x8mm) carry as the primary element on simpler strung necklaces. The flat ends also pair cleanly with disc and heishi beads where you want a stacked architectural look.
• How do tubes differ from rondelles or cubes?

  All three are non-spherical, but the drill direction and proportions differ. A rondelle is drilled through its short axis (the bead is wider than it is tall along the string). A tube is drilled through its long axis (the bead is longer than it is wide along the string). A cube is roughly equal on all sides. That means tubes give you visual length per bead — useful when you want to cover more strand with fewer beads — while rondelles give you density and cubes give you a blockier silhouette.