What sizes should I pick for June gifts?
Choose 6 mm rondelles for most bracelets, 4 to 5 mm heishi for stacks, and 8 to 10 mm rounds when you want a bolder look. For necklaces, go 4 to 6 mm for delicate and everyday, 8 to 10 mm for statement strands. Earrings love drops in the 7x13 to 9x15 mm range or tidy 4 to 6 mm clusters. See our guides for freshwater cultured pearl and moonstone.
We usually stock rainbow moonstone in small faceted rondelles and orthoclase moonstone in heishi and fancy cuts. Rondelles are the stranding workhorse, and heishi stacks cleanly. Read the rondelle and heishi shape pages for quick refreshers. Tara: I size strands on a bead board, then count against the beaded run, never the whole finished length.
How many 6 mm beads do you need?
Plan about 25 beads for a 7.5 inch bracelet and about 23 for a snug 7 inch bracelet. For a 16 inch choker, plan about 61 beads of 6 mm, and an 18 inch necklace uses about 70. A 15 to 16 inch strand of 6 mm rondelles has about 65 to 70 beads, so you can make two bracelets or one choker with a few beads left.
From one 16 inch 6 mm strand, we make two bracelets and a pair of earrings, or a 16 inch choker plus small accents. For an 18 inch, you may need a spacer set or a second strand if your strand comes in closer to 65 beads. Keep a clasp length of about 1.5 inches in mind.
How many 8 mm beads do you need?
Count about 19 beads for a 7.5 inch bracelet, and about 17 for a 7 inch. For a 16 inch choker, plan about 46 beads of 8 mm, and an 18 inch necklace uses about 52. A 15 to 16 inch strand of 8 mm rondelles has about 48 to 52 beads, which covers one 16 inch choker cleanly.
From one 16 inch 8 mm strand, we do two bracelets with beads to spare for earrings. For an 18 inch princess, strands on the 52 bead side fit, but 48 bead strands run short without spacers. Pearls in 8 to 10 mm read classic; see our pearl guide for picking luster and match.
How many 4 mm beads do you need?
A 7.5 inch bracelet takes about 38 beads in 4 mm. For an 18 inch necklace, plan about 104 beads in 4 mm. A 15 to 16 inch 4 mm strand carries about 95 to 100 beads, so it makes two bracelets or a 16 inch choker with room to design.
For delicate June layers, 4 mm rainbow moonstone rondelles sparkle without weight. We like pairing a 4 mm moonstone choker with a pearl pendant strand. Browse moonstone types in our orthoclase moonstone guide.
Will 10 mm rounds work for bracelets and necklaces?
Yes for bold. A 7.5 inch bracelet uses about 15 beads in 10 mm. Expect about 41 beads for an 18 inch necklace, while a 16 inch strand carries about 40 beads. For a 16 inch choker, plan using the 14.5 inch beaded run and about 2.5 beads per inch.
What sizes should I use for earrings?
For sleek drops, pick matched moonstone cuts around 7x13 to 9x15 mm. We bring in golden-shine arrowheads at 7x13 mm and rainbow or peach pyramids at 9x15 mm, which hang beautifully. Or build petite clusters with 4 to 6 mm rondelles or pearls.