Natural gemstone beads for jewelry makers
Gemstone beads worth designing around.
Shop 100+ stone varieties with dependable continuity, consistent quality, and new products launched every week.
Every bead on the strand is usable.
Shop by what you need
Start where the design starts
By stone, by shape, by hole size, or by the focal that anchors the piece.
find what caught your eye
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100+ stone varieties, dependable continuity, and new products launched every week.
Free U.S. Shipping
Free shipping on orders over $50. $5.99 flat rate under $50. Ships from Minnesota.
30-Day Returns
Return strands in original strung condition within 30 days.
Quantity Discounts
Save when you buy multiples of the same strand. The discount shows on the product page.
New strands, in stock now
New this week
Why Dakota Stones
We know the stones behind the strands.
Dakota Stones works closely with lapidary partners around the world to source material, develop cuts and maintain the color, sizing, drilling and finish jewelry makers depend on. When the finished strands reach Minnesota, our team inspects the product before it reaches your bead board.
Our standard is simple:Every bead on the strand is usable.
From rough to strand
Source
Material and long-term lapidary relationships
Develop
Cuts, sizes, finishes and product lines
Inspect
Consistency and quality checked in Minnesota
Best Sellers
Proven favorites, ready to restock.
These are the strands our customers reorder most and it comes down to the three things Dakota Stones is known for. Quality that stays consistent strand to strand, graded and backed by our 100% Quality Guarantee.
The Southwest look
Spiny oyster, lion's paw, shell and mosaic
Orange spiny oyster, purple lion's paw, shell heishi and inlay pendant pairs. The strands that get put together most often.
Dakota Stones at a glance
100+
Gemstone varieties
30 days
Return window
Wholesale
Available for qualified businesses
FAQs
Commonly asked questions
Are the beads natural stone?
Every strand is named for what it is. Natural means cut, drilled and polished only. Where a stone is heated, dyed, stabilized, plated or composite, the product page contains treatment. What the treatment terms mean
How long is a strand, and how many beads are on it?
Strands are 15 to 16 inches unless the title says 8-inch. Bead count follows bead size: 4 mm about 95 to 100 beads, 6 mm about 63 to 67, 8 mm about 47 to 50, 10 mm about 38 to 40, 12 mm about 31 to 33. A 7-inch bracelet takes about 22 beads at 8 mm. A 16-inch order may ship as two 8-inch strands.
What do the grades mean?
The grade is in the title: A, AA, AAA. Rough is graded before it is bought and again before cutting, for color, pattern and match across the strand. Only the top share of material is cut into a Dakota Stones strand. How the grading works
What size are the holes?
Standard strands are drilled 0.8 to 1.2 mm, which takes beading wire, silk and most thread. The large hole line is drilled 2 to 2.5 mm for leather and cord. Large hole beads
Will the strand look like the photo?
Product photos show Dakota Stones strands of that item. Natural stone varies in color and pattern from strand to strand, so a strand can differ a little from the photo.
How fast does an order ship, and what does shipping cost?
Orders ship from Eden Prairie, Minnesota. US standard shipping is free on orders over $50 and $5.99 under. USPS Priority and UPS options show at checkout. Shipping details
What if the strand is not right?
Dakota Stones backs its products 100%. Return a strand within 30 days in its original strung condition and packaging for a refund to the original payment or a replacement strand. The guarantee
Do I need a wholesale account or a tax ID to order?
No, anyone can order at retail prices with no minimum.
Businesses with a state resale number can apply for wholesale pricing. Wholesale accounts
Ready to find your next stone?
Start with the stones that brought you here.
Or explore everything Dakota Stones has to offer.
New gemstone products launched every week.