What designers are making this season and what to give.
Pick 6 mm rondelles or 4 to 5 mm heishi for bracelets, 4 to 6 mm for delicate necklaces, 8 to 10 mm rounds for statements, and 7x13 to 9x15 mm drops or 6 mm beads for earrings. From one 16 inch strand: 4 or 6 mm makes two 7.5 inch bracelets or one 16 inch choker; 8 mm makes one choker or two bracelets; 10 mm makes two bracelets.
Bracelets work best in 6 mm rondelles for a classic fit, 4 mm for delicate stacks, 8 mm for bolder styles. Necklaces use 6 or 8 mm for chokers and 4 to 6 mm for longer strands. Earrings shine in pears or hearts. A 16 inch strand of 6 mm has about 65 to 70 beads, enough for two bracelets or one 16 inch choker with a few beads to spare.
From a 16 inch strand, 3 mm beads make about 3 clasped bracelets at 6.5 inches or 2 at 7 to 7.5 inches. With 4 mm, plan on 2, sometimes 3 at 6.5 inches if your strand runs high on bead count. Stretch builds generally yield 2. For flat, smooth wear, choose heishi or smooth rondelles. Keep sets uniform with one clasp style or identical elastic and knots.
Here's the go-to map: 3 Pearl, 4 Blue topaz (or aquamarine), 5 Sapphire, 6 Amethyst, 7 Onyx, 8 Tourmaline, 9 Lapis, 10 Diamond accents, 11 Turquoise, 12 Jade or alexandrite, 13 Citrine, 14 Opal, 15 Ruby, 20 Emerald, 25 Silver-themed, 30 Pearl. For bracelets use 4 to 8 mm rondelles or rounds; for earrings pick pears or hearts; for necklaces use 3 to 6 mm strands.
Pick turquoise 4 mm rondelles or heishi for bracelets. Keep tanzanite and natural zircon for necklaces and earrings in 3 to 4 mm rondelles or small drops. A 16 inch strand gives about 95 to 100 beads at 4 mm and 65 to 70 at 6 mm, enough for one choker or two bracelets. At 3 mm, expect about 133 beads per 16 inch strand.
Pick 6 mm faceted rondelles for most bracelets and everyday necklaces, 8 mm for bolder necklaces and stretch stacks, and small pear briolettes or short rondelle stacks for earrings. A 16 inch 6 mm strand has about 65 to 70 beads, enough for two bracelets or one 16 inch choker, and sometimes an 18 inch. A 16 inch 8 mm strand makes two bracelets or one choker.