Natural gemstone beads, sold by the strand
Natural Gemstone Beads for Jewelry Making
Over 100 stone types and shapes, with consistency across our strands.
Large Selection
We carry one of the largest selection of natural gemstone beads in North America.
Continuetity
Your source for consistency and stock you can plan product lines around.
Quantity Discounts
Save when you buy 2+ strands of the same kind. Get 50% off 4+ strands
Free US shipping over $50
$5.99 under. Orders ship from Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
30-day returns
Dakota Stones backs its products 100%. Return a strand in its original strung condition within 30 days.
Weekly Homepage Specials
A weekly rotation of gemstone strands at deeper discounts, only available on the homepage!
New this week
New strands, in stock now
Refreshed every week from new arrivals. Real strands, real prices.
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.
Best Sellers
Stocked Favorites
Refreshed every week from new arrivals. Real strands, real prices.
What buyers say
Reviews
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